interrupting matters, till a large party of
bluejackets arrived on the scene. Just then, some of the least
interesting lots having been disposed of, an old Arab, with a long white
beard, was putting up for sale one of the highly-adorned female lots,
his example being followed by several of his rivals in trade. A stout
female, with a face deeply scarred and hideously painted, and an arm
strong enough to fell an ox, was speedily disposed of. As she seemed to
take kindly to her new master, no sympathy was raised in her behalf.
The case, however, was different with regard to a group of young girls,
many of whom could not fail to excite interest. Two, especially, who
were apparently sisters, were seated together, with their hands clasped,
and their arms round each other's necks, their countenances exhibiting a
greater expression of shame and grief than did those of most of their
companions.

Notwithstanding the horrors innumerable they might have gone through,
they seemed to be aware that a still greater trial was in store for
them. Several of the number had been knocked down, not literally, but
to buyers, after a considerable amount of bidding, and all, it seemed,
had gone off at high prices. The sailors had been looking on, making
remarks, which it was as well neither auctioneers nor purchasers
understood. Their feelings of sympathy, already excited by the sales
they had witnessed of the other groups, were rapidly becoming less and
less controllable. They eyed with no very friendly glances the
ill-favoured Arabs who, grasping the poor girls by their arms, claimed
them henceforth as their chattels. At length the turn of the two
sisters came. Several bidders stood by, each offering an increase on
the price last named by the auctioneer. Jerry Bird, who was among the
seamen, could not make out whether they were to be sold together or
singly. "It will be a shame if they're parted; but the whole thing is a
shame, and there's nothing I'd like so much as to send the rascally
buyers and sellers to the right-about, and to set the poor creatures
free," he exclaimed.

Just then a wizen-faced, one-eyed old Arab, his rich dress showing that
he was a man of wealth and importance, came up and fixed his single
blinker upon one of the negro girls. He quickly outbid all competitors.
The auctioneer offered him the other sister, but he only wanted one,
and nothing could induce him to offer for the other. At length, losing
patie