On the evening of the second day after passing the Jews' Leap, Rais
Mourad, with his followers, reached the city of Mogador, but too late to
enter its gates, which were closed for that day.
For a great part of the night, Harry, Colin, and Sailor Bill were unable
to sleep.
They were kept awake by the memory of the sufferings they had endured in
the desert, but more by the anticipation of liberty, which they believed
to be now near.
They arose with the sun, impatient to enter the city and learn what was
to be their fate; but Rais Mourad, knowing that no business could be
done until three or four hours later, would not permit them to pass
inside the gate.
For three hours they waited with the greatest impatience. So much had
their minds become excited with the prospect of getting free that this
delay began to bring about the opposite extreme of despair, when they
were again elated at the sight of Rais Mourad returning from the town.
Giving the command to his followers, he led the way through the great
city gate.
After passing along several narrow streets, on turning a corner our
adventurers saw, waving over the roof of one of the houses, a flag that
filled their souls with joy inexpressible. It was the flag of Old
England!
It indicated the residence of the English consul. On seeing it, all
three gave forth a loud simultaneous cheer, and hastened forward in the
midst of a crowd of Moorish men, women and children that had collected
around them.
Rais Mourad knocked at the gate of the Consulate, which was instantly
opened, and the white slaves were ushered into the court-yard. At the
same instant two individuals came running forth from the house. They
were Terence and Jim!
A fine-looking man, about fifty years of age, now stepped forward; and
taking Harry and Colin by the hand, congratulated them on the certainty
of soon recovering their liberty.
The presence of Terence and Jim in the Consulate at Mogador was soon
explained. The Arab grazier, after buying them, had started immediately
for Swearah taking the two along with him. On bringing them to the
English consul he received the amount of their redemption, and they were
at once set free. At the same time he had given his promise to purchase
the other three white slaves and bring them to Mogador.
The consul made no hesitation in paying the price that had been promised
for Harry, Colin and Bill; but he did not consider himself justified in
expending the money of his Government in the redemption of the Krooman,
who was not an English subject.
The poor fellow, on hearing this, was overwhelmed with despair at the
prospect of being restored to a life of perpetual slavery.
His old companions in misfortune could not remain tranquil spectators of
his grief. They promised he should be free. Each of the middies had
wealthy friends at home on whom he could draw for money; and they were
in hopes that some English merchant in Mogador would advance the amount.
They were not disappointed. The very next day the Krooman's difficulty
was settled to his satisfaction.
The consul having mentioned his case to several foreign merchants, a
subscription list was opened; and the cash necessary to the purchase of
his freedom was easily procured.
The three mids were furnished with plenty of everything they required;
and only awaited the arrival of some English ship to carry them back to
the shores of their native land.
They had not long to wait; for shortly after, the tall masts of a
British man-of-war threw their shadows athwart the waters of Mogador
Bay.
The middies were once more installed in quarters that befitted them;
while Sailor Bill and his brother, as well as their Krooman comrade,
found a welcome in the forecastle of the ship.
All three of these young officers afterwards rose to rank and
distinction in the naval service of their country. It was their good
fortune often afterwards to come in contact with each other, and talk
laughingly of that terrible time, no longer viewed with dread or
aversion, when they were serving their apprenticeship as Boy Slaves in
the Saara.