ed one of the
merchants. "Allah forbid that we should force them to accept it. Who
will buy them?"

These words completely upset all Jim's plans. He saw that he was
depriving the others of the only opportunity they might ever have of
obtaining their liberty.

"Go on, go on!" he exclaimed. "Make no further resistance. It is
possible they may take you to Mogador. Do not throw away the chance."

"We are not goin' to lave you, Jim," said Bill, "not even for liberty,
leastways, I'm not. Don't you be afeerd o' that!"

"Of course we will not, unless we are forced to do so," added Harry.
"Have you not said that we must keep together?"

"Have you not all promised to be guided by me?" replied Jim. "I tell
you now to make no further resistance. Go on with them, if you wish
ever to be free!"

"Jim knows what he is about," interposed Colin: "let us obey him."

With some reluctance Harry and Bill were induced to mount again; but
just as they were moving away, they were recalled by Jim, who told them
not to leave; and that all must persevere in the determination not to be
separated.

"The man has certainly gone mad," reflected Harry Blount, as he turned
back once more. "We must no longer be controlled by him; but Terence
must not be left behind. We cannot forsake him."

Again the three dismounted; and returning to the spot where Jim and
Terence lay fast bound along the sand, sat determinedly down beside
them.

CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE.

MORE TORTURE.

The sudden change of purpose and the counter-orders given by Jim were
caused by something he had just heard while listening to the
conversation of the Arabs.

Seeing that the merchants, rather than have any unnecessary trouble with
them, were disposed to sell them all, Jim had been unwilling to deprive
his brother and the others of an opportunity of obtaining their freedom.
For this reason had he entreated them to leave Terence and himself to
their fate.

But just as he had prevailed on Harry and his companions to go quietly,
he learnt from the Arabs that the man who had purchased Terence and
himself refused to buy any more of them; and also that the other Arabs
present were either unable or unwilling to buy them.

The merchants, therefore, would have to take them farther before they
could dispose of them.

In Jim's mind then revived the hope that, by opposing the wishes of his
late masters, he and Terence might be bought back again, and taken on to
Mog