As the estuary of the river was opened out, two small canoes were observed upon its waters, the occupants of which were apparently engaged in fishing. Young Thring was in the launch with the gunnery lieutenant, actively at work with his telescope. "There's your dhow safe enough at anchor," observed Mr. Howard; "but I wonder what those fellows are up to in the canoes." "Perhaps they're spies, sir," said the middy. "We must make prisoners of them in any case. It is just possible that we may be able to wring some information out of the fellows if they are inhabitants of the country." [Illustration: (Native in canoe)] The boats having been cast off, the gig was ordered to immediately seize the two canoes, the natives in which were now paddling away up-stream in evident alarm. They were quickly captured, however, and brought on board the launch, where they stood before the lieutenant trembling in every limb. Through the interpreter, who understood all the dialects of the coast, Mr. Howard cross-examined the men, who proved to be members of the Somali tribe, and genuine fishermen. On the promise of a large reward if their information should prove correct, these fellows spun a long yarn, some items of which proved to be of great importance. It appeared that they had seen Jack Villiers carried away up-country, and out of curiosity had followed in the track of the fugitives--a white prisoner being a very uncommon sight on their coast. They soon perceived that the Arabs were not unacquainted with the country, for they made straight for a large, rudely-fortified village situated on the left bank of the river, and some ten miles from its mouth. This settlement was ruled over by a petty chief of warlike tastes, who often made cruel and utterly unprovoked raids upon his neighbours. The fishermen went on to relate that they saw the Arabs and the escaped slaves enter this village, and that they felt sure the chief had received them amicably. They themselves had not dared to approach any nearer, but had slunk off to their own home, a mere hovel on the banks of the stream; nor had they seen or heard anything more of the prisoner or his captors. This news--if trustworthy--was of enormous importance, for it located the whereabouts of the fugitives. The lieutenant gave it as his opinion that the chief in question had probably been a friend and ally of Ahmed's in former days, and that the news of that slave-dealer's death would probably exasperate him very much against all Englishmen, and decide him to assist the Arabs with all his armed forces.