she seemed almost too young to speak, she uttered several words
in a lingo none of us understood. In a very short time after we had
given her some food, and she had had a quiet sleep, she seemed more
happy and smiled, and lifted up her face to kiss me when I bent over
her. I thanked Heaven that I had been the means of saving the little
darling.

"It was not until evening that the black, who was pretty well exhausted
by his exertions, awoke. I was disappointed, I can tell you, when on
speaking to him, he answered in a language of which I could not
comprehend a word. We tried him in all sorts of ways, and he made a
variety of signs, but we could not comprehend the meaning he intended to
convey. In appearance he greatly resembled the slaves I had seen at
Zanzibar, on board the Arab dhows, though better-looking. Like most of
them, he had but a clout round his waist, and his woolly hair was
cropped close. Still he evidently did not lack intelligence. It was
very tantalising to find that we could get no information out of him.
The little girl was equally unable to give an account of herself, though
I fancied that she understood us when we spoke English, but she could
not reply intelligibly.

"I treated the black as he deserved, for the brave way in which he had
saved the child, and he showed that he was grateful for such kindness as
I bestowed upon him.

"As to the little girl, though I made inquiries at every place I touched
at, I could get no information by which I could even guess where she had
come from or who she was. From her ways and tone of voice I felt sure,
however, that she was of gentle birth. The black seemed mortally afraid
of the Arabs, and kept below when any came on board or any dhows hove in
sight; indeed it was some time before we could make him understand that
he was safe with us, and that no one would venture to take him away by
force. He soon became a great favourite with the men, who gave him the
name of Tom, in addition to the one by which he called himself, which
sounded like Baraka, and Tom Baraka he has been ever since. In a short
time he picked up a few words of English, with which he managed to make
himself understood; but it was not until we were on the voyage home that
he was able to give me an idea how he and the little girl came to be on
the piece of wreck from which we rescued him. I would call him in, and
let him give his own history; but I think I can make you understand the