"We must try and let our friends at home know where we are in the first
place, so that they may ransom us," said Stephen.

"The difficulty will be to get a letter home. There is no communication
between this place and any European port, as far as I can learn. Our
unhappy companions have been here for years," said Roger.

"If we cannot get off ourselves, perhaps Jumbo can make his escape and
carry a letter for us," said Stephen.

"A bright idea," exclaimed Roger. "He is asleep now; still we can think
it over to-morrow and see how it can be managed."

At length they top, merely with the toil they had gone through, closed
their eyes, happily to dream of far distant scenes. They were awakened
by their companions moving about, and another dole of brown bread and
water was served out to them. Just, however, as they were about to be
marched off to their daily toil, they caught sight of Sam Stokes, who
was peering about in the court-yard, apparently in search of them. They
eagerly beckoned to him.

"I have been hunting for you young gentlemen since daylight," he said.
"Here's some meat and sweet biscuits, some oranges, and a bottle of
goat's milk; it is better than any water I could get. I should like to
have brought you some stronger stuff, but if I was to be found with any
I should have my head chopped off in a twinkling. It is against the
rules of the Koran. Though I have not had time to learn much about the
book, I know that."

They thanked Sam cordially, and shared the provisions he had brought
with Jumbo. He sat by to see that their companions did not rob them,
which, from the wolfish glances they cast at the food, they seemed much
inclined to do.

"Stow away the remainder in your pockets, you will want it for dinner,
and I will try to come back in the evening and give you more. I must
now be off to my work," said Sam.

The day was passed much as the former one had been, though they had a
short time allowed them to eat the food Sam had brought. It was very
hard and trying work, and they were well-nigh knocked up by the evening,
when they had to return to their dirty prisons. Hunger had compelled
them to begin munching their brown bread, when Sam appeared bringing a
small quantity of provision.

"It is all I could get," he said. "I am much afraid that I shall not be
allowed to bring you much more. Captain Hamet, who bought you from the
old Sheik and commands a vessel I have engaged to serve aboa