was, "The
white slaves are dogs, and not worth buying."

"Then we have no hope from that source!" exclaimed Terence.

The Krooman shook his head; not despondently, but as if he did not agree
in the opinion Terence had expressed.

"What! do you think there is any hope?" asked Harry.

The man gave a nod of assent.

"How? In what way?"

The Krooman vouchsafed no explanation, but sauntered silently away.

When the sun was within two or three hours of setting over the Saaera,
the Arabs struck their tents, and started off in the direction of the
dry well--from whence Golah and his caravan had just come. After they
had disappeared behind the hill, Golah's son was sent to its top to
watch them, while his women and slaves were ordered to strike the tents
as quickly as possible.

Then waiting till the shades of night had descended over the desert, and
the strangers were beyond the reach of vision, Golah gave orders to
resume the march once more in a southeasterly direction--which would
carry them away from the seacoast--and, as the white slaves believed,
from all chances of their ever recovering their freedom.

The Krooman, on the contrary, appeared to be pleased at their taking
this direction, notwithstanding the objections he had expressed to going
inland.

CHAPTER L.

A MOMENTOUS INQUIRY.

During the night's journey Golah still seemed to have some fear of the
Arabs; and so great was his desire to place as much ground as possible
between himself and them, that he did not halt, until the sun was more
than two hours above the horizon.

For some time before a halt had been planned, Fatima, his favorite wife,
had been riding by his side, and making, what seemed, from the excited
movements of both, an important communication.

After the tents had been pitched, and food was about being served out,
Golah commanded the mother of the boy carried by Colin to produce the
bag of figs that had been intrusted to her keeping.

Trembling with apprehension, the woman rose to obey. The Krooman glanced
at the white captives with an expression of horror; and although they
had not understood Golah's command, they saw that something was going
wrong.

The woman produced the bag; which was not quite half full. There were in
it about two quarts of dried figs.

The figs that had been served out three days before at the dry well had
been taken from another bag kept in the custody of Fatima.

The one now produced by the sec