been cast, for he was now upon that neutral
territory where the true Ethiopian--the son of Ham--occasionally
contests possession, both of the soil and the slave, with the wandering
children of Japhet.

The two men who were thus quarrelling about the possession of the
English tar, though both of African origin, could scarce have been more
unlike had their native country been the antipodes of each other.

Their object was not so different, though even in this there was a
certain dissimilation. Both designed making the shipwrecked sailor a
slave. But the sheik of Arab aspects wished to possess him, with a view
to his ultimate ransom. He knew that by carrying him northwards there
would be a chance to dispose of him at a good price, either to the Jew
merchants at Wedinoin, or the European consuls at Mogador. It would not
be the first Saaerian castaway he had in this manner restored to his
friends and his country--not from any motives of humanity, but simply
for the profit it produced.

On the other hand, the black competitor had a different, though somewhat
similar, purpose in view. His thoughts extended towards the south. There
lay the emporium of his commerce,--the great mud-built town of
Timbuctoo. Little as a white man was esteemed among the Arab merchants
when considered as a _mere_ slave, the sable sheik knew that in the
south of the Saaera he would command a price, if only as a curiosity to
figure among the followers of the sultan of some grand interior city.
For this reason, therefore, was the black determined upon the possession
of Bill, and showed as much eagerness to become his owner as did his
tawny competitor.

After several minutes spent in words and gestures of mutual menace,
which, from the wild shouts and flourishing of scimitars, seemed as if
it could only end in a general lopping off of heads, somewhat to the
astonishment of the sailor, tranquillity became restored without any one
receiving scratch or cut.

The scimitars were returned to their scabbards; and although the affair
did not appear to be decided, the contest was now carried on in a more
pacific fashion by words. A long argument ensued, in which both sheiks
displayed their oratorial powers. Though the sailor could not understand
a word of what was said, he could tell that the little Arab was urging
his ownership, on the plea that the camel which had carried the captive
into the encampment was his property, and on this account was he
entitle