Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-06-17
eleventh INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XIII.
I'M THE DESERT.


ouest was the first the next SmoFns
ing to open his eyes. to grope his
way through the tent opening and
stand for q moment alone, watching
the alabaster skies. He turned laz-
ilv 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 ct the spot
where the camels had been tethered,
incredulously. There were no cam
els. no drivers, no Arabs. There was
not q 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 BpeckBs
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 . ahiyer.
The professor was still sleeping
when Quest re-entered the tent. He
woke him up and beckoned himi to
come outside. =
Quest pointed to the little, sandy
knoll with its sparse covering of grass,
deserted with scarcely . sign, even.
that it had been the resting place Of
the little caravan. The professor gave
vent to Q little exclamation i -
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, sunbroken line
stretcl g away nofthwards. 'sN
He glanced around Q little helpless
ly, Quest took q cigar from his case
and lit It.
mo good Worrying" Quest sighed.
The question IL how best to get out
Of the mess. What's the next move,
anyway" ~ ( - 3 ]. ''--'-.-Is y
The professor glanced towards the
son and took q small compass from
bis pocket. He pointed across the des-
ert, Observation-Disclosures
That's exactly our ronte, = 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
scamels, don't know. There are NO
wells. and l don't believe those feb
lows have left US Q single tin Of wa
ter" ~ sii@alss ~ II
Laura put her head out Of the tent
In which the two women had slept.
Say, where's breakfsst?,s' she, az
claimed. Il can't smell the c0tfaessx c
They turned and approached her q;
lsntly. The two girlS, fully dressed
came out of the tent d they up
preached. ~ ss5
Young ladies" the protessor an
ncunced. Il regret to say that . misr
fortune has befallen IN, . mis-
fortune which we shall be abba, With
out doubt. to surmount, but which win
mean day of hardship and much In
convenience" 'ses :. : vrssrs ssSa7lsa
Where are the camelsf"s Lenega
asked breathlessly. ST.
Gone!" Quest replied.
And the Arabs?"
Gone with them-we are left high
and dry Quest explained. 81
And what is worse" the professor
ADDED, with . groan, they have taken
with them all our stores, our rinessand
our water" q, -.
How far are We from the Mongar
camp" Lenora asked.
About . days tramp" Quest re-
pied quickly. We may reach there
by nightfall." 80 = 4 = -
Then let's start walking at once.
Oslore 1t gets any hotter" Lenora sug-
guest patted her ON the back. They
made close search Of the tents. but
.ound that the Arabs had taken every
.nins In the way Of food and drink. en-
sept single hAlf-nlled TN q drink;
Ing water. ) q I'd Lsse
ieey started bravely enough. but BY
~lo0ay their little stock Of Water.waS
Sone' their feet were sorely blistered.
MO one complained. however. and the
S.olessoR did his best to rsvivU thgiE
We have come farther Than I hnt
Jared to hope. In the time Sc on,
aounced. "Fortnnatsl1. I know IN
s.acs direction ~slhtsk faks. Keep ID
your spirits. young ladies. Al any tims
~ may see signasof OUT destination.