"
He could not have turned traitor. His valiant behavior in the
skirmish made that impossible to consider a minute. But it was
equally certain that he was nowhere to be seen. What could have
become of him? A dread that he was dead oppressed both boys as they
stood there waiting for the Arab to speak.
Muley-Hassan seemed to be considering.
He twisted the ends of his jet-black mustaches like a man lost in
thought, and the firelight playing on his bold reckless features
showed there an expression of deep perplexity. But it was no
question of mercy that was agitating his mind.
It was whether he would kill the boys right there or sell them into
slavery.
To his money-making mind the latter idea commended itself. Two
strong youths such as they were would fetch a good price anywhere,
and so it came about that Billy and Lathrop--who had fully expected
to share the Professor's fate--were flung by no gentle hands into
their bullet-riddled tent and left to pass the night as best they
could. Two men were posted to watch them and a rough cuff on the
head rewarded Billy's single attempt to speak to Lathrop.
The next day at dawn the camp was the scene of great activity. The
dead were carried into the forest a short distance and buried, while
the wounded were attended to with such rough surgery as Muley-Hassan
knew.
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