Late in the evening of the second day passed within the walls of the
town, two travellers knocked at the gate for admittance.
One of them gave a name which created quite a commotion in the village,
all seeming eager to receive the owner with some show of hospitality.
The merchants sat up to a late hour, in company with these strangers and
the sheik of the place.
Notwithstanding this, they were astir upon the following morning before
daybreak, busied in making preparations to renew their journey.
Our adventurers, on being allowed some breakfast, were commanded to eat
it in all haste, and then assist in preparing the animals for the road.
They were also informed that they were to be taken back to the Saara,
and sold.
"Shall we go, or die?" asked Colin. "I, for one, had rather die than
again pass through the hardships of a journey in the desert."
Neither of the others made any reply to this. The spirit of despair had
taken too strong a hold upon them.
The merchants were themselves obliged to caparison the animals; and just
as they were about to use some strong arguments to induce their
refractory slaves to mount, they were told that "El Haji" ("the
pilgrim") wished to have an interview with the Christians.
Soon after, one of the strangers who had entered the town the night
before, was seen slowly approaching.
He was a tall, venerable-looking Arab, with a long white beard reaching
down to the middle of his breast.
Having performed the pilgrimage to the Prophet's Tomb, he was entitled
to the respect and hospitality of all good Mussulmans, whithersoever he
might wander.
With the Krooman as interpreter, he asked many questions; and seemed to
be much interested in the fate of the miserable looking objects before
him.
After his inquiries had been answered as to the name of the vessel in
which they had reached the country, the time they had passed in slavery,
and the manner of treatment which had produced their emaciated and
wretched condition, he made other inquiries about their friends and
relatives at home.
Harry informed him that Colin and himself had parents, brothers, and
sisters, who were now probably mourning them as lost; that they and
their two companions were sure to be ransomed, could they find some one
who would take them to Mogador. He also added that their present
masters had promised to take them to that place, but were now prevented
from doing so, through an apprehension that they would not be rewarded
for their trouble.
"I will do all I can to assist you," said El Haji, after the Krooman had
given the interpretation of Harry's speech. "I owe a debt of gratitude
to one of your countrymen, and I shall endeavour to repay it. When in
Cairo I was unwell, and in want of food. An officer belonging to an
English ship of war gave me a coin of gold. That piece of money proved
both life and fortune to me; for with it I was able to continue my
journey, and reach my friends. We are all the children of the true God;
and it is our duty to assist one another. I must have a talk with your
masters."