y the
ballast any distance without learning its real value?"

"Yes; I did think that you 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' differences 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 Saara, 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 old sheik to convince the wreckers as he
had been convinced himself, proved fruitless.

The arguments he used to them were repeated to the sailor, Bill's
brother; and by him were easily upset with a few words.

"Of course they will try to make you believe the cargo is no good,"
retorted Jim. "They wish you to leave it, so that they can have it all
to themselves. Does not common sense tell you that they are liars?"

This was conclusive; and the wreckers continued their toil, extracting
stone after sto