with the two merchants; and
shortly afterwards the Krooman learnt from one of the followers that the
white slaves had become the property of the wealthy Moor.

The bright anticipations of liberty that had filled their souls for the
last few days, vanished at this intelligence. Each felt a shock of
pain,--of hopeless despair,--that for some moments stunned them almost
to speechlessness.

Harry Blount was the first to awaken to the necessity of action.

"Where are our masters the merchants?" he exclaimed. "They cannot--they
shall not sell us. Come, all of you follow me!"

Reaching forth from the pens that had been allowed them for a residence,
the young Englishman, followed by his companions, started towards the
dwelling of the sheik, to which the merchants and the Moor had retired.

All were now excited with disappointment and despair; and on reaching
the sheik's house, the two Arab merchants were called out to witness a
scene of anger and grief.

"Why have you sold us?" asked the Krooman when the merchant came forth.
"Have you not promised that we should be taken to Swearah, and has not
one gone there to obtain the money for our ransom?"

The merchants were on good terms with themselves and all the world
besides. They had made what they believed to be a good bargain; and were
in a humor for being agreeable.

Moreover they did not wish to be thought guilty of a wrong, even by
Christian slaves, and they therefore condescended to give some
explanation.

"Suppose," said one of them, "that our master Bo Muzem should find a man
in Swearah who is willing to ransom you, how much are we to get for
you?"

"One hundred dollars for me," answered the Krooman, "and one hundred and
fifty for each of the others."

"True; and for that we should have to take you to Swearah, and be at the
expense of feeding you along the road?"

"Yes."

"Well, Rais Mourad, a wealthy Moor, has paid us one hundred and fifty
dollars for each of you; and would we not be fools to take you all the
way to Swearah for less money? Besides we might never get paid at
Swearah,--whereas we have received it in cash from Rais Mourad. You are
no longer our slaves, but his."

When the Krooman had made this communication to the others, they saw
that all further parley with the Arab merchants was useless; and that
their fate was now in the hands of Rais Mourad.

At Harry's request, the Krooman endeavored to ascertain in what
direction the Moor was going