food, or disposing of
them in some other horrible manner. Poor creatures! what their future
lot was to be no one could tell. One thing was certain: they had been
torn from their homes and families, many of those dearest to them had
been killed by the savage men-hunters, and they themselves had been
treated with horrible cruelty.

The boats, as usual, were kept in readiness to start off at a moment's
notice, while the look-out men had their eyes about them in search of
any dhows running up the coast. "A sail in sight to the southward,"
shouted the man up the tree.

"What is she like?" asked Adair.

"Square-rigged vessel, sir, with a broad spread of white canvas."

Here was likely to be work. She might prove a Spanish or American
vessel, or carrying the flag of one of the other powers which still
permitted the slave-trade. If a slaver, she was not likely to yield
tamely if she had a chance of escape. Many such vessels were known to
be strongly armed, and to be commanded by daring fellows, who would be
perfectly ready to fight if they saw a chance of success. All the
boats, therefore, were manned, to be ready to attack her should she
stand near the island; which, from the course she was steering, there
was every probability she would do. Everyone looked forward to the work
with satisfaction. The only fear was that she might be empty, and might
simply be coming north to take in her slaves at Angoxa, or some other
place farther north. Cutlasses were buckled on, pistols freshly capped,
and other usual preparations made when fighting was in hand.

The wind was somewhat light, but at length the stranger's courses rose
above the horizon, when Jos Green, who had mounted to the
signal-station, shouted out, "She's an English brig-of-war, and is
making her number." Adair sent for the signal-book, and, inquiring the
flag seen, quickly made her out as the _Romp_.

"Why, she's been on the East India station," he observed. "We shall
soon know all about her, for she's evidently steering for the island,
and the breeze seems to be freshening. She'll come to an anchor before
long."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE MIDSHIPMEN SWIM FOR THEIR LIVES--FIND THE CANOE--ADRIFT ON THE
OCEAN--THEIR SUFFERINGS--PICKED UP BY THE ROMP, COMMANDER JACK ROGERS--
TOM'S MEETING WITH DESMOND AND ARCHIE--ADAIR'S JOY ON SEEING THEM--THE
BANQUET ON THE ISLAND--"MUSIC HATH CHARMS"--BURNING OF A NATIVE
VILLAGE--THE OPAL AND ROMP SAIL FOR ZANZIBAR.