“I wish that the breeze would shift back to the south-east, and we should have her sure enough, for we can sail three points closer to the wind than she can,” observed Ned.
The time was passing by. Exciting as was the chase, the cook did not forget to prepare dinner, which the crew were as ready to eat as if no dhow supposed to be full of slaves was in sight. The evening approached, the compass showed that the dhow had fallen off two points, and presently afterwards another point.
“She’ll not weather that headland!” observed Charley, looking out ahead.
“No, but she’s going to run on shore, and if so she’ll go to pieces, and the slaves will either be drowned or be carried off into the interior,” remarked Rhymer.
Presently the dhow was seen standing directly for the coast. Ned, who was examining it through the telescope, exclaimed—
“There’s the mouth of a river there, and she’s steering for that.”
“Then we’ll follow her up it; if she can get in we can,” answered Rhymer, and the boat’s head was put towards the opening for which the dhow was making. Had there been a doubt on the subject before, there was now no longer any that the dhow was full of slaves, and that probably their captors would make every effort to retain them. As the boat drew nearer the entrance of the river, between two sandy points, it was difficult to judge whether or not it was a stream of any considerable size.
“If it’s navigable for a hundred miles, we will follow the dhow up; I am not going to allow that craft to escape me,” cried Rhymer.
The slaver was now running directly before the wind, fast distancing the boat, and was soon seen to enter the river, pitching and tossing as if she had crossed a bar. Rhymer steered on; two or three heavy rollers in succession lifted the boat, but no water broke on board, and she was soon safe in and gliding over the smooth surface of the stream. The river, which was of considerable width, was thickly lined on both sides by trees; in the middle of it the dhow was seen, running on with all her canvas set, still beyond reach of the boat’s gun.
“We have her now, safe enough,” exclaimed Rhymer; “though, if the river is navigable far up from the mouth, she may lead us a long chase before we catch her.”