en observed. What those birds were
none of them could ever discover; and the boatswain was fully persuaded
that they were the harpies of whom Tom had told him.

Tom was tolerably discreet, but Gerald, before long, let out the whole
story, greatly to the amusement of the other warrant-officers, who were
continually reminding poor Mr Large of his night on "Harpy Island."

"Harpy it might have been, but _happy_ it was not," he answered with a
groan. "I only wish that you two had been there; you wouldn't be so
fond of talking about it as you seem to be now."

As the boatswain had supposed, a dhow had been made out by the party
which had landed on the larger island, and as soon as steam could be got
up, the ship had gone in chase of her. She had managed, however, to run
up a somewhat narrow creek, into which the boats had been sent to bring
her out, and had succeeded in doing so; though all the slaves had been
taken out of her, with the exception of two who had been found in her
hold in an almost dying state. The Arab crew had escaped; the
examination of the poor slaves the next morning left no doubt of her
character. She was accordingly scuttled, and being then set on fire,
went to the bottom.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE LOOK-OUT PARTY ON THE ISLAND--A SLAVE CARAVAN--UNWELCOME VISITORS--
THREE DHOWS CHASED--WRECK OF THE DHOWS--RESCUING THE SLAVES--DANGEROUS
POSITION OF THE PARTY ON SHORE--THE KROOMEN CROSS THE SURF WITH
SUPPLIES--TENDERNESS OF THE SAILORS TO THE SLAVES--"WASHING A BLACKAMOOR
WHITE."

As Jack was not perfectly satisfied with the anchorage near Harpy
Island, he proceeded farther north, to a spot which answered all his
requirements, off a lofty headland with a deep bay. On the northern
side of it lay a rocky island of considerable height, with trees
covering the larger portion. Here a line-of-battle ship might have
remained concealed from any vessels coming from the southward, till they
were within range of the ship's guns; so that she might, if necessary,
compel them to strike, without even getting under way. Farther north
the island assumed the low and barren appearance of that part of the
African coast, a region as inhospitable and unattractive as could well
be conceived. Within the bay was a smooth beach; farther on, the coast
was lined for some miles with threatening rocks, against which should
any unfortunate vessel be driven, she must quickly be dashed to pieces.

The _Gauntlet_, carefull