The merchants were themselves obliged to caparison the animals; and just as they were about to use some strong arguments to induce their refractory slaves to mount, they were told that "El Haji" ("the pilgrim") wished to have an interview with the Christians. Soon after, one of the strangers who had entered the town the night before, was seen slowly approaching. He was a tall, venerable-looking Arab, with a long white beard reaching down to the middle of his breast. Having performed the pilgrimage to the Prophet's Tomb, he was entitled to the respect and hospitality of all good Mussulmans, whithersoever he might wander. With the Krooman as interpreter, he asked many questions; and seemed to be much interested in the fate of the miserable looking objects before him. After his inquiries had been answered as to the name of the vessel in which they had reached the country, the time they had passed in slavery, and the manner of treatment which had produced their emaciated and wretched condition, he made other inquiries about their friends and relatives at home. Harry informed him that Colin and himself had parents, brothers, and sisters, who were now probably mourning them as lost; that they and their two companions were sure to be ransomed, could they find some one who would take them to Mogador. He also added that their present masters had promised to take them to that place, but were now prevented from doing so, through an apprehension that they would not be rewarded for their trouble. "I will do all I can to assist you," said El Haji, after the Krooman had given the interpretation of Harry's speech. "I owe a debt of gratitude to one of your countrymen, and I shall endeavour to repay it. When in Cairo I was unwell, and in want of food. An officer belonging to an English ship of war gave me a coin of gold. That piece of money proved both life and fortune to me; for with it I was able to continue my journey, and reach my friends. We are all the children of the true God; and it is our duty to assist one another. I must have a talk with your masters." The old pilgrim then turning to the three merchants, said-- "My friends, you have promised to take these Christian slaves to Swearah, where they might be redeemed. Are you bad men, who fear not God, that your promise should be thus broken?" "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything. We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves. We cannot afford to lose them."