ut losing their
property, accepted the hospitality of the sheik of the village, and took
their departure for his house, directing only 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 pen, which they were told was to be their
sleeping-place, and there they passed the greater part of the night in
fighting fleas.

Never before had either of them encountered these insects, either so
large in size or of so keen appetites.

It was but at the hour 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 some food, 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 their masters came not near them.

They remained in much anxiety, vainly endeavoring 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 what the delay
arose from some cause affecting their own welfare.

Late in the afternoon they were visited by their masters; and in that
interview their worst fears were more than realized.

By the aid of the Krooman, one of the merchants informed Harry that they
had been deceived,--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 "For God sake byas."

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 shall not kill you," said one of the masters to Harry, "for we have
not had the trouble of carrying you the whole distance; and besides, we
should be injuring ourselves. We shall take you all 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
certainly had an uncle and friend in Mogador, who woul