Ned Garth | Page 9

We were at once ordered to go
on board, when we were placed on a bamboo deck, packed close to
each other, with our chins resting on our knees. As soon as some fifty
or more of us were stowed on the lower deck, another deck was placed
over our heads, preventing us even from sitting upright. On this another
layer of slaves was stowed in the same way that we were. A third deck
was placed above them, which was also crowded with unfortunate
captives. We could hear the voices of those above us, and frequently
their cries, as the Arabs beat them in order to make them sit closer. A
narrow passage was left down the centre of the deck, along which the
Arabs could pass to bring us our food. We were thus kept a couple of
days in the river, either waiting for a fair wind, or because our masters
were afraid of being caught by some of the ships of the white men. Our
condition was bad enough in smooth water, but we were to find it
considerably worse when we got into the open sea. My only
consolation was that my wife and little boy had escaped. I knew that
they would be mourning for me, whom they were never to see again. I
then wished that they were dead, that their grief might come to an end;
and sometimes a terrible thought came to me that they too might some
day be captured and carried off to the same horrible slavery which I
was doomed, as I thought, to bear. There were not only men on board,
but women and children, to be taken to a far distant country, of which
we had never before heard. Where it was we could not tell, but we
knew, by one telling the other, that it was inhabited by the same sort of
people as the Arabs, and we supposed that they would beat and
otherwise cruelly treat us if we did not obey them. The younger women
and children were better cared for than we men were, and wore well fed,
to make them look plump and healthy. The vessel had one great nearly
triangular sail, and the after part rose high out of the water, while the
bows seemed as if they would dip under it. At last, the wind being fair,
we sailed. For some time we glided on. A few of us were sent on deck
at a time to breath the fresh air. I felt my heart sink within me, when,
on looking round, I could nowhere see the land, nothing but the smooth,
shining ocean on every side. It was terrible; I thought we should never
again set foot on shore. I had often paddled my canoe on the river, and

had even made trading voyages down to the great lake, where I had
seen huge waves covered with foam rolling across it; but on such
occasions we had quickly made for the shore. Twice my canoe had
been upset, but I had easily gained it by swimming. Suddenly the wind
began to roar, the thunder rolled above our heads, and the dhow was
tossed about by the sea in a way which made me expect that she would
speedily be thrown over, and that all on board would be sent into the
raging waves. Pitiful were the shrieks and cries of my companions. In
vain the Arabs ordered them to keep quiet; they believed that their last
hour was come, and cared not what was said to them. I determined,
whatever happened, to struggle for my life. I was young and strong;
and the thought entered my mind that I might swim to the shore, and
get back some day to my wife and children, though I knew that my
home must be a long way off. I felt quite disappointed when the storm
ceased, and the dhow glided on her course as before. When I next went
on deck, I saw that she was in company with other vessels, rigged as
she was, and sailing in the same direction. Each of them had prisoners
on board. The decks of two or three of the larger ones were crowded
with black forms, and I guessed that there were as many more below.
Our dhow sailed very fast, and was passing most of them, when a calm
came on, and we lay all huddled together, near enough for the people in
one vessel to speak to those on board another. Presently I heard the
Arabs shouting to each other that there was a large sail in sight. The
news seemed to alarm them. She was coming towards the fleet of
dhows, bringing up a breeze. At last the wind filled our