Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-07-16
ELEVENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER KIN.
IN THE DESERT.

Quest was the first the next morn
Ing to open his eyes, TO grope his
way through the tent opening and
stand for a moment alone, watching
the alabaster skies He turned laz
lily around, meaning to summon the
Arab who had volunteered to take
Hassan's place His arms-he had
been in the act OF stretching-tell to
his sides He stared at the spot
where the camels had been tethered
incredulously There were no cam
els, no drivers, no Arabs There MAS
not soul nor an object In sight eN
Cept the stark body Of Hassan which
they had dragged halt out of sight
behind a slight knoll High up In the
sky above were two little black speeks
wheeling lower and lower quest
shivered as he suddenly realized that
for the first time in his life be Was
looking upon the winged ghouls OF the
desert Lower and lower they came.
He turned away with shlyer
The professor was still sleeping
when Quest re-entered the tent He
woke him up and beCkoned him to
come outside
Quest pointed to the little sandy
knoll with its sparse covering Of grass
deserted-With scarcely sign even
that ii had been the resting place OF
the little caravan The professor gave
vent to little exclamation.
The Professor hurried on towards
the spot where the encampment had
been made Suddenly he stood still
and pointed with his finger Ia the
clearer almost crystalline light OF the
coming day, they saw the track OF the
camels in one long, unbroken line
stretching away northwards
He glanced around little helpless
ly Quest took cigar from his case
and lit it.
No good worryins Quest sighed
THE question Is how best to get out
of the mess What's the next move.
anyway"
The professor glanced towards the
son aud took small compass from
his pocket He pointed across tho des
ert
That's exactly our route he said
"but reckon we 3till must be two
days from the Mongars, aud how We
are going to get there ourselves, much
more get the women there without
camels, | don't know. There are no
wells, aud don't believe those fel-
lows have left US a single tin OF wa
ter
Laura put her head out Of the tent
In which the two women had slept.
Say where's breaktast" she ex
claimed Il can't smell the coffee
They turned and approached her 81.
lently. The two girls, fully dressed
came out OF the tent as they ap-
preached
Young ladies'" the professor an
nounced, u regret to say that u mis-
fortune has befallen US a mis-.
fortune which we shall be able, with
out doubt, to surmount, but which will
mean a day OF hardship and much IN
convenience.
Where are the camels?" Lenora
asked breathlessly.
Gone" Quest replied
And the Arabs
Gone with them-we are left high
and dry" Quest explained
And what is worse, the professor
added, with groan, they have taken
with them all our stores, our rifles and
our water"
How far are We from the Mongar
camp" Lenora asked
About days tramp, Quest re-
piled quickly. We may reach there
by nightfall'
Then let's start walking at once,
before 1t gets any hotter, Lenora sug'
gested.
Quest patted her on the back. They
made a close search Of the tents but
found that the Arabs had taken every
thing in the way OF food and drink, eX-
cept a single half-filled tin Of drink
ing water
They started bravely enough, but by
midday their little stock OF water was
gone, their feet were sorely blistered.
No one complained however, and the
professor did his best to revive their
spirits.
I'VE have come farther than ! had
dared to hope, in the time he an.
nounced Fortunately, know the
exact direction we must take. Keep up
your spirits, young ladies' AT any time
we may see signs OF our destination.
They struggled on once more Night
came and brought with it half-sooth.
ing, halftorturing GOODNESS. That
vain straining Of the eyes upon the
horizon at any rate was spared to
them. They slept in fashion, but
soon after dawn they were on their
feet again. Suddenly Quest, who had
gone little out OF his way to mount
a low range OF sand hills, waved his
arm furiously He was holding his
field-glasses to his eyes. 1t was won.
derful how that ray of hope trans.
formed them. They hurried to where
he was. He passed the glasses to the
professor