me
distance farther in; as near, indeed, to the shore as it was safe to go.
The inside dhow followed her example, as did the third, and all three
lay close together, as if no enemy existed near them.

"They seem pretty bold fellows," observed Tom; "or else they confide in
their numbers. Supposing each carries thirty men, and I think I can
count as many on their decks, there must be ninety in all--rather heavy
odds against our boats' crews, who have, besides, their prisoners to
look after. I say, Desmond, suppose they land? we should be feeling
rather foolish."

"I don't think the lazy rascals would take the trouble to climb up
here," answered Desmond; "and if they do, we've got our revolvers, and
the men have their muskets and cutlasses, and we shall easily be able to
defend ourselves; but they probably are not unprovided with long guns;
though they may be only matchlocks or old muskets, they may contrive to
pick us off while they keep at a safe distance."

The state of affairs had indeed become serious. The midshipmen and
their party were completely cut off from receiving any assistance from
their shipmates on the island, who might indeed also not be in a
condition to afford it. In all probability, with the pretty severe
fights both boats had had, some of the men had suffered; still, if one
whole boat's crew could be mustered, Lieutenant Matson would scarcely
fail to try and capture the three dhows which had so audaciously entered
the lion's den. That he had not done so already made Tom and Desmond
not a little anxious; although the Arabs on board the dhows might not
have seen the boats or the people on shore when they first entered the
bay, they could not fail to do so where they now lay; yet, instead of
again weighing and standing on, which would have been their wisest
course, they remained as quiet as if no enemy was near.

The midshipmen's chief hope now was that the ship would quickly come
back and catch the three dhows before they again stood out to sea. They
expected every instant to catch sight of the boats pulling off to attack
the dhows. Neither appeared, and they at length began to fear that
either Lieutenant Matson or Collins the mate, or perhaps both of them,
had been killed or wounded; and that so many of the men had been hurt
that they were unable to make the attempt.

The day was drawing on. They had brought up a small keg of water and
some provisions, or they would by this time have been a