earah!' I believe these
new Arabs are making an offer to buy us. If so, may their Prophet curse
them!"

CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO.

ANOTHER BARGAIN.

The conversation amongst the Arabs was kept up until a late hour; and,
during the time it continued our adventurers were impatiently awaiting
the return of the Krooman.

He came at length, after the Arabs had retired to their tents; and all
gathered round him, eager to learn what he had heard.

"I find out too much," said he, in answer to their inquiries; "too much,
and no much good."

"What was it?"

"Two of you to be sold to-morrow."

"What two?"

"No one know. One man examine us all in the morning, but take only
two."

After suffering a long lesson teaching the virtue of patience, they
learnt from Krooman that one of those who had been conversing with their
masters was a grazier, owning large droves of cattle; and that he had
lately been to Swearah.

He had told the merchants that they would not be able to get a large
price for their slaves in that place, and that the chances were much
against their making more than the actual expenses incurred in so long a
journey. He assured the Arab merchants that no Christian consul or
foreign merchant in Mogador would pay a dollar more for redeeming six
slaves than what they could be made to pay for two or three; that they
were not always willing or prepared to pay anything; and that whenever
they did redeem a slave, they did not consider his value, but only the
time and expense that had been incurred in bringing him to the place.

Under the influence of these representations, the Arab merchants had
agreed to sell two of these white slaves to the grazier, thinking they
would get as much for the remaining four as they would by taking all six
to the end of the journey.

The owner of the herds was to make his choice in the morning.

"I thought there was a breaker ahead last night," exclaimed Jim, after
the Krooman had concluded his report. "We must not be separated except
by liberty or death. Our masters must take us all to Mogador. There is
trouble before us yet; but we must be firm, and overcome it. Firmness
has saved us once, and may do so again."

After all had promised to be guided in the coming emergency by Jim, they
laid themselves along the ground and sought rest in sleep.

Next morning, while they were eating their breakfast, they were visited
by the grazier who was expected to make choice of two o