nd hear about some
of his old friends on shore, he had been suddenly gagged and nearly
tumbled over the side, when Pango, who, suspecting mischief, had drawn
near, shouted out and called some of the watch to their assistance, who
had seized the Arabs before they could make their escape.

Murray was much inclined to have the fellows who had attempted so daring
an outrage triced up and thoroughly flogged; but, not wishing to create
more ill-feeling among the Arab population of the island than already
existed, he merely ordered them and the pilot to be trundled forthwith
into the boat and dismissed, with a warning not again to attempt a
similar undertaking. The pilot, to whom some pay was due, was mulcted
of it--a punishment which he would consider pretty severe; besides
which, he was warned that he would never again be employed on board one
of Her Majesty's ships.

It was some time before poor Bango could recover from his alarm, and the
thoughts of the narrow escape he had had. "If him me get, he sure kill,
after floggee," he exclaimed; "oh! him poor black feel de whip even
now," and he wriggled and rubbed his shoulders about, as if undergoing
the torture he believed his late master would have inflicted.

"Never fear, my man," said Snatchblock, to whom he spoke; "we'll take
care the Arabs don't get hold of you, and as long as you do your duty
aboard here, and don't get drunk, there's no fear of the cat and your
back becoming acquainted."

The next morning Jack again examined his Arab prisoners, when one and
all declared themselves to be the subjects of the Sultan of Zanzibar.
As there was no proof to the contrary, Jack handed them over to the
authorities to be tried and punished for the murder of the slaves.
They, having numerous friends in the island, fully believed that through
their influence they would escape. No one appeared to assist them, and
the Sultan, wishing to prove his zealous desire to put down the
slave-trade, ordered them to be taken out and shot; and as they had lost
the means of bribing their guards to assist them in effecting their
escape, they met the fate they so richly deserved.

CHAPTER NINE.

TOM ROGERS SPINS A YARN--ADVENTURES IN BURMAH--UP THE IRRAWADDY--CAPTURE
OF MARTABAN--TOM'S WHISKERS--CAPTURE OF PROME--EXPEDITION ON SHORE--
GENERAL BUNDOOLAH THINKS DISCRETION THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR--CAMPING
OUT IN THE JUNGLE--ATTACK ON THE GUERILLA'S FORTRESS--DEATH OF CAPTAIN
LOCH--ARCHIE