e
with him? Have you run away from your ship?" he inquired.

"No, indeed," answered Ned; and he explained how he had been made
prisoner and ill-treated, until Mohammed took him into his service.
"And how came you to be here?" asked Ned. "Surely you have not joined
company with these men-stealers?"

"Men-stealers! O no; my friends and I are on an expedition to purchase
elephant tusks from the natives far away in the interior, where they are
so plentiful that people make their door-posts of them, and we all
expect to become immensely rich."

"I hope that you will succeed," said Ned; "but I would rather have heard
that you were returning to the coast, that I might accompany you, as I
am very desirous of getting back to my ship. Can you, however, assist
me?"

"You ask what is impossible. If you attempt to go alone, you will be
murdered by the robbers through whose territory we have passed. No
white men can travel among these savages, unless in considerable numbers
well-armed. If we meet with a caravan on its way seaward you may put
yourself under its protection; but I should be sorry, now we have met,
to part with you, and would advise you to accompany us until we have
accomplished our undertaking."

"I thank you for the offer; but, if it is possible, I must go back to my
ship," said Ned.

"But I say that it is impossible," answered Sayd, who evidently did not
wish to part with Ned. "Make up your mind to come with us, and you
shall receive a portion of my share of the profits of the expedition."

Ned again thanked Sayd, adding--

"But I have no goods with which to trade, and I would not deprive you of
your gains. My captain will, however, I am sure, repay any one for the
expenses of my journey."

"But you can do without goods; you have Mohammed's musket, and with it
you may shoot some elephants; besides which, it is just possible that we
may have to attack some villages if the inhabitants refuse to supply us
with tusks or provisions. It is very likely that some will do so, in
which case you will have a right to the booty we may obtain."

"I thought, friend Sayd, that you were going on a hunting and trading
expedition?"

"It is the Arabs' way of trading when the negroes are obstinate,"
answered Sayd, with a laugh.

Ned, on hearing this, became somewhat suspicious of the intentions of
the Arabs, but he feared he should be unable to help himself. He
resolved, however, that should an opportunity offer