and the Arabs
probably thought that they might possibly keep ahead till nightfall, and
escape during the darkness. She was a large vessel, and she might have
three or four hundred slaves on board, and was on every account,
therefore, worth catching. On she went for several miles, the
_Gauntlet_ inch by inch at length gaining on her. Two shot had already
passed through her sail, and a shell had burst so near that possibly
some of her crew might have been hit. Gradually she was edging towards
the shore, where a sandy beach could be discovered from the ship. It
was of no great extent, as there were rocks at either end; but if the
dhow could reach it, she might be run on shore, and the blacks landed
before the boats could reach her to prevent them. To stop her from
doing this was impossible, unless a happy shot should carry away her
mast or yard.

Nearer and nearer she drew to the beach, on which a heavy surf was
breaking. "The fellows will drown themselves if they attempt to land
there," said Jack.

"I'm not so certain of that," answered Higson; "a certain percentage may
be lost, but the Arabs will care nothing about that, provided they can
get the greater number on shore; and as they themselves swim like
fishes, they have no fear of losing their own lives."

The dhow heeled over to the breeze, but still kept her large sail
standing; there was no longer any doubt that the Arabs had resolved to
beach her. "Give her a shot," cried Jack, "right over her; it may show
them that even if they do reach the shore, they have no chance of
escaping from us." A shot was fired; another and another followed,
flying over the dhow's sail and pitching into the beach, towards which
she was rushing to her destruction. Should she strike it, could any of
the human beings on board escape? The surf was rolling in heavily, and
breaking with continued roar on the sand; rushing far up, and then
receding with still greater rapidity. Notwithstanding this, the Arabs,
maddened at the thoughts of capture, stood desperately on; they
themselves might escape, and what mattered to them the lives of their
wretched captives? should a few be rescued, it would be better than
letting the whole fall into the hands of the hated white men. The
miserable blacks had no choice between a speedy death or a lingering
captivity. The foam-topped breakers were dancing up on either side of
the devoted vessel; through them she rushed, and the next instant, by