The Huttig news., 1915-08-07
ELEVENTH INSTAllMENT
CHAPTER xxIll.
IN THE DESERT

quest was the nrSt the next m0rn- 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 lag fly around, meaning to summon the Arab who had volunteered to take Hassan's place. His arms-he had been in the act of stretching-fell to his sides. He stared at the spot where the camels had been tethered, tncredulously. There were no cam els, no drivers, no Arabs. There was not soul nor an object in sight ex- 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 come outside.
 Quest pointed to the little sandy knoll with it's sparse covering of grass, deserted-with scarcely a sign, even, that it had been the resting place of the little caravan. The professor gave vent to little exclamation.
 The Professor hurried of 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 lit it.
 No good worrying" Quest sighed. "The question is how best to get out of the mess. Whats the next move, anyway"
 The professor glanced towards the son and took small compass from his pocket He pointed across the des- ert.
 That's exactly our route,' he said, but l 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, I don't know. There are no wells, and I 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. T can't smell the coffee"
 They turned and approached her si- lently The two girls, fully dressed, came out of the tent as they ap- preached.
 Young ladies'" the professor an- nounced, "I regret to say that a mis- fortune has befallen us, 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 a 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 a days tramp" Quest re- piled quickly. We may reach there by nightfall."
 Then let's start walking at once, before it 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 l had dared to hope. in the time." he an nounced. Fortunately. l know the exact direction we must take. Keep up your spirits, young ladies. At any time we may see signs of our destination.