throwing up a mass of shining foam before us, and leaving a line of
liquid fire in our wake. We soon gained more hope of escape, from the
rate at which our pursuers came on; and we began to suspect that the
boats, probably in the hurry of the moment, were manned with old men and
lads, and any one who was at hand; and that they were likely rather to
fall off than to increase their speed. This proved to be the case. We
gained on them slowly at first, but more rapidly by degrees, till we
actually ran them out of sight. Our next business was to find our ship;
and I kept a bright look-out for her. Our young captive, meantime, lay
at the bottom of the boat, and when he found that we had escaped from
his countrymen, he seemed to take things very coolly; and when Mr
Vernon assured him that we meant him no injury, he replied, that if we
took his life, his tribe would some day cut us up piecemeal, and throw
the bits to the jackals. As we were pulling along, we heard a shout,
which proved to come from Stallman, who had, of course, seen no wreck;
but he had discovered a spot where the water was deep up to the shore,
and where there appeared to be no inhabitants, so that he had been able
to pull close in, and could have landed, if necessary. We now
altogether pulled out to sea, and in another hour fell in with the
frigate. She then stood off shore, and by daylight we were out of sight
of land, so that the Reefians could not have guessed who their visitors
could have been. I think that I before have said that Mr Vernon was a
great linguist. He spoke Arabic perfectly, and was thus able to hold
communication with our young prisoner, whose fears, before long, he
succeeded completely in silencing, and whose confidence also he soon
appeared to have gained. All the morning Mr Vernon was in earnest
conversation with the young Reefian, and, by his countenance, he
appeared to be gaining information of a highly interesting character.
He then went into the captain's cabin, and after a long conversation
with him, the ship's course was shaped for Tangiers.

Just before we reached that place, he called me to him.

"D'Arcy," he said, "I have remarked your steadiness and discretion above
your years; and as I have a difficult and--I will not conceal it from
you--a hazardous expedition to make, in which a companion to assist me
would be very valuable, I wish to know whether, if the captain will
allow you, you would be willing to accompany