he may think fit."

Although the women and children under some circumstances would have been
the first to be removed, as the men would be likely to give most trouble
if left on shore, fifty of them were embarked and carried on board the
ship, the boat then returning for another cargo. Thus, in the course of
time, all were transferred on board. Tom and Gerald, who had gone in
the second trip, received their due praise for their conduct. The
prisoners from the second dhow, captured by Mr Matson, at length
arrived, with a large number of slaves and the Arab crews. He had a sad
account to give, but Tom and Gerald, though they had been eager to hear
it, were by that time fast asleep in the berth, thoroughly done up with
their exertions.

Both the dhows were set on fire, that they might not fall into the hands
of the Arabs. On the sinking of the dhow by the senior mate, in his
attempt to save some of the women and children, he himself had lost his
life; but the Arab crew, from swimming well, had been picked up. Two
seamen had been killed, and only forty blacks had been rescued; and the
boat herself had been so damaged that it was with difficulty she reached
the island, when the Arabs, who had not been secured, leaping on shore,
made off among the rocks. The dhow captured by Mr Matson was in so
leaky a state that he had been compelled to land all the blacks, as well
as the Arabs, who entreated not to be left on board. Trusting to their
gratitude, he allowed them, when landed, to remain at liberty, without
having examined them to ascertain whether they had concealed any arms
about their persons. His boat also had suffered considerably; he was
thus prevented from attacking the three dhows when they first came to an
anchor. He had, indeed, enough to do to look after the numerous
liberated blacks; while several of his crew, who had been badly-wounded,
required to be attended to.

So occupied had he been that not till the dhows appeared did he think of
sending the carpenter's mate and two men to repair the boat. In the
meantime, several of the Arabs had stolen off and joined their
countrymen who had before made their escape. Leaving a small party only
to guard the blacks and protect the wounded, as soon as the boat was
repaired he set off, as has been described, to attack the three dhows.
After his unsuccessful chase of the one which escaped, he was returning
to help Tom and Gerald when he was summoned to the island b