The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-09
Copyright, 1915, BY OTIS = Wood
eleventh lNsTALLmENT
CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE DESERT.

IN IhE DESERT.
Quest was the first the next morn
Ing to open his eyes. to grope his
way through the tent opening and
stand for 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-fell 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 was
not 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
come outside.
Quest pointed to the little sandy
knoll with its sparse covering of grass,
deserted-with scarcely sign, even,
that 1t 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 t.nger. 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.
Laura put her head out of the tent
In which the two women had slept.
Say. where's breakfast" she ex-
claimed. Il cant smell the coffee"
Young ladies'" the professor an
nounced, Il 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 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 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.
I'VE have come farther than l 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, half-torturing 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 a little out of his way to mount
q 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.
"a caravan" he exclaimed. Il can
see the camels, and horses
The professor almost snatched the
glasses.
TT is quite true" he agreed. ut Is
a caravan crossing at right angles to
our direction. Come! They will see
US before long"
Presently three or four horsemen
detached themselves from the main
body and came galloping towards