United States or Bouvet Island ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"They do not deserve freedom; and may Allah forbid that hereafter any true believer should try to help them to it!" Early next morning Bo Muzem set out on his return journey, thankful for the good fortune that had enabled him so early to detect the imposture that was being practised upon him. He was accompanied by the grazier, who chanced to be journeying in the same direction.
From his appearance, Harry and Colin had but little fear for the result of his decision in any appeal that might be made to him. Bo Muzem was the first to speak. He stated that, in partnership with two other merchants, he had purchased the four slaves then present.
Rais Mourad now came upon the ground. The Moor was not long in comprehending all the circumstances connected with the affair. He instantly ordered his followers to gather around the white slaves, and escort them outside the walls of the town. Bo Muzem attempted to prevent the order from being executed.
A Mussulman in a quarrel generally places more dependence on the justice of his cause than on his strength or skill; and when such is not the case, much of his natural prowess is lost to him. Confident in the rectitude of his indignation, Bo Muzem, with his Mahommedan ideas of fatalism, was certain that the hour had not yet arrived for him to die; nor was he mistaken.
Let him see the letter." Anxious to be convinced of whether he was being deceived or not, Bo Muzem readily agreed to this proposition; and in company with the grazier, he repaired to the house where the Jew was residing. The latter, on being shown Harry's letter, and asked to whom it was addressed, replied "To any English merchant in Mogador." "Bismillah!" exclaimed Bo Muzem.
He had no reluctance in obeying these orders; and a soldier conducted him and his followers to the governor's residence. Bo Muzem and the grazier were there before him; and the governor soon after made his appearance in the large room where both parties were waiting audience. He was a fine-looking man, of amiable aspect, about sixty-five years of age.
In less than a quarter of an hour later, Bo Muzem and the grazier rode through the gateway, accompanied by a troop of fierce-looking Arab horsemen. The wrath of the merchant seemed to have waxed greater in the interval, and he appeared as if about to make an immediate attack upon Harry Blount, the chief object of his spiteful vengeance.
He could not doubt that the Moor was an intelligent man, who knew what he was about when buying the slaves. The grazier had certainly purchased the two slaves spoken of; had acknowledged having carried them to Swearah, and was now anxious to obtain the other three. All was now clear to Bo Muzem; and for a moment he stood mute and motionless under a sense of shame at his own stupidity.
Bo Muzem was now satisfied that he had been "sold." "I shall get no further," said he, after they had parted with the Jew. "I shall return to my partners. We shall kill the Christian dog who wrote the letter and sell his two companions for what we can get for them." "That is your best plan," rejoined the grazier.
"The next Christian slaves I see for sale I intend buying," remarked the latter, as they journeyed along. "Bismillah!" exclaimed Bo Muzem; "that is strange. I thought you had had enough of them?" "So I have," assented the grazier; "but that's just why I want more of them. I want revenge on the unbelieving dogs; and will buy them for the purpose of obtaining it.
Word Of The Day