booty," he exclaimed.

I did not undeceive him.

"Can that be the large raft, I wonder?" asked Halliday. "If so, some of
the poor wretches have escaped death after all."

I examined it attentively, and saw that it was very much smaller than
the large raft, and could not support more than two or three people. I
also now observed that a reef of rocks ran parallel with the coast for
some distance, the sea breaking heavily upon it.

There was soon a general commotion in the camp, and all fully believing
that a vessel was approaching which could not escape being wrecked, were
highly delighted at the prospect of making themselves the possessors of
her cargo. The sheikh was as eager as any one, and, accompanied by his
family, hastened down to the beach, hoping to be among the first on
board.

Nearer drew the raft, and at length I made out that only one person sat
upon it, steering with an oar. The people--who were all by this time
down on the beach--soon discovered their mistake, and began to vent
their disappointment by uttering curses on the head of the stranger,--we
coming in for a share of their anger.

On came the raft, and presently, as we expected would be the case, was
dashed on the reef, suffering even a worse fate than ours--being utterly
broken to pieces. Its occupant, however, sprang forward, and we saw him
striking out bravely in the calmer water, into which he had been thrown,
towards the shore. He was followed by fragments of the raft, which I
thought would strike him; but he escaped from them, and came on with
rapid strokes towards us. The Arabs, some of whom rushed half-naked
into the water, waved their hands and encouraged him by their shouts.
As he drew near we saw that he was either an Arab or a black man; and
before he landed we recognised him as Antonio, the black we had met on
board the Spanish ship. The Arabs now stretched out their hands to help
him, and he was soon in their midst, supported by their arms.

Whether he had recognised us or not we could not tell, for at first he
appeared to be too much exhausted to speak; and from the eagerness with
which the Arabs gathered round him, and his general appearance, we
suspected that he either belonged to their tribe, or to some other tribe
on friendly terms with them. Such we had soon too good reason to know
was the case. Presently we saw him borne to the tent of the sheikh,
where food and water were carried to him. Remembering his conduc