cause of the disturbance was soon made known all over
the camp, and curious men came rushing by the score to the scene of the
tragedy, to gaze upon the victim of his own savage lust for plunder or
murder. Amer bin Osman, when he heard the explanation of Simba, took a
torch, and followed by Selim and others, went to gaze upon the dead man.
One look satisfied him that the man was a Mhehe, who had armed himself
with a long oval-shaped shield, broad-bladed spear, and battle-axe, for
a desperate enterprise.

When Amer raised his head, he seemed to be studying what the intention
of the man might have been, and he retraced his steps backwards to the
tent-door, and looked in, as if to consider what might have been done,
or stolen, had he succeeded in his attempt. Then, looking at Selim's
pale face, who had also arrived at the same opinion as his father, a
grateful look stole over his features; he said to his son with a smile:

"Well, boy, thou hast to thank Simba for thy safety, for thy head lay
uncomfortably near that door; and hadst thou awakened, thy life had not
been worth much. What hast thou to say to Simba, Selim?"

The boy turned his large bright eyes upon Simba's face, which glowed
with honest pride and affection, and then they measured the giant limbs,
the tremendous arms, and the broad heaving chest, and to his father's
question propounded another, which rather startled his father:

"Simba is a great strong man, but whom dost thou value more, father--thy
son Selim or thy slave Simba?"

"Why, son of mine, what a question! Art thou not the child of my loins,
and of my dear Amina? and have I ever failed in my love for thee?"

"Never--no, never, dear father; but Simba has given thy son back again
to thee, else had I been dead. Has Simba paid thee full valuation for
the purchase-money thou didst pay for him when he was a child?"

"Simba is good; but had I lost thee, I had surely lost all. Thou hast
said it, my child. Simba is free, and is no longer a slave of Amer bin
Osman."

"Simba!" cried Selim, "good Simba, do you hear the words of my father?
You are a man, and no longer a slave!"

Simba at first did not seem to comprehend the full meaning of the words
addressed to him, but as the words of the boy whose life he had saved
were repeated to him, a proud smile lit his features, and as he tossed
his head back, while his nostrils dilated, he said:

"A slave! It is an ugly word; but Simba, of the Wahuma, o