o not harm them."

The Arabs as they heard these words paused for a moment. The horsemen,
in the meantime, were pursuing Selim's party; but as no animals were
faster than the Bu Saif breed of camels, they failed to overtake them.
Roger and Stephen believed that their young friend had made his escape.
Each of their assailants now inquired who they were, and where they were
going.

Turning to Jumbo, they desired him to reply that their ship had been
wrecked, and that they wished to make their way to Mogador, or some
other place whence they could get aboard an English merchantman or a
man-of-war.

The chief laughed. "It will be a long time before they reach their
native land. They must understand that when Christians come into this
country they have to work for us, their masters."

"This is not pleasant news," observed Stephen, when Jumbo had translated
what the chief said. "Cannot we try to move the barbarian's heart?"

"We will see what Jumbo can say, but I am afraid there is no chance of
doing that," said Roger.

Jumbo confirmed Roger's opinion.

"We must bear our misfortune as best we can," remarked Stephen.
"However, we will lose no opportunity of trying to make our escape."

The chief of the marauders now gathered his prisoners together, and
ordered them to move forward, surrounded by his men on foot, while his
mounted followers brought up the rear close behind them. They proceeded
some distance, when, just at dusk, they encamped at a spot, a stream on
one side and a hill on the other. Fires were lighted, sentries placed
in the more exposed part, and the remainder of the people began cooking
their provisions. Stephen and Roger had some camel's flesh given to
them and a handful of dates, and Jumbo brought them water from the
river.

"Me stop here and do talkee," he said, as he sat himself down before the
fire to assist in cooking the camel's meat.

"Come, we are better off than we might have expected," said Stephen.

They were allowed to lie down, covered up with pieces of camels' hair
cloth, which one of the Arabs gave them. They woke before daylight.
Jumbo was sitting up by their side.

"Who is this robber chief; have you been able to learn anything about
him?" asked Roger.

"He called Sheik Beirouc, great man in his own country; me fear he make
us all slavee," answered Jumbo.

"Tell him that we would pay him well if he will liberate us and send us
back to England," said Stephen.

"He no