ulled on as British seamen are wont to do in
cases of emergency. It was a struggle truly for life and death. Had
the boat been caught broadside by one of those treacherous undulations,
she would have been thrown over and over, and not a man on board could
have escaped. Had an oar broken, or the men relaxed in their efforts,
no power could have saved them. Three rollers had been passed, there
were still two more to be encountered. The fourth advanced with a crest
of foam. The boat had almost reached the summit, when the water came
rushing over her bows, half-filling her; but the crew persevered, and
the wounded men began bailing away with might and main.

"Pull away, pull away, lads!" shouted Rhymer; "there's only one more,
and we shall be clear of them."

Again the boat rose, the water rushing aft, but the poor fellows seated
there, in spite of their hurts, continued to heave it out. The next
minute, having forced their way over the last roller, the boat was free.
They had still a long pull before them until the boat could obtain a
good offing, so that they might make sail and stand to the northward.
At length the sails were set. By this time it was perfectly dark, yet,
having a compass, a proper course could be kept. As the wind was light,
it was not until near morning that they reached the island where they
had left their tent and stores. As there was a moon they were able to
steer into the bay. On landing they hurried up to where the tent had
stood.

"Why, where is it?" exclaimed Rhymer.

They hunted about, neither their tent nor any of their stores could they
discover.

"Some fellows have been here and carried them off, no doubt about that,"
observed Charley; "but who they are is more than I can say."

"The rascally crew of a dhow probably," answered Rhymer. "How the
villains must have laughed at us when they saw our boat sailing away."

A further search in no way cleared up the mystery, and all they could do
was to light a fire and cook some provisions, which had fortunately been
kept on board the boat. On the return of daylight they found the marks
of numerous naked feet on the sand; but whether of blacks or Arabs they
were unable to determine, though Charley suspected that they were those
of a party of blacks who had come across from the mainland.

This loss made it still more important for them to get back to the ship.
As soon as they had taken a hurried breakfast, Rhymer ordered all hands