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Moreover, they did not wish to be thought guilty of a wrong, even by Christian slaves; and they therefore condescended to give some explanation. "Suppose," said one of them, "that our partner Bo Muzem should find a man in Mogador who is willing to ransom you, how much are we to get for you?" "One hundred dollars for me," answered the Krooman, "and one hundred and fifty for each of the others."
After suffering a long lesson teaching the virtue of patience, they learnt from Krooman that one of those who had been conversing with their masters was a grazier, owning large droves of cattle; and that he had lately been to Swearah.
His efforts only resulted in his being instantly flung to the earth, and fast held by his powerful adversary, who at the same time was also employed in protecting his victim from the fury of Fatima. Terence, Harry, and the Krooman were now conducted back over the ground, and placed in their former position in the row, from which they had been temporarily taken.
After some time spent in reconsidering the subject, the old sheik called the Krooman aside; and when out of hearing of the wreckers asked him to give an explanation of the real nature of what he himself persisted in calling the "cargo" of the wreck, as well as a true statement of its value.
It was explained to him how the Krooman had been enlightening his master. "Call the Krooman," said Jim, "and I'll enlighten him. If these Arabs find out that they have been deceived, I shall be killed, and your master, the old sheik, will certainly lose all his property. Tell him to come here also. I must talk to him. Something must be done immediately, or I shall be killed."
Why, then, should they try to escape while journeying towards the place where those friends were living? The Krooman went on to say that the young man who had just made off was Golah's brother-in-law; that, unlike themselves, in going north he would not be seeking freedom but perpetual slavery, and for that reason he had gone to rejoin Golah and his son.
Harry told the Krooman to inform his masters that he had freely pledged his existence on the truth of the story he had told them, that he assuredly had a rich friend in Mogador, who would redeem them all; but that, should his uncle not be in the place at the time they should arrive there, it would make no difference, as they would certainly be ransomed by the English consul.
"Why, how do you know that?" exclaimed Frank, amazed that the Krooman should not only know their destination which might have been a guess but have divined the fact that they had an aeroplane. "Krooman know much that white man not know!" replied the giant black. Then, rising his finger, he counted the amazed group of adventurers who stood transfixed at the scene.
When his thoughts were not too much absorbed by painful reveries over the desire for food and water, Harry endeavoured to converse with the Krooman already mentioned. He now applied to the man for an interpretation of the words so loudly vociferated by the angry negress, and launched upon the head of the patient young Scotchman.
'Will there be any force at Suakin? aid a voice. Then the outcries redoubled, and grew mixed, thus: 'How many Egyptian troops will they use? God help the Fellaheen! There's a railway in Plumstead marshes doing duty as a fives-court. We shall have the Suakin-Berber line built at last. Canadian voyageurs are too careful. Give me a half-drunk Krooman in a whale-boat. Who commands the Desert column?
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