far,"
answered Desmond; "I only hope the ship won't be knocking her nose on
the rocks in her eagerness to get hold of the fellows."

"No fear of that," said Tom; "my brother Jack is too careful to do so
bungling a thing; though he's ready enough to run every risk when
necessary. He wouldn't esteem your remark as a compliment."

"I don't doubt his judgment," said Desmond; "though if you are not on
board to give him the benefit of your advice, he may be after getting
into a scrape. But, I say, what are the other two boats about? I had
almost forgotten them."

Tom turned his telescope to the south-east, in which direction the white
bulging sails of the dhows could be seen shining brightly, as they
floated above the blue ocean; while the boats lay ahead of them, like
two crouching savage animals waiting for their prey. They were more
than a mile apart, so that they could render no assistance to each
other; but, apparently, they considered that would not be necessary, as
the Arabs, even if they had slaves on board, were not likely to offer
any resistance with a man-of-war in sight. There was no escape for
either of the dhows, for the surf broke upon every part of the coast
visible to the southward with a fury which must preclude all hope of
escape to any human being on board; and thus, if they intended to fight,
they must be prepared to conquer and run ahead of the ship while she was
engaged with her companions nearer the shore. Still, there was
sufficient probability of their doing so to make Desmond and Tom, with
all the men on the rock, watch the proceedings with intense interest.

On flew the dhows, their bulging sails swelling in the breeze, and the
white foam flying up under their low bows. Matson, the second
lieutenant, commanded one of the boats, and the senior mate the other.
The object of the dhows, since they could not avoid the boats, was to
try and give them the stem, but the English officers were not to be
caught so at a disadvantage. The second lieutenant's boat was nearest
in; as the dhow came dashing on, the lieutenant ran his boat alongside,
and he and his men, like ants, could be seen scrambling up over the
bulwarks. Some small tiny puffs showed that fighting was going on.
Then came a pretty considerable number, though the reports which reached
them sounded no louder than those of pop-guns. Tom declared that he
could see the flash of steel as the cutlasses glittered in the sunshine.
One thing