Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-29
ELEVENTH INsTALLMENT
CHAPTER XIII.
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-
ny around. meaning to summon the
Arab who had volunteered to take
fiassan's place. His arms--he had
been In the act OF stretching to
his sides. He stared at the spot
where the camels had been tethered.
incredulously. There we're no cam
els. no drivers. no Arabs. There was
not a soul nor an object in sight ex-
cept the stark body of Hassan. which
they had dragged half out Of sight
behind slight knoll High up in the
sky above were two little black specks.
wheeling lower and lower Quest
shivered as he suddenly realized that
for the first time In his life he was
looking upon the winged ghouls OF the
desert. Lower and lower they came.
He turned away with a shiver.
The professor was still sleeping
when Quest re-entered the tent. He
woke him up and beckoned him to
como outside
Quest pointed to the little sandy
knoll with its s. ..rse covering of grass,
deaerted-with scarcely sign. even.
that It had been the resting place Of
the little caravan. The professor gave
vent to a little exclamation.
The Professor hurried off towards
the spot where the encampment had
been made. Suddenly he stood still
and pointed with his finger. In 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 liz it..
NO good worrying Quest sighed.
"The question. is how best to get out
OF the mess. What's the next move,
anyway"
The professor glanced towards the
sen and took small compass from
his pocket. He pointed across the des-
ert.
That's exactly our route" he said
"but reckon we still must be two
days from the Mongars, and how we
are going to get there ourselves, much
more get the women there, without
camels, don't know. There ore nc
wells, and / 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 breakfast" 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.
"Yolng ladies'" the professor an
nounced, Il regret to say that a mis-
fl.tul- has befallen US, a mis-
fortune which we shall be able, with
out doubt, to surmount, but which will
mean day of hardship and much in
COW ience'
"NTiare are the camels?" LenorI
askOO nreatnleSsly.
"uone!" Quest replied.
'Nld the Arabs2r
"C0ne with them-we are left higl
and dry" Quest explained.
d what is worse" the professo
adde, with a groan, they have take
..hem all our stores, our rifles an
cor water"
~ far are we from the Monga
cnr~?" Lenora asked.
bout a days tramp Quest II
plie- quickly. I'VE may reach ther
b. rightfall."
"Ihen let's start walking at ono
before 1t gets any hotter" Lenora SUI
ted
Quest patted her on the back. The
niade a close search of the tents, bl
found that the Arabs had taken ever
thing In the way of food and drink. e
cept n single half-flled tin of drin
Ing water.
They started bravely enough, but
midday their little stock of water WI
gone. their feet we're sorely blistere
No one complained, however and Il
professor did his best to revive the
spirits.
1--WE have come farther than / HI
dared to hope, in the time," he
nounced. Fortunately, ] know I
exact direction we must take. Keep
your spirits, young ladies. At any til
we may see signs of our destination