sir," he remarked, "if there comes a lull; if
not, we shall have to wait here till the sea goes down. The worst is
the want of grub and water, and we are not likely to find either in
these parts, I've a notion, unless some wild beast or other comes to
have a look at us; then we may give him a shot, and try what his flesh
tastes like."

The day was by this time drawing on. As not a particle of food or a
drop of water had been brought in the boat, all hands were excessively
hungry and thirsty. It was dangerous to separate, though, in search of
provisions, as it was more than possible that the Arabs might instigate
the natives to attack them. Snatchblock and Desmond, however,
volunteered to go, taking different directions, each accompanied by one
man. For the sake of the poor blacks, who seemed literally perishing
from starvation, Adair would willingly have consented, but it would be
far better, he thought, if possible, to get off to the ship. Anxiously
he watched the long line of breakers, but they extended up and down the
coast as far as the eye could reach, without an opening through which
the boat might possibly pass. Another hour or more went by; no shade
was to be obtained except at a distance, under the trees of the forest;
and Adair considered that it would be dangerous to venture so far from
the shore, as the natives might then have the opportunity of stealing on
them unawares. They accordingly sat down on the beach watching the
breakers, in the hopes, as the tide rose, that their violence might
decrease, and an opening appear through which the boat might be forced.
The rays of the sun struck down on their heads with terrific force,
quickly drying their drenched clothes; but they would gladly have
remained wet as they were, could they have found a few yards of shade
beneath a neighbouring tree or rock.

The wretched blacks sat with stolid looks, as if totally unconscious
that their liberators wished to benefit them. Every now and then, when
they fancied that they were not observed, they cast frightened glances
at the sailors. "I don't know what the poor niggers are thinking of,"
observed Snatchblock; "maybe they fancy that we're going to eat them,
though it would be a hard matter to scrape enough off the bones of all
of them to feed a young dog. I wish I knew something of their lingo,
I'd try to make them understand that when we get on board we'll give
them a good blow-out, and that in a week or two t