Evening star., 1898-05-21
ct. By heavens, I'll outwit that scoundrel

rest By heavens, I'll outwit that scoundrel
yet!'
A few moments later Quin was off, ac-
companed by one of his men named Ali; he
had instructed lne rest to remain at the
camp and await his return. All led the
way along the river shore. and had no
trouble in finding the place where the canoe
was concealed in a narrow backwater. 1t
was in good condition, and two paddles lay
in the bow. Qun and the Swahili seated
themselves, and they We're soon gliding
down the Cuba, keeping along shore in the
shadow of the overhanging trees
An hour passed, and then another. The
night was silent, and the moon shone on q
waste of ripping water, black dots of is
lands and fetid mangrove swamps. Quin
began to feel anxious. for he and Ali had
padded fast and covered at least ten
miles and by this time they should have
sighted the dhow; they might have passed
it in spite of their keen lookout, but that
was unlikely.
little later; he held his paddle in air
"Who comes?" rang a low challenge from
the deep shadows under the near bank.
"Friendsi' Quin answered uncertainty.
"Who askS?'
AN officer from H. NJ. S. Darius was
the instant reply.
Here was an unexpected bit OF luck, and
Quin was delighted. He drove the canoe
shoreward and against the gunwales of
launch filled with armed sailors. The crew
numbered ten in all, including the coxswain
and the commanding officer To the latter,
who introduced himself as Lieutenant Bir-
ney, Quin hurriedly and briefly told his
story.
Pm sorry for you, my man. said the
officer. I've not seen dhow of any sort,
though that's what were here for. We
had word that the Arabs were going to run
a cargo of slaves out to sea tonight, but 1t
looks like a false scent now. There's an
other of our boats farther down the river,
and perhaps
Tho speaker was interrupted by sharp
exclamation from Ali. The Swahili was
pointing across the river. and all saw. close
to the opposite Shore thrilling sight-a
big lateen sail gliding out from the bushy
point of an island.
My lionsl" Quin gasped.
II hope not-Tm after slaves" Lieuten-
ant Birney replied eagerly. But come
aboard with your niger, and lend hand. v.
The canoe was grounded on the bank, and
it's occupants tumbled into the launch; a
sailor handed Quin a cutlass. Give way,
men!" whispered the officer, and as quietly
as possible the boat shot out across the
stream.
The Cuba was not wide at this point, and
the Arabs discovered their danger almost
Immediately; this was proved by a blurred
movement on deck, and by shift of the
sail that increased the dhow's speed No
outcry was heard from either boat, but the
crew of the launch bent hard and fast to
the oars They seemed to gain little, and
then puff of wind bellied the slaver's can
vas and turned the odds around
They'll give us the slip!" exclaimed
Quin. why don't you fre?-we're within
easy gunshot. I don't want to lose thoce
nCrs."
Hang the lions!' growled Blrney. He
put his hands to his mouth and shouted
loudly: '"Tua tanga! Tua tanga! which
was native speech for "heave to-"
But the Arabs did not heave to; the dhow
sped serenely on.
"Give them a shot, Fowler" said the lieu
tenant. land if that don't do the business,
we'll rake them with a volley. They shan't
get away"
The coxswain lifted his rife and fired
Crack! The lateen sail swayed and dropped
There waa q furry and rush on the dhow's
deck, and some frightened voices rang over
the water.
by Jove, you must have cut the hal
yards of the sailr' shouted Birney. Give
way. men?
The rest was easy. The launch SKINNED
the tide like bird. and, as it drew near its
helpless and drifting prey, a steady sound
of splashing was heard. Then the bow
scraped the dhow's hull, and in a trice half
Of the crew was on deck, including Quin
and the officer. But the Arabs had follow
ed their usual course and jumped over
board, and already the bobbing black heads
were close to the bank If Antonio Silva
was among them he could not he picked
out.
Its goodbye to the Portuguese" said
Quin. as he lifted the hatch covering, "but
I've got the lions"
Have you?" laughed Lieut.. Birney He
had struck match, and as he held it over
Qrin's shoulder the light shone down on a
mass of shaCkied negroes, thrust densely
into the holA and the smsll that arose was