le anxiety, for the expedition was a
hazardous one. The guns continued firing away, now by their shot or
shell checking the advance of the fugitives in one direction, now in
another. Still, in spite of the shot, the Arabs kept urging on the
slaves, and, making them scatter far and wide, induced them to continue
their flight. The two boats, at some little distance apart, entered the
breakers, and almost immediately were seen to have reached the shore,
while Mr Large remained by the boats with three hands to look after
them.

The rest of the party, led by Archie and Hamed, set off in pursuit of
the fugitives. Strong and active, they quickly overtook a large party
of the blacks; and Hamed, as was seen by his gestures, was addressing
them, probably telling them of their folly in being alarmed, and
advising them to return to the shore.

As the crews had landed, the boats had been hauled off by their crews
from the beach. Presently Mr Large was seen hauling one of them up on
the beach, and, having done so, he hastened away towards the second; but
before he arrived, she was observed in the midst of the breakers, the
next instant to be cast a shattered wreck on the beach. He and the two
men with him twice rushed down into the surf, the second time with
another man who had joined them; again and again they made the same
desperate rush into the boiling waters--the life of a fellow-creature
depended upon their success. The last rush they made they were
successful, and a human form was soon dragged out of the water; but he
did not rise to his feet. Carrying him up some little distance, they
laid him on the sand, bending over him; then, rising and casting a
lingering glance behind them, hurried on to meet a party of blacks who,
escorted by some of their shipmates, were approaching the beach.

The Arabs and fugitive slaves had, in the meantime, disappeared over the
sandhills, with the seamen still in hot pursuit, enjoying the chase,
shouting to each other, and turning here and there as they caught sight
of the larger party of blacks ahead, whom they were striving desperately
to overtake. Sometimes one, in his his eagerness, would tumble over on
his nose, but quickly picked himself up again. Now an unfortunate black
was overtaken, and seized by the arm,--for collar he had none to catch
hold of,--down he would fall on his knees, imploring his captor not to
murder him, when the sailor would pat him on the head and try to mak