and dealer in the article. He would
sell them to the highest bidder, and that would be some English consul
on the coast.

The Krooman said there was no such hope for him and his companions, for
their country did not redeem its subjects from slavery.

When he saw that Golah had obtained some English prisoners, he had been
cheered with the hope that he might be redeemed along with them, as an
English subject, to which right he had some claim from having served on
an English ship!

During the day the black slaves--well knowing the duty they were
expected to perform, had been gathering pieces of dried camels' dung
along the way; this was to supply fuel for the fire of the douar at
night.

Soon after sunset Golah ordered a halt, when the camels were unloaded
and the tents set up.

About one quarter the quantity of _sangleh_ that each required, was then
served out to the slaves for their dinner, and as they had eaten nothing
since morning, this article of food appeared to have greatly improved,
both in appearance and flavor. To the palate of our adventurers it
seemed delicious.

Golah, after examining his human property, and evidently satisfied with
the condition of all, retired to his tent; from which soon after issued
sounds that resembled a distant thunder-storm.

The black sheik was snoring!

The two young men--his son and brother-in-law--relieved each other
during the night in keeping watch over the slaves.

Their vigil was altogether unnecessary. Weak, and exhausted with hunger
and fatigue, the thoughts of the captives were not of the future, but of
present repose; which was eagerly sought, and readily found, by all four
of them.

CHAPTER XLIV.

A DAY OF AGONY.

An hour before sunrise the next morning, the slaves were given some
_cheni_ to drink, and then started on their journey.

The sun, as it soared up into a cloudless sky, shot forth its rays much
warmer than upon the day before, while not a breath of air fanned the
sterile plain. The atmosphere was as hot and motionless as the sands
under their feet. They were no longer hungry. Thirst--raging, burning
thirst--extinguished or deadened every other sensation.

Streams of perspiration poured from their bodies, as they struggled
through the yielding sand; yet, with all this moisture streaming from
every pore, their throats, tongues, and lips became so parched that any
attempt on their part to hold converse only resulted in producing a
series