the articles he
required, which Senor Charlie promised should be on board punctually the
first thing next morning.

On their way back to the landing-place they caught sight of several of
the _Opal's_ crew, who had been allowed to come on shore, surrounded by
a group of ill-looking Arabs, all with arms in their hands, by their
gestures showing that they were endeavouring to incite the Englishmen to
quarrel, as they kept stalking round them, clutching their daggers. The
sailors, each of whom carried a thick stick, regarded the Arabs with the
utmost contempt, as they rolled onward along the streets, every now and
then only turning round and advising them to keep at a respectful
distance. As they caught sight of their commander, touching their hats,
they came to a standstill, while the Arabs, scowling fiercely at them,
hung back. Murray was thankful that he had fallen in with them, for it
was evident that the Arabs would have taken the earliest opportunity of
attacking them, in revenge for the loss of the slaving dhows which they
had assisted to capture. He ordered them, much to their disappointment,
to return with him to the boat, thereby saving them from the Arab
daggers, or an almost equally dangerous visit to French Charlie's store.

As he got down to the harbour, much to his satisfaction, he saw the
_Romp_ standing in, and before returning to his own ship he went on
board her. Jack gave him an account of his capture of the slaver, and,
having Hamed with him, they were at once able to interrogate the slave
boy who had been saved, and to examine some of the prisoners. The boy,
who had lately recovered by a few days' good food and kind treatment,
showed more than the ordinary intelligence exhibited by captured slaves.
He had been taken while away from his native village, with several
other boys, watching their cattle. The men of their tribe, hearing of
their capture, attempted to rescue them, but were driven back with the
loss of several killed and a considerable number taken alive. They were
all, he and his friends, dragged away, till they joined the main body,
who were forced along, secured two and two by a heavy pole with a fork
at each end, into which their necks were fixed. He saw several drop
from fatigue, whom the Arabs endeavoured to compel to rise with the
points of their spears; if they refused to do so, the masters either
killed them with their axes, or, driving their spears into their bodies,
left th