In a year he had grown rich, for there were many ways of supplying the needs of an Arab slaver, and Abdul paid promptly.
Arachi worked single-handed, or, if he engaged paddlers, found them in obscure corners of the territories. He brought to Abdul many marketable properties, mostly young N'gombi women, who are fearful and easily cowed, and Sanders, scouring the country for the stout man with the fez, found him not.
* * * * *
"Lord Abdul," said Arachi, who met the slaver secretly one night near the Ikusi River, "Sandi and his soldiers have gone down to the Akasava for a killing palaver. Now I think we will do what you wish."
They were discussing an aspect of an adventure—the grandest adventure which Abdul had ever planned.
"Arachi," said Abdul, "I have made you a rich man. Now, I tell you that I can make you richer than any chief in this land."
"I shall be glad to hear of this," said Arachi. "For though I am rich, yet I have borrowed many things, and, it seems, I have so wonderful a mind that I must live always in to-morrow."
"So I have heard," said the Arab. "For they say of you that if you had the whole world you would borrow the moon."
"That is my mystery," said Arachi modestly. "For this reason I am a very notable man."
Then he sat down to listen in patience to the great plan of Abdul Hazim. And it was a very high plan, for there were two thousand Liberian dollars at the back of it, and, for Arachi, payment in kind.