They answered yes, but it was far off, a full month's journey.

I told them that if they would guide us thither, they should receive their freedom and good pay, adding that if the other men served us well, they also should be set free when we had done with them.

On receiving this information the poor wretches smiled in a sickly fashion and looked at Hassan-ben-Mohammed, who glowered at them and us from the box on which he was seated in charge of Mavovo.
How can we be free while that man lives, their look seemed to say.

As though to confirm their doubts Hassan, who understood or guessed what was passing, asked by what right we were promising freedom to his slaves.
"By right of that," I answered, pointing to the Union Jack which Stephen still had in his hand.

"Also we will pay you for them when we return, according as they have served us." "Yes," he muttered, "you will pay me for them when you return, or perhaps before that, Englishman." It was three o'clock in the afternoon before we were able to make a start.