bystanders was required, and
readily obtained.

Harry was seized and hoisted to the back of his camel; to which he was
firmly bound.

Colin, Bill, and the Krooman, were each set astride of a donkey, and
then made fast by having their feet tied under the animal's belly.

For a small sum the merchants then engaged two of the bystanders to
accompany them, and guard the white slaves to the frontier of the
Moorish empire--a distance of two days' journey.

Just as the party was about to move away from the spot, one of the
merchants, addressing himself to Jim, made the following observations:--

"Tell the young man--the nephew of the merchant `For God's sake bias'--
that since we have started for Swearah, in the belief that his story is
true, we shall now take him there, whether he be willing or not; and if
he has in any way deceived us, he shall surely die."

"He has not deceived you," said Jim; "take him and the rest of us there,
and you will certainly be rewarded."

"Then, why do they not go willingly?"

"Because they do not wish to leave their friends."

"Ungrateful dogs! cannot they be thankful for their own good fortune?
Do they take us for slaves, that we should do their will?"

While this conversation was going go, the other two merchants had headed
their animals to the road; and in a minute after, Harry Blount and Colin
had parted with their old messmate Terence, without a hope of ever
seeing him again.

CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR.

HOPE DEFERRED.

For the first hour of their journey, Harry, Colin, and Sailor Bill, were
borne along, fast bound upon the backs of their animals. So
disagreeable did they find this mode of locomotion, that the Krooman was
requested to inform their masters that they were willing to accompany
them without further opposition, if allowed the freedom of their limbs.
This was the first occasion on which the Krooman had made known to the
Arab merchants that he could speak their language.

After receiving a few curses and blows for having so long concealed his
knowledge of it, the white slaves were unbound, and the animals they
bestrode were driven along in advance of the others, while the two hired
guards were ordered to keep a careful watch over them.

The journey was continued until a late hour of the night, when the
travellers arrived at a high wall enclosing a small village.

After the slaves had been conducted inside, and the gate fastened behind
them, their masters, relie