b had himself led out the three young "darkies"; and the black sheik
was about to act in like manner with the trio of white captives.

So reasoned they; and, as it was a matter of indifference to them with
which they went, they would offer no opposition.

To their chagrin, however, instead of all three, only one of them was
led off; the other two being commanded by gestures to keep their ground.

It was O'Connor to whom this partiality was shown; the black sheik
having selected him after a short while spent in scrutinising and
comparing the three. The Irish youth was of stouter build than either
of his shipmates; and this, perhaps, guided the black sheik in making
his choice. By all appearances, the conditions of the exchange were to
be different from what our adventurers had anticipated. It was not to
be man for man, or boy for boy; but three for one, three blacks to a
white.

This was, in reality, the terms that had been agreed upon. The
avaricious old Arab, not caring very much to part with his share of the
spoil, would not take less than three to one; and to this the black
sheik, after long and loud bargaining, had consented.

Terence was led up and placed alongside the three young darkies, who,
instead of taking things as seriously as he, were exhibiting their
ivories in broad grins of laughter, as if the disposal of their persons
was an affair to be treated only as a joke.

Our adventurers were now apprehensive that they were to be separated.
Their only hope was that the bargaining would not end there; but would
extend to a further exchange of six blacks for the two remaining whites.

Their conjectures were interrupted by their seeing that the "swop" was
not yet considered complete.

What followed, in fact, showed them that it was not a regular trade at
all; but a little bit of gambling between the two sheiks, in which
Terence and the three young blacks were to be the respective stakes.

Old Bill was able to explain the proceedings from his experience of the
preceding night; and, as he saw the two sheiks repair to the place where
his own proprietorship had been decided, he cried out, "Ye're goin' to
be gambled for, Masther Terry! Och! ye'll be along wid me; for the
black can bate the owld Arab at that game, all hollow."

The holes in which the helga had been played on the proceeding night,
were now resorted to. The proper number of dung pellets were procured,
and the game proceeded.

It ended as