w full
of blacks, and yet not be able to capture her. This, of course, was
often the cause of great disappointment to the crews engaged in the
suppression of the slave-trade.

A belt of mangrove trees running far into the water being passed, a long
reach of the river was opened up, with a large dhow at the farther end
of it, lying at anchor in mid-stream, apparently ready to sail. The
crew of the pinnace could not restrain a shout of satisfaction. In
spite of the hot sun beating down on their heads, they eagerly bent to
their oars in the hopes of soon being on board her. As they approached,
they saw that her sails were unbent, so that she could not have been on
the point of putting to sea. On getting still nearer, about twenty
fierce-looking Arabs popped their heads over the side, and in loud
voices, with threatening gestures, ordered the boat to keep off,
intimating that if she did not, they would fire into her. That she
possessed the power of doing mischief was evident, as a three-pounder
gun was seen mounted on a sort of raised deck in her bow.

Neither Adair nor his crew were likely to be deterred by the menaces of
the piratical-looking fellows from boarding the dhow. With a loud cheer
they dashed alongside, and quickly scrambled on her deck, cutting down
several of the more daring of the band, who, not knowing what English
seamen were made of, ventured to oppose them. A fine-looking old
fellow, with a long white beard, who proved to be the Arab captain,
exchanged a few passes with Adair, who, however, quickly disarmed him,
and tumbled him head over heels into the hold, while the rest of his men
leaped below to escape from their daring assailants. On following them,
Adair found, to his disappointment, that there were no slaves on board.
The Arab crew having been secured, Adair ordered his men to bend the
sail, while he and Desmond, accompanied by Jerry Bird, searched the
vessel to ascertain whether she had anything on board by which she could
be legally condemned. Besides the three-pounder gun, a number of
muskets, spears, and swords were found on board, with a supply of water
and a large quantity of rice, in addition to which her hold was fitted
with three tiers of bamboo decks, which could be intended for no other
purpose than for the stowage of slaves.

Adair pointed this out to the old skipper, and made him understand that
he considered the vessel his lawful prize.

"It is the will of Allah," answe