Riley was an American sea captain in the 1800s whose ship crashed onto a Moroccan shore in the Saharan desert. Riley and his crew were captured by local slave traders —traders who were reportedly also cannibals. Riley told one of the traders that a very wealthy man in a nearby town would pay a large sum for his freedom. No such man actually existed, and the slave traders threatened to kill Riley should no man really exist. Meanwhile, Riley had sent a note to consuls in the nearby village, explaining his situation. Much to his luck one of those consuls received Riley’s note and bought his freedom. The slaves had to walk hundreds of miles, drinking their own urine along the way, to reach the town.
Source: Sfgate.com
