KAZONNDÉ. 353 d^ierô. To Dick's great disappoîntment, neither Harris nor Negoro was among his retinue. - Both Alvez and Coïmbra shook hands wîth Ibn Hamîsh, the leader of the caravan, and congratulated him on the success of the expédition. Alvez made a grimace on being told that half the slaves had died on the way, but on the whole he seemed satisfied ; he could meet the demand that at présent existed, and would lose no time in bartering the new arrivai for ivory or hafinas, copper in the shape of a St Andrew's cross, the form in which the métal is exported in Central Africa. After complimentîng the havildars upon the way în whîch they had donc their work, the trader gave ordcrs that the porters should be paid and dismissed. The conversations were carried on in a mixture of Portuguese and native idioms, în which the African élément abounded so largely that a native of Lisbon would hâve been at a loss to under- stand them. Dick, of course, could not comprehend what waâ s'aid, and it was only when he saw a havildar go towards the cell in which Tom and the others were con- fined, that he realized that the talk was about himself and his party. When the negroes were brought out, Dick came close up, beîng anxious to learn as much as he could of what was în contemplation. The old tradcr*s eyes seemed to brighten as he glancéd upon the thrce strappingyoung men who, he knew, would soon be restored to their full strength by rest and proper food. They at least would gct a good price ; as for pôor old Tom, he was manifestly so brokcn down by infirmity and âge, that he would havc no value in the frïarket. • . In a few words of broken Englîsh, which Alvez had pîcked up fromsome of his agents, he ironically gave them ail a welcome. . * "Glad to see you ! ** he saîd, wîth a diabolical grin. 1 Tom knew what . he meant, and drew himself up pcôudly. ....
- We are frec men ! " he protested, " free cîtizens of the
«Jpftea States!"
