Why had they not been awakened before?
Why this delay?
In the mind of each was an instinctive fear that there must be something wrong, that some other obstacle had arisen, blocking up their road to freedom.
Hours passed, and still their masters came not near them.
They remained in much anxiety, vainly endeavouring to surmise what had caused the interruption to their journey.
Knowing that the merchants had expressed an intention to conduct them to Mogador as soon as possible, they could not doubt but that the delay arose from some cause affecting their welfare.
Late in the afternoon they were visited by their masters; and in that interview their worst fears were more than realised.
By the aid of the Krooman, one of the merchants informed Harry that he had deceived them, that the sheik, of whose hospitality they had been partaking, had often visited Swearah, and was acquainted with all the foreign residents there. He had told them that there was no one of the name of “For God’s sake bias.”
He had assured them that they were being imposed upon; and that by taking the white slaves to Swearah they would certainly lose them.
“We will not kill you,” said one of their masters to Harry, “for we have not had the trouble of carrying you the whole distance; and besides, we should be doing an injury to ourselves. We shall take you back to the borders of the desert, and there sell you for what you will fetch.”