Chapter Six.
It was Ned’s morning watch. Scarcely had the first streaks of crimson and gold appeared in the eastern sky, heralding the coming day, than the look-out, who had just reached the masthead, shouted—
“Three sail on the port bow,” and presently afterwards he announced two more in the same direction. The wind was southerly and light, the ship’s head was to the northward. The commander, according to his orders, was immediately called. All hands were roused up to make sail, and soon every stitch of canvas the ship could carry being packed on her, the foam which bubbled up under her bows showed that she was making good way in the direction in which the strangers had been seen. As soon as Ned was able, he hurried aloft with his spy-glass, eager to have a look at them. He counted not only five, but six, all of them dhows. As yet they were probably not aware of the presence of a man-of-war, for their hulls were still below the horizon. He hoped, therefore, that the “Ione” would gain on them before they should hoist their larger sails. He knew that it was the custom of the Arabs to carry only small sails at night. The usual preparations were made on board the corvette, the boats were cleared ready for lowering, the bow-chasers loaded and run out, and buckets of water were thrown over the sails to make them hold the wind.
“We are gaining on them!” exclaimed Ned to Charley, as, after a third trip aloft, he came again on deck.
“So we may be, but we must remember that after all they may be only honest traders, and not have a slave on board,” observed Charley. “We shall judge better if they make more sail when they discover us. If they are honest traders they will keep jogging on as before, if not, depend upon it they will try to escape.”
“They may try, but they’ll find that the ‘Ione’ has a fast pair of heels, and we shall have the fun of overhauling them at all events,” said Ned.
At length the Arabs must have discovered the man-of-war. First the nearest hoisted her big sail, and also set one on her after-mast. Then another and another dhow followed her example, and then the whole squadron, like white-winged birds, went skimming along over the blue sea.
“What do you think now, Charley, of the strangers?” asked Ned.