Dick had been compelled to jerk the paper weight at the fellow with a quick, snapping movement. Had he thrown the thing with all his strength the rascal’s skull might have been fractured. Unheeding the venom in Bunol’s glance, Dick lifted the fellow’s limp body and carried him quickly across the room, thrusting him into the small closet. He placed the helpless wretch in a sitting position on the floor, with his knees curled up to his chin, and then closed the closet door. Some one was rapping on the door Brad was holding. “Let them in,” directed Dick coolly. Buckhart stepped away from the door. Professor Gunn entered, followed by a huge black man, wearing immense brass rings in his ears. “This man wants to speak with you, Richard,” said the old pedagogue. “He has a message for you.” Dick was very much surprised. “A message for me?” he said. “Who from?” “You should know,” said the black man, in astonishingly good English. “Look at me. We have met.” “Why, it’s Assouan!” cried Merriwell. “I am Assouan,” bowed the black man. “But here—what are you doing here? How did you get here?” “I came from my master, the great sheik.” “But he is in flight. He——” “He sent me.” “Why?” “I bring a message from him.” “What is it?” “He fears greatly that you will find yourself in great peril here in Damascus, and that you may be slain.” “His fears seem to be well-founded. Is that all the message?” “He commanded me to return to the city, seek you and learn if you were indeed in danger.” “I certainly appreciate the sheik’s thoughtful concern. We are indeed in danger, and by the time you can return, and so inform him, it will be too late for him to render any assistance, should he be so inclined.” “The noble sheik gave me instructions, in case I should find you in peril. He bade me suggest that you should attempt to escape from the city in disguise, at which you are exceeding clever.” “A great idea!” Merriwell exclaimed. “It might be done.” Then his face fell. “But I am not the only one in danger, and I have no disguise save that which I used last night. I might make myself up like an English or American girl, but little good it would do, for the mob is aroused against foreigners, and a girl could not pass unmolested through the streets. Besides that, how could I get out of this hotel? The place is guarded.” “As to that,” said Assouan, “I can show the way to leave the hotel unobserved, even as I entered it.” “You did have to come in, that’s a fact. How did you pass the soldiers on guard?” “There is a way. I know it.” “And you can show us how to leave this place without being stopped by the soldiers?” “I can.” “That’s a plenty interesting!” muttered Buckhart. Professor Gunn was greatly excited. “Then show us—show us!” he fluttered. “We’ll be glad enough to get out.”