folly," rejoined Colin, "is but a noble pride that
makes him superior to any of us. He has a spirit that will not submit
to slavery, and we have not."

"That be truth," remarked the Krooman; "Golah nebbar be slave."

Colin was right. By accepting food and drink from his captors, the
black sheik might have satisfied the demands of mere animal nature, but
only at the sacrifice of all that was noble in his nature. His
self-respect, along with the proud unyielding spirit by which everything
good and great is accomplished, would have been gone from him for ever.

Sailor Bill and his companions, the boy slaves, had been taught from
childhood to yield to circumstances, and still retain some moral
feeling; but Golah had not.

The only thing he could yield to adverse fate was his life. At this
moment the Krooman, by a gesture, called their attention towards the
captive sheik, at the same time giving utterance to a sharp ejaculation.

"Look," exclaimed he, "Golah no stay longer on de Saara. You him see
soon die now, look at him!"

At the same instant Golah had risen to his feet, inviting his Arab
master to a conference.

"There is but one God," said he; "Mahomet is his prophet, and I am his
servant. I will never be a slave. Give me one wife, a camel, and my
scimitar, and I will go. I have been robbed; but God is great, and it
is His will, and my destiny."

Golah had at length yielded, though not because that he suffered for
food and water, not that he feared slavery or death, not that his proud
spirit had become weak or given way; but rather that it had grown
stronger under the prompting of revenge.

The Arab sheik conferred with his followers; and there arose a brief
controversy among them.

The trouble they had with their gigantic captive, the difficulty they
anticipated in disposing of him, and their belief that he was a good
Mussulman, were arguments in favour of granting his request, and setting
him at liberty.

It was therefore decided to let him go, on the conditions of his taking
his departure at once.

Golah consented; and they proceeded to untie his hands. While this was
being done, the Krooman ran up to Colin's master, and cautioned him to
protect his slave until the sheik had departed.

This warning was unnecessary, for Golah had other and more serious
thoughts to engage his mind than that of any animosity he might once
have felt against the young Scotchman.

"I am free," said Golah, when hi