fter they were awakened to breakfast, which consisted of
hot barley cakes and honey.

Before they had finished their repast, Rais Mourad came up to the spot
and entered into conversation with the Krooman.

"What does the Moor say?" inquired Harry.

"He say dat if we be no bad, and no cheat him, he take us to Swearah to
de English consul."

"Of course we will promise that, or anything else," asserted Harry, "and
keep the promise too, if we can. He will be sure of being well paid for
us. Tell him that!"

The Krooman obeyed; and the Moor, in reply, said that he was well aware
that he would be paid something by the consul, but that he required a
written promise from the slaves themselves as to the amount.

He wanted them to sign an agreement that he should receive two hundred
dollars for each of them.

This they readily assented to; and the Moor then produced a piece of
paper, a reed pen, and some ink.

Rais Mourad wrote the agreement himself in Arabic on one side of the
paper, and then reading it sentence by sentence requested the Krooman to
translate it to his companions.

The translation given by the Krooman was as follows:--

"To English Consul.

"We be four Christian slave. Rais Mourad buy us of Arab. We promise
to gib him two hundred dollar for one, or eight hundred dollar for
four, if he take us to you. Please pay him quick."

Harry and Colin signed the paper without any hesitation, and it was then
handed, along with the pen, to Sailor Bill.

The old sailor took the paper and, after carefully surveying every
object around him, walked up to one of the saddles lying on the ground a
few paces off. Spreading the paper on the saddle he knelt down and very
deliberately set about the task of making his autograph.

Slowly, as the hand of a clock moving over the face of the dial, did
Bill's hand pass over the paper, while his head oscillated from side to
side as each letter was being shaped.

After he had succeeded in painting a few characters which, in his
opinion, expressed the name of "William McNeal," the document was handed
to Harry, who was asked to write a similar agreement on the other side
of the paper, which they were also to sign.

Rais Mourad was determined on being certain that his slaves had put
their names to such an agreement as he wished, and therefore had written
it himself, so that he might not be deceived.

About two hours before sunset all were again in the saddle, and,