Early next morning our adventurers were awakened and ordered to prepare
for the road.
The Arab merchants had purchased from their late hosts three donkeys,
upon which the white slaves were allowed to ride in turns. Harry Blunt,
however, was distinguished from the rest. As the nephew of the rich
merchant, "For God's sake buy us!" he was deemed worthy of higher
favour, and was permitted to have a camel.
In vain he protested against being thus elevated above his companions.
The Arabs did not heed his remonstrance; and at a few words from Jim he
discontinued them.
"They think that we are to be released from slavery by the money of your
relative," said Jim, "and you must do nothing to undeceive them. Not to
humour them might awaken their suspicions. Besides, as you are the
responsible person of the party, the one whose throat is to be cut if
the money is not found, you are entitled to a little distinction, as
compensation for extra anxiety."
The Krooman, who had joined the slaves in cutting the grain, was in the
field at work when the merchants moved off; and was not present to bid
farewell to his more fortunate countryman.
After travelling about twelve miles through a fertile country, much of
which was in cultivation, the Arab merchants arrived at a large
reservoir of water, where they encamped for the night.
The water was in a stone tank, placed so as to catch all the rain that
fell in a long narrow valley, gradually descending from some hills to
the northward.
Jim had visited the place before; and told his companions that the tank
had been constructed by a man whose memory was much respected, and who
died nearly a hundred years ago.
During the night, the Krooman, who had been left behind, entered the
encampment, confident in the belief that he had escaped from his
taskmasters.
At sunset he had contrived to conceal himself among the barley sheaves,
until his masters were out of sight, when he had started off on the
track taken by the Arab merchants.
He was not allowed long indulgence in his dream of liberty. On the
following morning, as the kafila was about to continue its journey,
three men were seen approaching on swift camels; and shortly after Rias
Abdallah Yezzed and two of his followers rode up.
They were in pursuit of the runaway Krooman, and in great rage at the
trouble which he had caused them. So anxious were the boy slaves that
the poor fellow should continue along with them, that, for their sake,
the Arab merchants made a strenuous effort to purchase him; but Rias
Abdallah obstinately refused to sell him at anything like a reasonable
price. The Krooman had given proof that he could be very useful in the
harvest field; and a sum much greater than had been paid for any of the
others was demanded for him. He was worth more to his present owners
than what the Arab merchants could afford to give; and was therefore
dragged back to the servitude from which he had hoped to escape.
"You can see now that I was right," said Jim. "Had we consented to cut
their harvest, we should never have had an opportunity of regaining our
liberty. Our labour for a single year would have been worth as much to
them as the price they received for us, and we should have been held in
perpetual bondage."
Jim's companions could perceive the truth of this observation; but not
without being conscious that their good fortune was, on their part,
wholly undeserved, and that had it not been for him, they would have
yielded to the wishes of their late masters.
After another march the merchants made halt near some wells, around
which a large Arab encampment was found already established, the flocks
and herds wandering over the adjacent plain. Here our adventurers had
an opportunity of observing some of the manners and customs of this
nomadic people.
Here, for the first time, they witnessed the Arab method of making
butter.
A goat's-skin, nearly filled with the milk of camels, asses, sheep, and
goats, all mixed together, was suspended to the ridge-pole of a tent,
and swung to and fro by a child until the butter was produced. The milk
was then poured off, and the butter clawed out of the skin by the black
dirty fingers of one of the women.
The Arabs allege that they were the first people who discovered the art
of making butter; though the discovery does not entitle them to any
great credit, since they could scarce have avoided making it. The
necessity of carrying milk in these skin bags, on a journey, must have
conducted them to the discovery. The agitation of the fluid, while
being transported on the backs of camels, producing the result,
naturally suggested the idea of bringing it about by similar means when
they were not travelling.
At this place the slaves were treated to some barley cakes, and were
allowed a little of the butter; and this, notwithstanding the filthy
mode in which it had been prepared, appeared to them the most delicious
they had ever tasted.
During the evening, the three merchants, along with several other Arabs,
seated themselves in a circle; when a pipe was lit, and passed round
from one to another. Each would take a long draw, and then hand the
pipe to his left-hand neighbour.
While thus occupied, they kept up an animated conversation, in which the
word "Swearah" was often pronounced. Swearah, of course, meant
"Mogador."
"They were talking about us," said Jim, "and we must learn for what
purpose. I am afraid there is something wrong. Krooman," he continued,
addressing himself to the black, "they don't know that you understand
their language. Lie down near them, and pretend to be asleep; but take
note of every word they say. If I go up to them, they will drive me
away."
The Krooman did as desired, and, carelessly sauntering near the circle,
appeared to be searching for a soft place on which to stretch his body
for the night.
This he discovered some seven or eight paces from the spot where the
Arabs were seated.
"I have been disappointed about obtaining my freedom so many times,"
muttered Jim, "that I can scarce believe I shall ever succeed. Those
fellows are talking about Mogador; and I don't like their looks. Hark!
what is that about `more than you can get in Swearah!' I believe these
new Arabs are making an offer to buy us. If so, may their Prophet curse
them!"