toned who wages war upon Allah
and His children."

"Ameen."

"The blessings of Allah and our Lord Mahomet upon this market and upon
all who may buy and sell herein, and may Allah increase their wealth and
grant them length of days in which to praise Him."

"Ameen," replied the crowd, as with a stir and rustle the close
ranks relaxed from the tense attitude of prayer, and each man sought
elbow-room.

The dalal beat his hands together, whereupon the curtains were drawn
aside and the huddled slaves displayed--some three hundred in all,
occupying three several pens.

In the front rank of the middle pen--the one containing Rosamund and
Lionel--stood a couple of stalwart young Nubians, sleek and muscular,
who looked on with completest indifference, no whit appalled by the
fate which had haled them thither. They caught the eye of the dalal,
and although the usual course was for a buyer to indicate a slave he
was prepared to purchase, yet to the end that good beginning should be
promptly made, the dalal himself pointed out that stalwart pair to the
corsairs who stood on guard. In compliance the two negroes were brought
forth.

"Here is a noble twain," the dalal announced, "strong of muscle and long
of limb, as all may see, whom it were a shameful thing to separate. Who
needs such a pair for strong labour let him say what he will give."
He set out on a slow circuit of the well, the corsairs urging the two
slaves to follow him that all buyers might see and inspect them.

In the foremost ranks of the crowd near the gate stood Ali, sent thither
by Othmani to purchase a score of stout fellows required to make up
the contingent of the galeasse of Sakr-el-Bahr. He had been strictly
enjoined to buy naught but the stoutest stuff the market could
afford--with one exception. Aboard that galeasse they wanted no
weaklings who would trouble the boatswain with their swoonings. Ali
announced his business forthwith.

"I need such tall fellows for the oars of Sakr-el-Bahr," said he with
loud importance, thus drawing upon himself the eyes of the assembly, and
sunning himself in the admiring looks bestowed upon one of the officers
of Oliver-Reis, one of the rovers who were the pride of Islam and a
sword-edge to the infidel.

"They were born to toil nobly at the oar, O Ali-Reis," replied the dalal
in all solemnity. "What wilt thou give for them?"

"Two hundred philips for the twain."

The dalal paced solemnly on, the slaves following