THE SLAVE ROAD The twenty bearers having arrived, in charge of five or six Arabs armed with guns, we went to inspect them, taking Hassan with us, also the hunters.

They were a likely lot of men, though rather thin and scared-looking, and evidently, as I could see from their physical appearance and varying methods of dressing the hair, members of different tribes.

Having delivered them, the Arabs, or rather one of them, entered into excited conversation with Hassan.

As Sammy was not at hand I do not know what was said, although I gathered that they were contemplating his rescue.

If so, they gave up the idea and began to run away as their companions had done.