dhow on fire fore and aft."

While the men obeyed this order, Archie and Gerald, who had been
lighting some bundles of tow, threw one of them down forward among the
other combustible materials, while another was placed aft; and another,
still larger, which Desmond ignited, was let drop into the hold. A
thick smoke, followed by flames, immediately burst forth, showing that
the craft had been effectually set on fire.

A good-sized canoe was floating alongside the dhow. "We will have her,"
said Desmond; "make her fast astern. She'll assist us in landing the
prisoners, and be useful afterwards."

A whole fleet of canoes, full of shrieking savages, was now coming off
towards the dhow. "Give them a shot from the six-pounder," said Adair,
putting the boat's head round; "it will teach them that they had better
not follow us." The missile went flying over the water, just ahead of
the canoes. It appeared to have had the desired effect, for some ceased
paddling, and others went back as fast as they could make way towards
the shore; while the pinnace, with the canoe in tow, proceeded down the
harbour.

Night had now come on; the flames, which rose from every portion of the
burning dhow, their glare extending down the river and casting a ruddy
light against the tall trees on either side, enabled them, without
difficulty, to make their way towards the ocean. The cut-throat-looking
Arabs, with their venerable captain, appeared to be very uneasy in their
minds, not knowing what was to be done with them; perhaps supposing that
their captors were carrying them out to sea to drown in deep water.
They were evidently much relieved when, a point some little way down the
river being reached, Adair intimated to them that they were forthwith to
be put on shore. As many as the canoe would hold were tumbled into her,
and they, being quickly landed, she returned for another cargo. The old
skipper was the last. As he gazed at his burning vessel, he wrung his
hands, mourning his hard fate.

"Very hard for you," observed Archie; "but it would have been harder for
the unfortunate blacks you would have carried off into slavery."

During this time the natives, gaining courage, were coming down the
river in vast numbers, beating their tom-toms and shouting and
shrieking. They could be easily beaten off, provided they were not
allowed to get too near; but Adair had no wish to shed blood, and
therefore, having completely destroyed the dho