e sold.
These "subjects" were of all ages, and of both sexes, almost entirely
nude. Hardly one of them had a healthy look, mostly all appeared
half-starved and sick. There had lately been several importations from
Kilwa, Mombasah, Whinde, Saadani, and Bagamoyo, which had eluded the
searching eyes of the British cruisers and the agents of the British
consulate. But here they were almost under the windows of the house
over which the flag of England waved, examples of human suffering,
subjects of human brutality; the most hapless-looking beings, the most
woe-begone "human cattle" that the sun had ever shone upon.

Selim was about departing, disgusted with the brutal scene, when,
casting a last look at the auctioneer, he saw the face of the slave whom
he was about to sell. With a frenzied look and pale face he said to the
factor, to Abdullah, and his other friends:

"Come this way--come this way--quick, for Allah's sake," drawing the
factor away after him until he was hidden from the auctioneer's gaze
behind a group of sightseers.

"What is the matter, Selim?" asked Abdullah. "Art thou sick?"

"Sick! No; but listen all of ye. Do ye see yon slave about to be sold
now?"

"Yes," answered all.

"Then that slave, as sure as Allah is in heaven, is my adopted brother
Kalulu!"

"Kalulu!" exclaimed the startled friends. "Yes, Kalulu!"

"Wallahi, he is!" exclaimed Moto in an excited tone. "There is not
another here present who can hold his head like that, be he Arab or
African. He is the King of the Watuta! I swear it;" and as he said
that he was about to rush off, followed by Simba, when Selim shouted,
"For Allah's sake, don't stir!"

"Why? He is not a slave," shouted Simba. "He has been stolen by that
Arab caravan, which travelled by night, because the chiefs feared the
day, bike thieves. Moto, thou wert right. I see it all now. Wallahi!
but I will break the back of the thief, even if the Sultan of Zanzibar
cuts my head off. Let me go, Selim!"

"Silence, Simba," said the factor. "Thou wilt draw attention to the
young master. I see what Selim wants. He wants me to go and buy him.
Ah, ha! Africa has taught thee cunning, Selim!"

"Yes, go," said Selim. "Offer anything; but don't let him be bought by
anybody else. Give a thousand dollars for him, but bring him to me. We
will wait thee here."

"Fear not; but there is one thing thou hast not observed, Selim. I know
I shall get him cheap. Dost tho