in his wake.

"Two hundred philips am I offered for a pair of the lustiest slaves that
by the favour of Allah were ever brought into this market. Who will say
fifty philips more?"

A portly Moor in a flowing blue selham rose from his seat on the step of
the well as the dalal came abreast of him, and the slaves scenting here
a buyer, and preferring any service to that of the galleys with which
they were threatened, came each in turn to kiss his hands and fawn upon
him, for all the world like dogs.

Calm and dignified he ran his hands over them feeling their muscles, and
then forced back their lips and examined their teeth and mouths.

"Two hundred and twenty for the twain," he said, and the dalal passed on
with his wares, announcing the increased price he had been offered.

Thus he completed the circuit and came to stand once more before Ali.

"Two hundred and twenty is now the price, O Ali! By the Koran, they are
worth three hundred at the least. Wilt say three hundred?"

"Two hundred and thirty," was the answer.

Back to the Moor went the dalal. "Two hundred and thirty I am now
offered, O Hamet. Thou wilt give another twenty?"

"Not I, by Allah!" said Hamet, and resumed his seat. "Let him have
them."

"Another ten philips?" pleaded the dalal.

"Not another asper."

"They are thine, then, O Ali, for two hundred and thirty. Give thanks to
Allah for so good a bargain."

The Nubians were surrendered to Ali's followers, whilst the dalal's two
assistants advanced to settle accounts with the corsair.

"Wait wait," said he, "is not the name of Sakr-el-Bahr good warranty?"

"The inviolable law is that the purchase money be paid ere a slave
leaves the market, O valiant Ali."

"It shall be observed," was the impatient answer, "and I will so pay
before they leave. But I want others yet, and we will make one account
an it please thee. That fellow yonder now. I have orders to buy him for
my captain." And he indicated Lionel, who stood at Rosamund's side, the
very incarnation of woefulness and debility.

Contemptuous surprise flickered an instant in the eyes of the dalal. But
this he made haste to dissemble.

"Bring forth that yellow-haired infidel," he commanded.

The corsairs laid hands on Lionel. He made a vain attempt to struggle,
but it was observed that the woman leaned over to him and said something
quickly, whereupon his struggles ceased and he suffered himself to be
dragged limply forth into the full