On the first appearance of day Rais Mourad ordered the march to be resumed, himself riding in the advance over a long ridge of sand. The sun soon after shone forth, and on a high hill about four leagues distant were seen the white walls of the City of Santa Cruz, or, as it is called by the Arabs, Agadeer.
Descending from the sand-ridge, the cavalcade moved over a level plain covered with grain crops and dotted here and there with small walled villages, each surrounded by a plantation of vines and date-trees.
At one of the villages near the road the cavalcade made halt and was admitted within the walls. Throwing themselves down in the shade of some date-trees the white slaves soon fell into a sound slumber.
Three hours after they were awakened to breakfast, which consisted of hot barley cakes and honey.
Before they had finished their repast, Rais Mourad came up to the spot and entered into conversation with the Krooman.
“What does the Moor say?” inquired Harry.
“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 Krooman obeyed; and the Moor, in reply, said that he was well aware that he would be paid something by the consul, but that he required a written promise from the slaves themselves as to the amount.
He wanted them to sign an agreement that he should receive two hundred dollars for each of them.