"Not a bit of it," answered Adair; "see, she is going to set a wider
spread of canvas than before."

He was right. Presently a long tapering yard rose to the head of the
stern, the sail swelling out like the balloon jib of a racing yacht, and
shining brightly in the rising sun.

"Should the breeze increase, she will walk away from us like greased
lightning, as the Yankees say," observed Adair.

"We'll hope, then, it will remain calm," said Archie. As it was, though
the men strained at their oars, it taxed their utmost strength to gain
on her. Still, they were gaining. Desmond and Archie stepped forward
to assist Jerry in getting the gun ready to fire a shot as soon as they
got near enough to make her heave-to. Light as was the breeze, the dhow
continued to slip rapidly through the water. It was evident, however,
that the boat was gaining on her, and the men redoubled their efforts.

"Shall we fire, sir?" asked Archie. "We might manage to bring down her
sail."

"Fire over her," answered Adair; "a shot might chance to hurt some of
the poor slaves, instead of the rascally Arabs."

Jerry elevated the gun, and pulled the trigger. Away flew the shot
right through the dhow's huge sail; but her crew, looking to windward,
fancied that the breeze was about to freshen. The gun was quickly
sponged and again loaded.

"Try another shot," cried Adair; "if you can hit the yard or mast, it
will save us a long pull."

Jerry willingly obeyed; but again the shot, though well aimed, only went
through the sail.

"Very good practice," said Adair, "but just let it be a little better."

Jerry Bird, though watching the chase, could not help now and then
taking a look at the countenance of the old chief,--Mustapha Longchops,
the sailors called him,--but whether he wished the dhow to escape or
not, it was difficult to say. Jerry had again got the gun ready, and,
putting it on the breech, he exhorted it this time to do its duty.
Again he pulled the trigger, when the next instant down came the long
yard by the run on deck. The midshipmen uttered a hearty cheer, taken
up by Adair and the crew, and in a few minutes they were alongside the
vessel.

The Arabs, however, seeing only a single boat, and unsupported, had made
up their minds, it seems, not to yield without a struggle. Some twenty
savage-looking fellows, some armed with two-handed swords, others with
muskets and assegais, stood ready to defend their vessel. As the
p