e had not
got far when he ordered Ned, with the coxswain, Dick Morgan by name, and
two other hands, to pursue another who were going off to the left.

Ned, as directed, started away at full speed, and soon outstripped his
followers, who, as they overtook smaller parties of the blacks, tried to
turn them back. The negroes on hearing the shouts of the sailors, and
seeing them flourish their cutlasses, more frightened than ever, sank
down to the ground. In vain the seamen endeavoured to make them rise,
assuring them that they meant them no harm. Much time was lost in the
attempt. Ned, in obedience to his orders, had got ahead of one party of
the blacks and was seen by Dick Morgan making signs to induce them to
stop running. When, however, Dick looked again, he could nowhere
discover his young officer, while the slaves were scampering off at a
rate which made it almost hopeless to overtake them.

"Lads, we must not let Mr Garth be carried off by those niggers, for it
seems to me that they have somehow or other got hold of him," exclaimed
Dick, shouting to his companions.

Away they dashed after the fugitives. They had got some distance when
they heard Mr Rhymer hailing them to come back. Dick pointed in the
direction where he had last seen the midshipman; but Mr Rhymer not
understanding his signs, peremptorily ordered him and his companions to
retreat to the boat. It was time indeed to do so, for a large party of
well-armed Arabs appeared on the hill just before them, and with
threatening gestures were advancing evidently with the intention of
recovering the slaves they had captured. Rhymer saw at once that were
he to remain he should run the risk of having his whole party cut off,
and that his only safe course was to retreat as fast as possible to the
boat; he accordingly gave the word to face about, and by threatening to
fire, he kept the Arabs in check. Their object was evidently not so
much to attack the English, as to get possession of the slaver. Had the
boat been nearer the dhow, Rhymer might have boarded her and set her on
fire, but in endeavouring to do so, he might expose his whole party to
destruction. Had there been time even to get hold of any of the blacks,
they could not have been taken into the boat, and Rhymer had therefore
to make the best of his way down to her without securing a single one of
them. The Arabs, who advanced more rapidly as they saw the English
retreating, soon got under shel