d. He
was silent for a minute.

"You are right, D'Arcy, you are right," he replied, in a dejected tone.
"The affair requires time and great circumspection. These people are
not to be trifled with, I know. Force alone will not succeed, or I am
certain Captain Poynder would land every man who can be spared from the
ship, and would compel these Reefians to let us know what has become of
their captives."

"Yes, sir, and every man would gladly follow, wherever you might lead,"
I replied.

"I know they would--I know they would, D'Arcy," said he. "But let us
take a look over the ship, and perhaps we may find out something to
direct our proceedings."

We opened the cabin-door cautiously, and crept up the companion-ladder.
The hatch was off. We got on deck: no one was there. Shrouding the
lantern, we crept along the deck, and descended into the main-hold. The
entire cargo had been removed. We concluded that the vessel had no one
on board, and were about to return, when I suggested that we should look
into the forepeak. We therefore moved cautiously, as before, along the
deck, and were descending the ladder, when Mr Vernon touched my leg.

"There is some one breathing down here," he said. "Be prepared for a
rush."

When we got to the bottom of the ladder, as he threw the rays of the
lantern round the place, they fell on the sleeping form of a young Arab,
dressed in a turban, and his white haick folded gracefully round him.
The instant the light fell on his eyes, he started up with a look of
mute astonishment, and laid his hand on the hilt of a dagger by his
side. Before he could unsheath it, Mr Vernon had thrown himself upon
him, and wrenched it from his grasp, while, I following, we without much
difficulty secured him; for, though graceful and active in appearance,
he had not much muscular power. He did not call out. Perhaps he
disdained to do so. But to prevent him, should he show any inclination
to call for help, Mr Vernon rather unceremoniously thrust a
handkerchief into his mouth.

"Now, hurry, D'Arcy, and call up one of the men to help carry this lad
into the boat. Here is a prize worth having indeed," he said. "He may
be of incalculable service to us." I did as I was ordered, and he
quickly got the lad securely bound and up on deck. As we were dragging
him along, the handkerchief fell out of his mouth, and he gave a shriek,
which showed that he was no willing prisoner. The noise, however, only