Page 100 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

100 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

Downton, freed from the anxieties of the local situation,
took immediate measures to bring his unprofitable sojourn
at Aden to a close. A desire to end his association with
the rascally ruler of the place was not his only inspiring
motive. In consequence of “ dreames by night and
disturbing notions by day ” he greatly feared that all
was not well with Middleton, and was anxious to proceed to
Mocha to see how matters really stood. Quitting Aden on
December 16, he five days later dropped anchor by the
side of the Trade's Increase in Mocha roads. His fore­
bodings of ill were only too well grounded. He arrived at
the Red Sea port to find Middleton and a considerable num­
ber of his men in captivity and the entire expedition
threatened with disaster owing to the hostility of the native
)
authorities.
The story of Middleton’s experiences, as Downton after­
wards heard it, was a record of misfortune and black
treachery. On arrival off Mocha the Trade's Increase ran
aground and was only floated off with difficulty after the
landing of a good part of her cargo. Middleton soon got
j into touch with Rejib Aga, who at once put in motion the
now familiar confidence trick. He placed a house at Middle­
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ton’s disposal for the accommodation of his merchandise,
set guards about it and in other ways indicated a desire to
provide every facility for the visitors. A certain quantity
of goods was disembarked to form stock for what seemed
to promise to be a profitable adventure. Rejib Aga took
a suspiciously lively interest in all the landing operations.
He appeared notably anxious that the most valuable part
of the cargo should be available ashore and made repeated
inquiries as to the disposal of the goods. The day arrived
at last when it was made perfectly clear that the work of