"Perhaps he may be hiding himself somewhere, and
will, when the Arabs retire, make his way down to the margin of the
river expecting to be taken off."

"Very little chance of that; but, depend on it, I'll not show my face on
board without him if I can help it," answered Rhymer.

Charley was obliged to be content with this promise. As he watched the
shore through his telescope he could see the Arabs collecting the
unfortunate slaves and driving them on before them, though he in vain
searched for Ned among the former. Had he been made a prisoner he would
probably have been seen. This made him hope that he might still be
recovered. At length Rhymer began to grow impatient. The last of the
slaves had been carried off, and the Arabs themselves had disappeared
behind the hill. Charley now entreated Rhymer to pull in for the shore.
"If you will let me I will land with any of the men who will volunteer,
and we will search round in every direction for Garth; he may possibly
have been wounded, and have crawled under some bushes to hide himself
from the Arabs."

Rhymer hesitated. "If I let you go you may be caught also, and I shall
have to report the loss of two midshipmen instead of one."

"O no, no! Do let me go!" cried Charley, in a beseeching tone. "The
Arabs have gone away, and we will keep a good look-out not to be
surprised. I am sure that some of the men will be ready to go with me."

"I will!" exclaimed Dick Morgan.

"And I, and I, and I," added others, until the whole boat's crew
volunteered.

At last Rhymer, feeling that he might be accused of deserting the
midshipman, consented, allowing Morgan with three other men to accompany
Charley.

The boat accordingly returned to the shore. While Charley and his men
pushed forward, Rhymer and the remainder having landed, advanced a short
distance to support him in case he should have to retreat. Charley led
the way to a spot pointed out by Morgan, where Ned had last been seen.
They hunted about among the bushes, but no trace of him could they
discover.

"Ned Garth, Ned Garth! where are you?" shouted Charley again and again,
forgetting in his anxiety that the Arabs might hear, but no answer
reached him. There were traces, however, of the course the blacks had
taken, wherever the ground was soft enough to receive impressions of
their feet. Charley was tempted to follow, and the men, regardless of
consequences, accompanied him. He had not gone far when h