square-rigged vessel, also
approaching directly before the wind. The crew of the dhow had in all
probability seen her, and were endeavouring to escape.

"By the cut of her canvas," exclaimed Jerry, after watching for some
moments, "she's an English man-o'-war." Sam was of the same opinion.
The two midshipmen hoped they were right. The question, however, was
how the dhow would treat them. They were certainly less anxious than
they had been before to get on board her. Would her crew, from mere
revenge, on recognising the midshipmen's uniforms, give them her stem?
If she did, they must do their best to scramble on board; but then, with
their strength so diminished, they would scarcely be able to clamber up,
much less to fight, as Jerry had proposed.

A few minutes more must settle the question. As the ship was standing
directly after the dhow, they might, at all events, be picked up by her;
and they, therefore, earnestly hoped that the latter might pass without
observing them, or, if she did, without molesting them. On she came.

"She's steering somewhat wide of us, sir," exclaimed Jerry, "and I don't
think we've been seen as yet."

What the Arabs might have done had they not been chased, it was
difficult to say. The canoe was apparently not discovered till the dhow
was within a few cables' length of her. The dhow would have had to
deviate slightly from her course to run down the canoe; as it was, she
passed scarcely twenty fathoms off, her dark-skinned crew casting savage
looks at the Englishmen. While the dhow was gliding by, the two
midshipmen and their companions sat up watching her.

"They've made out who we are, sir," cried Jerry; "and the villains, if
they're not pointing their matchlocks at us! Lie flat down, and we
shall have a better chance of escaping." Scarcely had he spoken than
several shots came flying by the canoe, one close over her; but happily,
as Jerry's advice had been followed, no one was hit, and the dhow,
impelled by the fresh breeze, went rapidly ahead, leaving the canoe far
astern, before the slavers could fire another volley.

"You arrant scoundrels!" shouted Jerry; "we'll pay you off one of these
days."

After this excitement the whole party would have sunk back into their
former state of apathy, had not the approaching vessel given them matter
to keep them aroused. Her topsails were now above the horizon, and soon
her courses appeared; by which time, however, the sails of th