and then the report of firearms
showed that some Arabs were coming home from hunting, or were firing off
their muskets at some festival or other. We had pulled at least five
miles along the coast, when I fancied that I discerned, still further
on, some dark object on the sands. We pulled up to it, and there, sure
enough, lay a stranded vessel. Mr Vernon now directed Stanfield to
wait off about a quarter of a mile, while we went in and tried to board
the vessel, to ascertain positively what she was.

"Should any accident happen to us, or should we be taken prisoners," he
continued, "you will wait till nearly dawn to render us assistance, in
case you have an opportunity, and then make the best of your way back to
the ship. Captain Poynder will then, without doubt, devise some plan
for rescuing us or any other persons we may find on shore." Stanfield,
of course, knew very well what he meant by this, and promised to keep a
bright look-out, whatever might occur. Using still more caution than
ever, we approached the vessel. She lay with her head inshore, in a
small inlet, and it appeared much more likely that she had purposely
been hauled in there, than that she had been driven on shore. There was
ample water for our boat right under her stern. The stern-windows were
open. Holding on by the rudder-chain, Mr Vernon climbed up, and got in
at a sternport. Without asking leave, I followed his example, and the
bowman then handed us up a lantern. I had a match-box in my pocket. We
struck a light and lighted the lantern, and then commenced an
examination of the cabin. At the first glance we saw it was that of an
English merchantman. There were the state-cabins on either side, the
buffets for plate and crockery, the neat book-case, the racks for charts
and telescopes, the sofa at one end, and the fireplace, all showing an
attention to the comfort of any passengers who might be on board.
Everything valuable had, however, been carried away, the more cumbrous
articles alone remaining. Mr Vernon looked round with deep anxiety
depicted on his countenance. "Yes, D'Arcy, this is indeed the
_Ariadne_. I know her well," he whispered. "I myself put up that
book-case, and screwed in those hooks for a cot in the state-cabin. Oh!
what can their fate be? I must ascertain it without delay."

"It would never do to go on shore as you are at present, sir. You would
be taken prisoner or murdered outright, to a certainty," I replie