ry part of the dhow arose shouts and cries. Then
there came a splash, then another and another; the next instant he was
hurled headforemost overboard, happily his arms getting free as he
struggled impulsively to save himself from his impending fate.

CHAPTER SIX.

ADAIR BOARDS THE THIRD DHOW--HER CREW AND PASSENGERS--PANGO DISCOVERS
THAT THE LATTER ARE SLAVES--ADAIR RETURNS WITH THE DHOW TO THE ISLAND--
GREEN ABSENT ON AN EXPEDITION--ADAIR'S FEARS AS TO DESMOND AND ARCHIE--
GREEN RETURNS WITH THE DHOW LEFT IN CHARGE OF DESMOND, BUT WITHOUT THE
MIDSHIPMEN--ADAIR'S ANXIETY INCREASES--INTERROGATION OF THE ARAB CREW--A
SAIL IN SIGHT--SHE PROVES TO BE THE OPAL--ADAIR INFORMS MURRAY OF THE
LOSS OF THE MIDSHIPMEN--THE COMMANDER'S GRIEF--THE DHOW BLOWS UP WITH
ALL ON BOARD, AND SAVES THE HANGMAN A JOB--THE OPAL GOES IN SEARCH OF
THE MIDSHIPMEN.

Adair, after leaving the midshipmen on board the first dhow, eager to
capture the second, urged his crew not to spare their arms, or the tough
ash-sticks they handled. They, fully as eager as the lieutenant, were
not the men to do that, and the boat made rapid progress through the
calm water. They had every hope of catching her, unless a breeze should
suddenly spring up, when they well knew that she would slip away from
them at a speed which they had no chance of equalling. In case of such
an occurrence, the gun mounted on the bow was reloaded, ready to send a
shot after her.

The wind continued light, and at length, laying in their oars, they
ranged up alongside, taking good care to make the boat fast; when,
following their lieutenant, all hands leaped on board with cutlasses and
pistols, ready to make short work of any who might oppose them--though,
to their surprise, not the slightest resistance was offered. The deck
appeared crowded with passengers, their skins black as jet, but dressed
in every variety of Oriental costume. The numerous crew, a large
proportion of whom were black, were collected forward; while the negoda
stood aft, near the man at the helm. He advanced with a smiling
countenance, and made a profound salaam to Adair, who, sheathing his
sword, with his men at his back, stood ready to receive him; a couple
only, one of whom was Pango, remained in the boat to look after her.

He was a wiry, daring-looking fellow, with a bold, piratical swagger,
which gave an impression that he would not hesitate at the most
audacious acts of atrocity which he might suppo