e came upon
two children who had evidently been let fall by those who were carrying
them. Both were dead, and their shrunken little forms showed that they
had died from starvation. The top of the hill was reached. Charley at
length stopped and looked round, but neither Arabs nor blacks were
anywhere visible. Though, had he consulted his own feelings, he would
have gone on still farther, he remembered his promise to be cautious,
and exclaimed with a heavy heart--

"We must go back; we may still find him, but I dare not push on
further."

The men appeared to share his feelings, for Ned was a favourite with all
of them. They made their way towards the boat, searching the bushes as
they went along, dreading that at any moment they might discover Ned's
body. At length they met Rhymer.

"He must have been made prisoner and carried off by the Arabs," cried
Charley; "that is the only consolation we have."

"Well, I suppose they would scarcely have taken the trouble to carry him
off if he had been killed; and we must report to the commander that such
is the conclusion we have arrived at, after making diligent search for
him in all directions."

Charley felt somewhat indignant that Rhymer did not express more regret
at the loss of their young messmate; he, however, said nothing. They
once more embarked, and shoving off, proceeded down the river. It was
important to get over the bar before dark, and make the best of their
way back to the ship, for the wounded men, now that the excitement was
over, began to complain of their hurts, and it was, of course, necessary
that they should be attended to by the surgeon with as little delay as
possible. As the wind blew almost up the river, it was necessary to get
the oars out and pull the boat over the bar. This was a heavy task with
a diminished crew, but Rhymer sent one of the wounded men to the helm,
while he took one oar and Charley another.

They got down very well to the mouth, but the heavy foam-topped rollers
which came tumbling in threatened to prevent them getting into the open
sea beyond.

"It must be done," exclaimed Rhymer. "To-morrow it may be worse, and we
shall have a whole fleet of Arab boats coming down upon us."

Twice, however, he pulled up to the inner roller, and backed the boat
off again. For some minutes he stood up watching the seas; at length he
exclaimed, "Now, my lads, now or never, give way," and all hands bending
their backs to the oars, p