s from playing him any trick. Looking out astern, he saw the
first captured dhow following in his wake. "All right with the
youngsters," he thought; "they and Bird have their wits about them, and
will keep the slaver's crew under."

As the dhow appeared to be coming up with him, he saw no necessity for
shortening sail, as he hoped that she would close with him before
nightfall. By the time the sun went down she had got considerably
nearer, and, satisfied that all was right, he stood on. The night came
on much darker than usual, but he made out the peak of her triangular
sail rising against the sky, and therefore still felt perfectly at ease
about her. With so many doubtful characters on board, he would not lie
down even for a moment, or allow any of his crew to do so, but kept them
together, ready to defeat any attempt the Arabs might make to regain
their vessel. As they hoped to reach the island the next day, they
might then take a long snooze to make up for their want of sleep.
Several times he looked astern, when he saw the other prize still about
the same distance as before. Suddenly there came a squall and a
downpour of rain, but the wind being right aft, the dhow flew on before
it. He, however, thought it prudent to send his men to the halyards, so
as to be ready, should the wind increase, to lower the sail, the Arabs
showing no inclination to assist in working the vessel.

The darkness was greater than ever. The rain indeed, even by itself,
was thick enough to hide any objects except close to. In about an hour
it cleared off again, when, on looking out for number one prize, he
could nowhere distinguish her. "I suppose Gordon and Desmond judged it
prudent to lower their sail; they will be hoisting it again presently,"
he said to himself. Soon afterwards he thought he made her out, rather
more over the port quarter than she had been before. Yes, he was
certain of it, though she seemed to him farther off than she had
hitherto been; still, if the midshipmen had lowered their sail that was
to be expected.

Adair, still believing that all was right, continued his course, eager
to reach the island, and to arrange for despatching the two dhows to the
port of adjudication; though he had no doubt that they both would prove
lawful prizes. When morning at length broke, dhow number two was
nowhere in sight. This made him somewhat anxious, and he regretted that
he had not shortened sail at first to allow her t