Curses, threats, and blows were expended upon them to no purpose, for the Christian dogs seemed only capable of doing much harm and no good. During the afternoon they were allowed to lie idle upon the ground, and watch their masters cutting the barley; although this indulgence was purchased at the expense of lacerated skins and aching bones. Nor was this triumph without the cost of further suffering; for they were not allowed a mouthful of food or a drop of water, although an abundance of both had been distributed to the other labourers in the field. All five, however, remained obstinate, notwithstanding hunger and thirst, threats, cursings, and stripes; each one disdaining to be the first to yield to the wishes of their Arab masters. CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT. WORK OR DIE! That night, after being driven within the walls of the town, the white slaves, along with their guard, and the Krooman, were fastened in a large stone building partly in ruins, that had been recently used as a goat-penn. They were not allowed a mouthful of food nor a drop of water, and sentinels walked around all night to prevent them from breaking out of their prison. No longer targets for the beams of a blazing sun, they were partly relieved from their sufferings; but a few handfuls of barley they had managed to secrete and bring in from the field, proved only sufficient to sharpen an appetite which they could devise no means of appeasing. A raging thirst prevented them from having any repose; and, on being turned out next morning, and ordered back to the barley-fields, weak with hunger and want of sleep, they were strongly tempted to yield obedience to their masters. The black slaves had worked well the day before; and, having satisfied their masters, had received plenty of food and drink. Their white companions in misery saw them eating their breakfast before being ordered to the field. "Jim," said Sailor Bill, "I've 'alf a mind to give in. I must 'ave somethin' to heat an' drink. I'm starvin' all over." "Don't think of it, William," said his brother. "Unless you wish to remain for years in slavery as I have done, you must not yield. Our only hope of obtaining liberty is to give the Arabs but one chance of making anything by us, the chance of selling us to our countrymen. They won't let us die, don't think it! We are worth too much for that. They will try to make us work if they can; but we are fools if we let them succeed." Again being driven to the field, another attempt was made by the Arabs to get some service out of them. "We can do nothing now," said Jim to the old sheik: "we are dying with hunger and thirst. Our life has always been on the sea, and we can do nothing on land." "There is plenty of food for those who earn it," rejoined the sheik; "and we cannot give those food who do not deserve it." "Then give us some water." "Allah forbid! We are not your servants to carry water for you."