Page 108 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

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i 108 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

men embarked. By this time the hue and cry had been
raised, and the boat had to be pushed off, though some
I stragglers were still in sight. Amongst these unfortunates
was Femell, whose “ unwieldy fatness ” made his progress
slow. Afterwards the factor in a letter complained bitterly
to Middleton of “ the foolish dealing of that idiot and white-
livered fellow, the coxswain,” who, seeing Femell and those
with him hardly pursued, failed to respond to the frantic
signals made to him to bring the boat in, with the conse­
quence that, though up to their armpits in the water, the
fugitives were captured. Femell consoled himself to some
f'i extent with the reflection that he had done some execution
with his pistol on the pursuing soldiers before he was taken.
Once on board the Darling Middleton again became mas­
ter of the situation. He acted with promptitude and reso­
lution. Having sent oil a pinnace to Downton, who was
at Assab Bay with the Trade’s Increase and the Peppercorn,
he forwarded an intimation to Rejib Aga that he was re­
solved to make himself extremely unpleasant if the remain­
ing captives were not released and full compensation paid
for the injuries inflicted upon him and his colleagues.
Almost at once the aspect of affairs changed. The
Indian merchants, fearful of the consequences which they
apprehended would involve their ships, waited upon
Femell with a peace offering in the shape of “ two sheep,
one great basket of rice, another great basket of bread and
some green ginger.’’ Meanwhile, a lively exchange of com­
!>f pliments was proceeding between Rejib Aga and Middleton.
The latter in reply to a defiant message declared that he
would not forbear to burn the Indian ships which belonged
* -M to his friends rather than that he should lose the opportunity
of revenge upon so vile a traitor. Though Rejib Aga