“Would you send us away into peril?” asked Dick, with pretended resentment. “We admire you, professor—we love you, and we propose to stick by you. You can’t shake us.” “Not on your life,” chuckled Brad. “We’re going to find out whatever your little game in Cairo is. Better tell us.” “No game at all! It’s ridiculous—simply ridiculous! All right. If you won’t go, I can’t help it; but I may find it impossible to be with you constantly while in Cairo. Private matters may call me away from you for some days. I have met a gentleman from the United States here—a very interesting man. His name is Stringer—Colonel Erastus Stringer. He is a very fine gentleman, and I——” “I’ve seen the colonel,” said Merriwell. “He seems to me like a rather gay old bird. Better take care that he doesn’t get you into a scrape.” “I think I am fully competent to take care of myself,” said the old pedagogue, with dignity. “The colonel is a very quiet and retiring person. I do not approve of the disparaging manner in which you speak of him.” “I think the colonel is inclined to look too often on the jag pot,” said Brad. “Tut, tut, tut!” exclaimed Zenas. “Such vulgarity! Jag pot! Such slang! Bradley, you often make me blush with shame for you. I fear your travels are not doing you much good. I did hope to take you back to America quite changed and altered. I hoped to polish off your rough ways and eliminate the slang from your vocabulary. But, alas! I fear my efforts will be fruitless.” The old man then launched into a lecture, to which the boys listened weariedly. “I have given you a few things to serve as food for contemplation,” Zenas concluded. “I will now retire and let you think them over.” When he was gone Dick turned to his friend, a puzzled expression on his face. “What do you suppose the old boy is up to?” he asked. “Hanged if I know,” admitted the Texan; “but I’ll be shot if I don’t think there’s something in the wind.” “We must find out what it is. Colonel Stringer is something of a lusher, as well as a practical joker. I hear he was put out of the Hotel Abbat, in Alexandria, on account of some sort of practical joke in which he was concerned.” There was a tap on their door and Dunbar Budthorne entered. “What do you say, boys, to a trip to Citadel Hill to witness the sunset?” he asked. “Nadia wants to go.” “Then I’m ready,” declared Buckhart, in a twinkling. “I’ll go along, too,” said Dick, rising. CHAPTER XXV—SUNSET FROM THE CITADEL Directly across the street from the hotel were gathered forty or more Egyptian donkeys, saddled, bridled and ready for riders. These donkeys were guarded by boys, who acted both as guides and drivers when the little animals were engaged. The moment Dick, Brad, Dunbar, and Nadia appeared on the steps of the hotel it seemed that all the boys made a rush across the street, yelling wildly and beckoning with their dusky hands. “I got good donkey; tak’ him!” “Mine fine donkey, Teddy Rosefelt!”