"All right, then. Come down here and we will divide up the things, and as there are three boats, you may have one of them."
The three walked to the spot.
The main part of the burned vessel's cargo consisted of trinkets, calicoes, cheap jewelry, etc., to trade with the natives for various African products.
All that had been saved from the ship was four cases of these, a number of firearms, and a good supply of sea-biscuit and salt.
The three that decided to wait were given one of the cases, six rifles, a dozen revolvers, with ample ammunition for both, and a barrel of sea-biscuit and about one-fourth of a sack of salt.
"You might need the guns and pistols if you stay around this wild country very long," said the captain, as the two boats pushed off and headed up the river.
"Good-by!" cried Van. "We are going to find the man who burned the ship. Success to you all!"
The sailors gave a cheer, and in a few minutes the boats were lost in the darkness.
Our hero and his two companions then sat down in their boat and watched the still burning hull of the Mary Newman.
It must have been near midnight ere the hull sank from sight, and then the three lay down in the bottom of the boat and slept till sunrise.