“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. “We must go to the field. They can make us do that; but they can’t make us work. Go quietly to the field; but don’t make yourselves useful when you get there.”
This advice was followed; and the boy slaves soon found themselves by the side of a large patch of barley, ready for the reaping-hook. A sickle of French manufacture was then placed in the hands of each, and they were instructed how to use them.
“Never mind,” said Jim. “Go to work with a will, mates! We’ll show them a specimen of how reaping is done aboard ship!”
Jim proceeded to set an example by cutting the grain in a careless manner, letting the heads fall in every direction, and then trampling them under foot as he moved on.
The same plan was pursued by his brother Bill, the Krooman, and Harry Blount.
In the first attempt to use the sickle Terence was so awkward as to fall forward and break the implement into two pieces.
Colin behaved no better: since he managed to cut one of his fingers, and then apparently fainted away at the sight of the blood.
The forenoon was passed by the Arabs in trying to train their slaves to the work, but in this they were sadly unsuccessful.