After resting some time Ned recovered sufficiently to converse with
Sayd, who, coming up, seated himself by his side.
"I had heard that a young white man had set out with
Mohammed-ibn-Nassib, and was acting as his gun-bearer, but little did I
expect to find that you were the person spoken of. How came you to be
with him? Have you run away from your ship?" he inquired.
"No, indeed," answered Ned; and he explained how he had been made
prisoner and ill-treated, until Mohammed took him into his service.
"And how came you to be here?" asked Ned. "Surely you have not joined
company with these men-stealers?"
"Men-stealers! O no; my friends and I are on an expedition to purchase
elephant tusks from the natives far away in the interior, where they are
so plentiful that people make their door-posts of them, and we all
expect to become immensely rich."
"I hope that you will succeed," said Ned; "but I would rather have heard
that you were returning to the coast, that I might accompany you, as I
am very desirous of getting back to my ship. Can you, however, assist
me?"
"You ask what is impossible. If you attempt to go alone, you will be
murdered by the robbers through whose territory we have passed. No
white men can travel among these savages, unless in considerable numbers
well-armed. If we meet with a caravan on its way seaward you may put
yourself under its protection; but I should be sorry, now we have met,
to part with you, and would advise you to accompany us until we have
accomplished our undertaking."
"I thank you for the offer; but, if it is possible, I must go back to my
ship," said Ned.
"But I say that it is impossible," answered Sayd, who evidently did not
wish to part with Ned. "Make up your mind to come with us, and you
shall receive a portion of my share of the profits of the expedition."