For the first hour of their journey, Harry, Colin, and Sailor Bill, were
borne along, fast bound upon the backs of their animals. So
disagreeable did they find this mode of locomotion, that the Krooman was
requested to inform their masters that they were willing to accompany
them without further opposition, if allowed the freedom of their limbs.
This was the first occasion on which the Krooman had made known to the
Arab merchants that he could speak their language.
After receiving a few curses and blows for having so long concealed his
knowledge of it, the white slaves were unbound, and the animals they
bestrode were driven along in advance of the others, while the two hired
guards were ordered to keep a careful watch over them.
The journey was continued until a late hour of the night, when the
travellers arrived at a high wall enclosing a small village.
After the slaves had been conducted inside, and the gate fastened behind
them, their masters, relieved of all anxiety about losing their
property, accepted the hospitality of the sheik of the place, and took
their departure for his house, leaving orders that the white slaves
should be fed.
After the latter had eaten a hearty meal, consisting of barley-bread and
milk, they were conducted to a penn, which was to be their sleeping
place, and where they passed the greater part of the night in fighting
the fleas.
Never before had either of them encountered these insects either so
large in size or of so keen appetites.
It was only at the time at which their journey should have been resumed,
that they forgot their hopes and cares in the repose of sleep. Weary in
body and soul, they slept on till a late hour; and when aroused to
consciousness by an Arab bringing their breakfast, they were surprised
to see that the sun was high up in the heavens.
Why had they not been awakened before?
Why this delay?
In the mind of each was an instinctive fear that there must be something
wrong, that some other obstacle had arisen, blocking up their road to
freedom.
Hours passed, and still their masters came not near them.
They remained in much anxiety, vainly endeavouring to surmise what had
caused the interruption to their journey.
Knowing that the merchants had expressed an intention to conduct them to
Mogador as soon as possible, they could not doubt but that the delay
arose from some cause affecting their welfare.
Late in the afternoon they were visited by their masters; and in that
interview their worst fears were more than realised.
By the aid of the Krooman, one of the merchants informed Harry that he
had deceived them, that the sheik, of whose hospitality they had been
partaking, had often visited Swearah, and was acquainted with all the
foreign residents there. He had told them that there was no one of the
name of "For God's sake bias."
He had assured them that they were being imposed upon; and that by
taking the white slaves to Swearah they would certainly lose them.
"We will not kill you," said one of their masters to Harry, "for we have
not had the trouble of carrying you the whole distance; and besides, we
should be doing an injury to ourselves. We shall take you back to the
borders of the desert, and there sell you for what you will fetch."
Harry told the Krooman to inform his masters that he had freely pledged
his existence on the truth of the story he had told them, that he
assuredly had a rich friend in Mogador, who would redeem them all; but
that, should his uncle not be in the place at the time they should
arrive there, it would make no difference, as they would certainly be
ransomed by the English consul. "Tell them," added Harry, "that if they
will take us to Mogador, and we are not ransomed as I promised, they
shall be welcome to my life. I should then willingly die. Tell them
not to sell us until they have proved my words to be false; and not to
wrong both themselves and us by trusting too much to the words of a
stranger."
To this communication the merchants made reply: that they had been told
that slaves brought from the desert into the Empire of Morocco could,
and sometimes did, claim the protection of that government, which set
them free without paying anything; and those who had been at the expense
of bringing them did not get even thanks for their trouble.
One of the merchants, whose name was Bo Muzem, seemed inclined to listen
with some favour to the representations of Harry; but he was overruled
by the other two: so that all the young Englishman's assertions about
the wealth of his parents at home, and the immense worth he and his
comrades were to their country, as officers in its navy, failed to
convince those to whom his words were addressed.
The merchants at length went away, leaving Harry and Colin in an agony
of despair; while Sailor Bill and the Krooman seemed wholly indifferent
about their future destiny. The prospect of being again taken to the
desert seemed to have so benumbed the intellect of both, as to leave
them incapable of emotion.
Hope, fear, and energy, appeared to have forsaken the old sailor, who,
usually so fond of thinking aloud, had not now sufficient spirit left,
even for the anathematising of his enemies.