With all the strength he could summon, he struck the old sheik in the face. The mob gasped, and then it howled. It pressed forward, seeking to lay hands on the tottering boy who had dared strike one of the true faith. Again Ras al Had drew his sword. Some of them expected to see him run the infidel through the body. Instead of that, he drove them back. “Keep thy hands off him!” commanded the sheik. “Leave him to me!” Once more he clutched the lad, who was swaying and apparently ready to fall. “Don’t touch me, you traitor!” gasped Merriwell. “I wish I had left you to die beside the railroad, instead of pumping the breath of life back into your miserable, old carcass!” “You are mad, boy.” “That’s right, I am!” “Tell me what happened?” “You know!” “By the beard of the Prophet, I swear I do not know.” “It is no sin to lie to an infidel!” “Ras al Had never lied to any man.” “You do not know what happened? Well, we were betrayed by those black dogs you sent to escort us. We were led here. I was choked into unconsciousness. What has become of Nadia I cannot tell.” A strange and terrible look came to the face of the old Arab. His eyes glittered with a deadly light. “Do you swear that my men did this?” “Yes.” “Then to you I swear that each and every one of them shall pay the penalty of their treachery with his life! That is the oath of Ras al Had! Do you hear me!” “I hear, but——” “You shall see that I keep it. Trust me again. With a word I might have set these men upon you to beat the life from your weak body. Why did I not speak that word?” “I don’t know,” confessed Dick, “unless it was in order that you might have the satisfaction of deceiving me and betraying me again.” “If I leave you now, they will fall on you. I will remain by you and take you to a place of safety. I will prove to you that I am honest. More than that, I will find the maiden and restore her to you.” “Can—can you do it?” “I have given my pledge. Lean on my arm. No one will place the weight of a finger on you while you are with me.” They walked away, the old sheik supporting the boy and questioning him. Dick related everything that had taken place. As well as possible he described the appearance of the old Turk who had joined the escort sent by Ras al Had to conduct the boy and girl back to their friends. “I think I know the man,” nodded the sheik. “I am sure I know him.” “But your servants—you can force the truth from them.” “I doubt if I behold any one of them for many days to come. Without doubt they were well paid for what they did, and they will endeavor to keep beyond my reach, for they know the meaning of my wrath. Yet they shall not escape me in the end.” “But it is the girl—it is poor Nadia I am thinking of!” groaned Dick. “She may be dragged into a harem.” “Has she friends of influence in your country?” “Yes. She——”