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 forebodings of ill were only too well grounded. He arrived at the Red Sea port to find Middleton and a considerable number 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 afterwards 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 into touch with Rejib Aga, who at once put in motion the now familiar confidence trick. He placed a house at Middleton'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
