r a protection against robbers, at the same time
that it serves as a penn to keep their flocks from straying or
trespassing on the cultivated fields during the night-time.

It was soon discovered that the Arabs had arrived at their home; for, as
soon as day broke they were seen in company with their wives and
families. This accounted for their not making halt at any of the other
villages. Being so near their own they had made an effort to reach it
without extending their journey into another day.

"I fear we are in the hands of the wrong masters for obtaining our
freedom," said Jim to his companions. "If they were traders they might
take us farther north and sell us, but it's clear they are not! They
are graziers, farmers, and robbers when the chance arises, that's what
they be! While waiting for their barley to ripen, they have been on a
raiding expedition to the desert in the hope of capturing a few slaves
to assist them in reaping their harvest."

Jim's conjecture was soon after found to be correct. On the old sheik
being asked when he intended taking his slaves on to Swearah, he
answered--

"Our barley is now ripe; and we must not leave it to spoil. You must
help us in the harvest; and that will enable us to go to Swearah all the
sooner."

"Do you really intend to take your slaves to Swearah?" asked the
Krooman.

"Certainly!" replied the sheik. "Have we not promised? But we cannot
leave our fields now. Bismillah! our grain must be gathered."

"It is just as I supposed," said Jim. "They will promise anything.
They do not intend taking us to Mogador at all. The same promise has
been made to me by the same sort of people a score of times."

"What shall we do?" asked Terence.

"We must do nothing," answered Jim. "We must not assist them in any
way; for the more useful we are to them, the more reluctant they will be
to part with us. I should have obtained my liberty years ago had I not
tried to gain the goodwill of my Arab masters by trying to make myself
useful to them. That was a mistake, and I can see it now. We must not
give them the slightest assistance in their barley-cutting."

"But they will compel us to help them?" suggested Colin.

"They cannot do that if we remain resolute; and I tell you all that you
had better be killed at once than submit. If we assist in their
harvest, they will find something else for us to do; and your best days,
as mine have been, will be passed in slavery!