THREE DHOWS CHASED--ONE IS CAPTURED AND LEFT IN CHARGE OF DESMOND AND ARCHIE--FRIGHTFUL CONDITION OF SLAVES ON BOARD--HORRIBLE CRUELTIES PRACTISED BY ARABS--JERRY BIRD SETS THE SLAVES DANCING TO KEEP UP THEIR SPIRITS--DESMOND'S WATCH--HE AND ARCHIE THROWN OVERBOARD. As the breeze continued light and favourable, the boat ran on all night under easy sail. A bright look-out was kept, however, in the possibility of meeting a dhow creeping along-shore. Just as morning dawned, and they arrived abreast of a deep bay which Adair intended to explore, three dhows were seen standing out from under the land, with their wide spread of canvas wooing the light breeze. It was pretty evident that the boat had been discovered. Adair therefore ordered the crew to lower the sails, and to take to their oars, which they did with right goodwill, hoping to catch two, at least, of the strangers in sight. The smallest and leading vessel showed Arab colours. A shot across her fore-foot quickly made her haul them down. The other two exhibited no bunting. From the efforts they were making to escape, it was pretty evident they were full slavers. As soon as Adair reached the first dhow, he leaped on board; but a glance told him that she was a legal trader, with not a slave in her, as far as he could judge; although there were several black men, whom the negoda affirmed belonged to the vessel. "We'll give you the advantage of believing you," said Adair, jumping back into his boat, which pulled away to the nearest of the other vessels. Just then she lowered her sail. "Hurrah!" cried Desmond; "she has given in." "Not a bit of it," answered Adair; "see, she is going to set a wider spread of canvas than before." He was right. Presently a long tapering yard rose to the head of the stern, the sail swelling out like the balloon jib of a racing yacht, and shining brightly in the rising sun. "Should the breeze increase, she will walk away from us like greased lightning, as the Yankees say," observed Adair. "We'll hope, then, it will remain calm," said Archie. As it was, though the men strained at their oars, it taxed their utmost strength to gain on her. Still, they were gaining. Desmond and Archie stepped forward to assist Jerry in getting the gun ready to fire a shot as soon as they got near enough to make her heave-to. Light as was the breeze, the dhow continued to slip rapidly through the water. It was evident, however, that the boat was gaining on her, and the men redoubled their efforts. "Shall we fire, sir?" asked Archie. "We might manage to bring down her sail." "Fire over her," answered Adair; "a shot might chance to hurt some of the poor slaves, instead of the rascally Arabs." Jerry elevated the gun, and pulled the trigger. Away flew the shot right through the dhow's huge sail; but her crew, looking to windward, fancied that the breeze was about to freshen. The gun was quickly sponged and again loaded.