RAB BOY
THINKS OF BEING A SLAVE--WHAT SELIM THINKS OF SLAVERY--SAREASTIO ISA--
LITTLE NIANI IS ILL-TREATED--SELIM, AND HIS FATHER--BEAUTIFUL SCENERY--
THE LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY--IS IT RIGHT OR WRONG TO OWN
SLAVES?--THE FEARFUL CROCODILE--NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH--THE REWARD OF
SELIM'S COURAGE--SIMBA ON THE ALERT--THE REWARD OF SIMBA'S FIDELITY--THE
DEAD MARAUDER--THE FIERCE WARORI--THE ARAB COUNCIL--IS IT WAR, OR
PEACE?--IS IT WAR?

The next morning the caravan of Amer bin Osman was afoot at an early
hour, all hands feeling in a more excellent mood, if possible, than they
were when they retired to sleep. They shouted, they sang merrily, and
enjoyed themselves in much the same manner that all caravans do, when
fresh and cheery they start on a trading campaign.

On the tenth day, on coming from under the shadows of the great scarps
of the Uruguru range, the walled town of Simbamwenni lay before them,
and on a green grassy slope, trending to the River Ungerengeri, were the
white tents and the huts of the caravans they were to join.

As is customary in Africa, the new-comers made their presence known to
their friends by repeated discharges of musketry, which brought out the
Arabs and their people by the hundreds.

The greeting which Amer bin Osman received from his friends was warm and
cordial. The chiefs all embraced him after the manner and custom in
vogue amongst the Arabs, while their followers were not a whit less
expressive to Amer's people. Selim was received with extraordinary
cordiality by the younger Arabs, some of whom were of his own age, and
after interchanging the long list of greetings customary in Arab
countries, they all adjourned to Khamis bin Abdullah's tent, who had by
acclamation been elected chief of the expedition, where in a short time
dishes of curried chicken and rice, kabobs, and sweets of various kinds,
with nice biscuits, were served as a substantial repast for the hungry
travellers.

Though conversation was animated and varied enough before Amer and his
son Selim had satisfied their hunger, it did not touch upon the object
of the expedition, but simply as to what events had transpired during
the journey from the coast to Simbamwenni; but when the repast was
ended, and the dishes were cleared, Khamis bin Abdullah broached the
subject near and dear to each heart just then--the future journey or
route of the expedition, "The great question, Amer bin Osman, about
which we have b