At last they reached a little bay, and began to take soundings.

A light wind blew from the shore, and covered the deck and the great lateen sail with a fine red dust.

Three Arabs mounted on wild asses rode out and threw spears at them.

The master of the galley took a painted bow in his hand and shot one of them in the throat.

He fell heavily into the surf, and his companions galloped away.

A woman wrapped in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel, looking back now and then at the dead body.

As soon as they had cast anchor and hauled down the sail, the negroes went into the hold and brought up a long rope-ladder, heavily weighted with lead.

The master of the galley threw it over the side, making the ends fast to two iron stanchions.

Then the negroes seized the youngest of the slaves, and knocked his gyves oil, and filled his nostrils and his ears with wax, and tied a big stone round his waist.

He crept wearily down the ladder, and disappeared into the sea.