y a
prearranged signal. On landing, he found that the Arabs had rushed down
on the camp, liberated the remainder of the prisoners, and, having
attacked the party left in charge, were inciting the blacks to escape.
His speedy return compelled the Arabs to fly, but not till they had
induced thirty of the blacks to run off with them.

As they could not get over to the mainland, Jack sent a large party on
shore to sweep the island from one end to the other, and to capture
every Arab and black who could be found. Tom and Gerald, who, after
their snooze, awoke, as they declared, perfectly fresh, begged leave to
join it, as they were as eager as any to rescue the poor blacks who had
so quickly again been brought into slavery by the Arabs, while they
wished to recapture the latter, and to stop their slave-dealing for the
future.

The party had proceeded half-way along the island, Tom and Gerald being
on the right or the western side, when he caught sight of a black object
in the water moving away from the shore. Directly afterwards he saw
several others in the same direction. "Those must be Arabs attempting
to swim to the mainland," he shouted; "on, lads, and stop them! Pass
the word along the line."

He and the men accompanying him hurried on, and were soon joined by
Gerald and his party, when they caught sight of a dozen Arabs in the
water, while many more were on the beach, endeavouring to induce the
blacks to accompany them. Tom shouted to those in the water to return.
The nearest obeyed on seeing the seamen present their muskets, but the
others still held on their course.

"Stop the fellows!" cried Tom; when the seamen fired several shots. One
of the nearest was hit, but the rest continued striking out. Another
volley had the effect of making two more turn back. Six or seven still
held desperately on. Shot after shot was fired at them; but the
wretches had other foes besides the British seamen. Soon after the
leading swimmer had got out of gunshot he was seen to throw up his arms,
a piercing shriek was heard, and the next instant he disappeared beneath
the surface. The rest still held on, as it was as hazardous to turn
back as to go forward. Another shortly afterwards shared the fate of
the first. What horror must have filled their minds as they made their
way through the water, knowing that at any instant a ravenous shark
might seize their legs and drag them under!

Two or three, however, reached the s