Dick forced the camel to kneel, after the manner of camel drivers, a trick he had learned by observation. Down went one end of the beast, flinging the boys forward and forcing them to hold fast with all their strength; then down went the other end, hurling them back and snapping their teeth together. After that they stepped off. “It is useless to resist!” moaned the professor. “We have no chance against those wretches! Oh, boys, this is the end—the awful end!” “You’ve lost your nerve again, professor,” said Dick. “Brace up. Let’s not die until we have to.” The Bedouins had halted at some distance. For a moment they huddled together, and then out from the mass of horsemen rode one, whose bearing was that of a leader. Alone and unattended, this man fearlessly rode toward the train. Grasping his gun in the middle, he lifted it high above his head with one hand, a signal which the merchant at the head of the train seemed to understand, for he slowly advanced to meet the wild chief. The chief was a handsome man at a distance, being of unusual size and wearing the barbaric garments and decorations of his people. He had a jet-black beard, and there was something uncommon about his features. The horse he bestrode was a clean-limbed, fiery animal. “If I had my camera now!” exclaimed Dick; “but that camera by this time is in Alexandria, with the rest of our baggage, which we sent on ahead of us.” “I wonder what’s up,” muttered Brad. “The Syrians are mightily disturbed.” “Perhaps the Bedouins are going to demand tribute, and the merchants do not wish to pay.” “Is that a custom?” “I don’t know; but it seems that those armed wanderers could hold up a train like this and get everything they asked.” The chief was seen speaking with the merchant. In a few moments the latter turned, saw Dick and his friends, and called: “Mr. Merriwell is wanted.” “What’s that?” gasped Buckhart, in the greatest amazement. “Did you hear it, pard? Did he say you were wanted?” “That’s what he said,” nodded Dick. Professor Gunn began to shake and choke. “Richard, oh, Richard!” he exclaimed huskily. “These wild men have been sent to search the desert for you and take you back to Damascus! You are lost!” “Great grizzlies!” burst from the Texan. “Is it possible that can be correct?” “It may be,” said Dick quietly. “Well, don’t you surrender!” panted the Texan. “I’ll back you up, pard. We’ll die with our boots on, fighting to the last ditch! We’re both armed.” “Alone, the two of us would stand no show against those warriors of the desert,” said Dick. “However, let’s not borrow trouble. Let’s find out if there really is any trouble coming.” Saying which, he boldly walked out. The Bedouin chief gazed in silence at the advancing boy, while the Syrian merchant hastened to say: “Here is the lad for whom thou hast called, Ali Beha. Take him and do thy will.” Brad had followed Dick, while the old professor timidly brought up the rear.