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Updated: May 20, 2025
The wind continued light as before, and the two dhows retained their relative positions; the last taken being about half a mile on the port-bow of the other. Archie and Gerald had done their best to bind up the hurts of the negoda, who had been placed in the cabin with such care taken of him as circumstances would admit.
Most of them took it, however, quietly enough; but the negoda, to whom the vessel belonged, plucked his beard with rage as he saw his property destroyed. "Serve him right," was the remark made by not a few of those on board, though the greater number were too actively employed to notice what had occurred.
The deck appeared crowded with passengers, their skins black as jet, but dressed in every variety of Oriental costume. The numerous crew, a large proportion of whom were black, were collected forward; while the negoda stood aft, near the man at the helm.
The negoda or skipper made signs as if hauling on a rope. "Oh, they are your crew, are they?" said Adair; on which the skipper nodded his head as if he had really understood the question. "And who are those ladies and gentlemen seated so comfortably on the deck?" continued Adair.
Well, I should like to see your papers, and how many hands you are licenced to carry," said Adair, making the usual signal of pretending to write, which the negoda clearly understanding, produced from his capacious pocket various documents scrawled all over with Arabic characters. Adair took them, but of course did not understand a single one of the curious-shaped letters and papers.
"Now let me see your papers," said Adair, moving his hand as if holding a pen and writing. The Arabs being accustomed to signs, the negoda at once understood him, and produced from a case some documents written in Arabic characters, which were about as comprehensible to the English officer as the words which the voluble skipper was pouring forth into his ear.
As they got up alongside, about thirty piratical-looking ruffians, headed by their skipper, stood prepared to receive them. They appeared in no way disconcerted as the English leaped on board. "Ask the negoda what has become of the slaves with which he lately sailed, Hamed," said the lieutenant.
The Arab answered at some length: "He says they have had no slaves on board, and the dhow was becoming leaky, and they had to throw the cargo into the sea," said Hamed. "Then inquire why he ran away from us," said the lieutenant. Again Hamed and the skipper had a long talk. "The negoda says he was in a hurry, and thought the brig was a pirate," said Hamed. "Very likely.
Although a few believed what Pango told them, the rest did not appear altogether convinced of the fact. Adair, however, had now sufficiently ascertained the character of the vessel to warrant him in keeping possession of her. The negoda, on discovering the resolution which the English officer had formed, looked very much taken aback.
The negoda, recovering himself, with the coolest effrontery made the action of shaking hands, then pointed astern, as if to signify that those whom Adair was asking after had parted good friends and gone off in the canoe. "A very likely tale," said Adair sadly; "let's try what Pango and his brother can make out of the old black chief." On this Green told them to hear what the old man had to say.
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