hen intrusted to white men who understood the art of
extracting the precious metal from the rocks.

"They believe all this; for they can see shining particles in the
sandstone which they think is really gold, or something that can be
converted into it. For four days they forced me to toil, at diving and
assisting them; but that didn't suit my purpose; and I've at length
succeeded in making them believe that I am not able to work any longer."

"But do you really think," asked Harry Blount, "that they will carry the
ballast any distance without learning its real value?"

"Yes; I did think that they might take it to Mogador, and that they
would let me go along with them."

"But some one will meet them, and tell them that their lading is
worthless?" suggested Colin.

"No, I think that fear of losing their valuable freight will keep them
from letting any one know what they've got. They are hiding it in the
sand now, as fast as they get it ashore, for fear some party stronger
than themselves should come along and take it away from them. I intend
to tell them after they have started on their journey, not to let any
one see or know what they have, until they are safe within the walls of
Mogador, where they will be under the protection of the governor. They
have promised to take me along with them, and if I once get within sight
of a seaport, not all the Arabs in Africa will hinder me from recovering
my liberty."

While the pretended invalid was talking to them, Sailor Bill had been
watching him, apparently with eager interest.

"Beg pardon for 'aving a small taste o' difference wid you in the mather
ov your age," said the sailor, as soon as the man had ceased speaking;
"but I'll never belave you've been about 'ere for forty years. It can't
be so long as that."

The two men, after staring at each other for a moment, uttered the words
"Jim!" "Bill!" and then, springing forward, each grasped the hand of the
other. Two brothers had met!

The three mids remembered that Bill had told them of a brother, who,
when last heard from, was a slave somewhere in the Saaera, and they
needed no explanation of the scene now presented to them.

The two brothers were left alone; and after the others had gone out of
the tent they returned to the Krooman--who had just succeeded in
convincing the sheik, that the stones being fished out of the sunken
ship were, at that time and place, of no value whatever.

All attempts on the part of the