s well as the camels,
muskets, and everything that had belonged to Golah or his dependants.

When these preliminary arrangements had been completed, the Arabs
proceeded to an equitable partition of the property.

This proved a very difficult matter to manage, and occupied their time
for the rest of the day. Three or four would covet the same article; and
long and noisy discussions would take place before the dispute could be
settled to their mutual satisfaction.

The Krooman, who understood the desert language, was attentive to all
that transpired; and from time to time informed the white slaves of what
was being done.

At an early period in the discussions, he discovered that each of the
four was to fall to different masters.

"You and me," said he to Harry, "we no got two massas--only one."

His words were soon after proved to be true. They were carried apart
from each other, evidently with the designs of being appropriated by
different owners; and the fear that they might also be separated again
came over them.

When the slaves, camels, tents, and articles that had been gathered from
the wreck were distributed amongst the eleven Arabs, each one took the
charge of his own; but there still remained Golah, his wives and their
children, to be disposed of.

No one seemed desirous of becoming the owner of the black sheik and his
wives. Even those who had said that he would make a valuable slave,
appeared unwilling to take him, although induced to do so by the taunts
of their companions.

The fact was, that they were afraid of him. He would be too difficult to
manage; and none of them wished to be the master of one who obstinately
refused both food and drink, and who so defiantly invoked upon the heads
of his captors the curse of Mahomet, and swore by the beard of the
Prophet that the moment his hands were free, he would kill the man who
should dare to own or claim him as a slave.

Golah, with all his faults, was neither cunning nor deceitful, and,
having a spirit too great to affect submission, he did not intend to
yield.

He was arrogant, cruel, avaricious, and vindictive; but the wrongs he
did were always accomplished in a plain, open-handed way, and never by
stratagem or treachery.

By accepting the terms the Arabs had offered him, his strength, courage,
and unconquerable will might afterwards have enabled him to obtain
revenge upon his captors, and regain a portion of his property; but it
was not in his