e sailed. For
some time we glided on. A few of us were sent on deck at a time to
breath the fresh air. I felt my heart sink within me, when, on looking
round, I could nowhere see the land, nothing but the smooth, shining
ocean on every side. It was terrible; I thought we should never again
set foot on shore. I had often paddled my canoe on the river, and had
even made trading voyages down to the great lake, where I had seen huge
waves covered with foam rolling across it; but on such occasions we had
quickly made for the shore. Twice my canoe had been upset, but I had
easily gained it by swimming. Suddenly the wind began to roar, the
thunder rolled above our heads, and the dhow was tossed about by the sea
in a way which made me expect that she would speedily be thrown over,
and that all on board would be sent into the raging waves. Pitiful were
the shrieks and cries of my companions. In vain the Arabs ordered them
to keep quiet; they believed that their last hour was come, and cared
not what was said to them. I determined, whatever happened, to struggle
for my life. I was young and strong; and the thought entered my mind
that I might swim to the shore, and get back some day to my wife and
children, though I knew that my home must be a long way off. I felt
quite disappointed when the storm ceased, and the dhow glided on her
course as before. When I next went on deck, I saw that she was in
company with other vessels, rigged as she was, and sailing in the same
direction. Each of them had prisoners on board. The decks of two or
three of the larger ones were crowded with black forms, and I guessed
that there were as many more below. Our dhow sailed very fast, and was
passing most of them, when a calm came on, and we lay all huddled
together, near enough for the people in one vessel to speak to those on
board another. Presently I heard the Arabs shouting to each other that
there was a large sail in sight. The news seemed to alarm them. She
was coming towards the fleet of dhows, bringing up a breeze. At last
the wind filled our sails, and the dhows began to separate. We fancied
that if we could keep ahead of the stranger that she could not harm us;
but we saw flashes of flame proceeding from her side, and round shot
came bounding over the water towards us; first one dhow was hit, now
another. At last one shot struck our vessel, going through the side,
and fearful were the cries which arose from the people be