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"No; we have all agreed to die rather than work for you! You promised to take us to Swearah and we will go there or die. We will not be slaves any longer!" Most of the Arabs, with their wives and children, had now assembled around the white men, who were ordered instantly to move on. "It will not do for us to say we will not or can't move on," said Jim, speaking to his companions in English.
Two of you can stay with them here, while the third goes on to Swearah with a letter from this young man to his friends. You have as yet no proof that he is trying to deceive you; and therefore, as true men, you have no excuse for breaking your promise to him. Take a letter to Swearah; and if the money be not paid, then do with them as you please, and the wrong will not rest upon your heads."
Perceiving that all his entreaties, addressed to his brother, Harry, and Colin, could not put an end to the painful scene he was compelled to witness, Jim strove to effect his purpose by making an appeal to his late masters. "Buy us back, and take us all to Swearah as you promised," said he. "If you do so, we will go cheerfully, as we were doing before.
"He say dat if we be no bad, and no cheat him, he take us to Swearah to de English consul." "Of course we will promise that, or anything else," asserted Harry, "and keep the promise too, if we can. He will be sure of being well paid for us. Tell him that!"
The old pilgrim then turning to the three merchants, said "My friends, you have promised to take these Christian slaves to Swearah, where they might be redeemed. Are you bad men, who fear not God, that your promise should be thus broken?"
"Tell the young man the nephew of the merchant `For God's sake bias' that since we have started for Swearah, in the belief that his story is true, we shall now take him there, whether he be willing or not; and if he has in any way deceived us, he shall surely die." "He has not deceived you," said Jim; "take him and the rest of us there, and you will certainly be rewarded."
"Why have you sold us?" asked the Krooman, as the merchants came forth. "Have you not promised that we should be taken to Swearah, and has not your partner gone there to obtain the money for our ransom?" The two merchants were, at this moment, on good terms with themselves and all the world besides. They had made what they believed to be a good bargain, and were in the humour for being agreeable.
Hark! what is that about `more than you can get in Swearah! I believe these new Arabs are making an offer to buy us. If so, may their Prophet curse them!" The conversation amongst the Arabs was kept up until a late hour; and, during the time it continued our adventurers were impatiently awaiting the return of the Krooman.
Each would take a long draw, and then hand the pipe to his left-hand neighbour. While thus occupied, they kept up an animated conversation, in which the word "Swearah" was often pronounced. Swearah, of course, meant "Mogador." "They were talking about us," said Jim, "and we must learn for what purpose. I am afraid there is something wrong.
He had never given his consent to the sale made by his partners to the Moor; and there was one of the slaves who, it had been distinctly understood, was not to be sold at all. That slave he now claimed as his own property. He had been commissioned by his partners to go to Swearah, and there dispose of the whole lot. He had sold the other two to his friend Mahommed, who was by his side.
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