ning the different groups of
slaves. Although the greater number looked very squalid and wretched,
others had evidently been taken care of. Among them were a party of
Gallas, mostly women, habited in silk and gauze dresses, with their hair
prettily ornamented to increase their personal attractions, which were
far superior to those of the negroes. Close to the group stood a man
who acted as auctioneer, ready to hand his goods over to the highest
bidder. The purchasers were chiefly Arabs, who walked about surveying
the hapless slaves, and ordering those to whom they took a fancy to be
paraded out before them, after which they examined the mouths and limbs
of any they thought of purchasing, striking their breasts and pinching
their arms and legs to ascertain that they possessed sufficient muscle
and wind for their work.

Ned turned away from the scene with disgust. He longed to be able to
liberate the poor slaves, and to place them where they could obtain
religious instruction and the advantages of civilisation, for they were,
he knew, being dragged from one state of barbarism to another, in many
cases infinitely worse, where they would become utterly degraded and
debased.

"Is there no hope for these poor people?" he exclaimed, turning to
Charley. "Cannot our commander interfere?"

"He has not the authority to do so in the dominions of the sultan; we
can only touch those whom we meet on the high seas, beyond certain
limits. We shall soon have an opportunity, however, of setting some of
them free, for the commander told Mr Hanson that we are only to remain
here a couple of days, and then to commence our cruise to the
northward."

"The sooner the better," exclaimed Ned; "we shall all catch fever if we
stay long in this place. Rhymer was right in what he said about it,
fair as it looks outside."

Ned was not disappointed; the "Ione" was soon again at sea, and had
reached the latitude beyond which his commander had authority to capture
all dhows with slaves on board. A bright look-out was kept aloft, from
the first break of day until darkness covered the face of the deep, for
any dhows sailing northward, but day after day passed by and none were
seen. The ship was then kept further off the land, the commander
suspecting that the Arabs and slave traders had notice of his
whereabouts. The following day three dhows were seen; chase was made;
they were overtaken and boarded; one, however, was a fair trader, but