ch seemed to come from the heights above them. Those heights
must be scaled before they could reach their friends. The firing became
more and more rapid as they climbed up; they at last caught sight of
Archie and his party, who, posted on some rocks, were defending
themselves against overwhelming numbers of Arabs. Tom and Gerald
uttered a loud cheer, which was taken up by the men, and then, without
waiting an instant to gain breath, first firing a volley, they rushed
with their cutlasses at the Arabs, who, turning and throwing down their
arms, scampered off with the activity of cats, leaving five or six of
their number dead or wounded behind them.

The seamen pursued them along the ridge of the hill, cutting down all
they overtook; but the larger number saved themselves by the fleetness
of their feet. A party of them kept together, however, and made their
way towards the group of slaves, in the hope, as it seemed, of carrying
them off. The seamen were, however, at their heels before they could
accomplish their object; and they were glad to make their escape into
the desert, leaving their captives in the hands of the victors.

Hamed, who had followed them, was soon able to calm the fears of the
blacks, whose bonds were speedily loosed, and their necks relieved from
the forked sticks. A spot which could be easily defended, should the
Arabs venture to attack them, was selected for their night encampment.
The ground being too uneven to allow them to travel in the dark, it was
necessary to remain till the next morning to return to the ship. They
had brought an ample supply of provisions, and the Arabs had compelled
the slaves to carry food for themselves. The low shrubs growing on the
hillside afforded an abundance of fuel; camp-fires were soon lighted,
and pots set boiling. Altogether, the midshipmen made themselves
perfectly happy. The other officers sat round the fire, recounting
their various adventures; Archie's party had met two or three wild
beasts, and been threatened on their road by the Arabs who had escaped
from the wrecked dhow, but they kept them at a distance with their
firearms; and the fellows had not dared to attack them till, joined by
other parties proceeding to the coast, they gained confidence from
superior numbers.

"They must be remarkably bad shots," observed Archie; "for though they
had thirty muskets among them, at the least, not one of us has been
hit."

In the morning they returned t