She
hated and feared them all. Malbihn spoke to her in Arabic.
"We are friends," he said. "Would you like to have us take you
away from here?"
Slowly and dimly as though from a great distance recollection of
the once familiar tongue returned to her.
"I should like to go free," she said, "and go back to Korak."
"You would like to go with us?" persisted Malbihn.
"No," said Meriem.
Malbihn turned to Kovudoo. "She does not wish to go with us," he
said.
"You are men," returned the black. "Can you not take her by force?"
"It would only add to our troubles," replied the Swede. "No,
Kovudoo, we do not wish her; though, if you wish to be rid of her,
we will take her away because of our friendship for you."
Now Kovudoo knew that he had made a sale. They wanted her. So he
commenced to bargain, and in the end the person of Meriem passed
from the possession of the black chieftain into that of the two
Swedes in consideration of six yards of Amerikan, three empty brass
cartridge shells and a shiny, new jack knife from New Jersey. And
all but Meriem were more than pleased with the bargain.
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