serted that they had seen her founder. The
commander was very indignant at his not having gone back at once to try
and pick you up, should you by any means have escaped. He immediately
ordered off three boats--the second lieutenant going in one, Rhymer in
another, while he gave me charge of the third. What has become of the
other two boats I do not know; perhaps they thought that they had come
far enough and have gone back, as I confess I was on the point of doing
when I heard your hail. We shall soon, I hope, fall in with the ship,
for she is sure to beat back over the ground until she has picked us
up."

"I shall be thankful to get on board for the sake of this poor Arab, who
requires the doctor's care," said Ned.

"Why, isn't he one of the slaver's crew?" exclaimed Charley. "An arrant
rogue, I dare say."

"I don't know about that, but I saved his life," answered Ned, "and I
feel an interest in him; he seems grateful too, as far as I can judge."

He then asked the Arab, who was sitting near him, whether he would have
some more water, and handed him the cup, which was full.

"T'ankee, t'ankee!" answered the Arab; "much t'ankee!" Ned then gave
him some more sopped biscuit.

"What's his name?" inquired Charley. "Ask him, as he seems to speak
English."

"Sayd," answered the Arab immediately, showing that he understood what
was said.

Charley was now steering the boat to the northward. In a short time day
broke, and as the sun rose, his rays fell on the white canvas of the
corvette, which was standing close-hauled to the south-west, her black
hull just seen above the horizon.

"Hurrah!" cried Charley, "there's the old `barky'; I hope we shall soon
be on board."

"If she stands on that course she'll pass us," said Ned.

"No fear of that," answered Charley; "she'll soon be about, and we shall
be on board and all to rights."

He was not mistaken; the corvette immediately tacked, her canvas, which
had hitherto seemed of snowy whiteness, being thrown into dark shadow.
She now stood towards the south-east, on a course which would bring her
so near that the boat would soon be seen from her deck. Before long she
again came to the wind.

"She is going about again!" exclaimed Ned.

"No, no, she's heaving to to pick up one of the boats," answered
Charley.

He was again right; in a few minutes the sails were once more filled,
and she stood on. The wind being light, the midshipmen had to wait for
some tim