With the heel of his riding boot he pushed a long wooden chest in the Professor’s direction. Stooping, Blackwell unlocked the box. It contained a moderately extensive collection of arms. And he selected a rifle of the British service pattern. The Professor was an old campaigner; and, having charged the magazine with care, he lighted a fresh cigar, and, nodding to the others, strolled outside the tent. His footsteps might be heard receding along the _wâdi_. “For many reasons, I hope we break through in the next three days,” Danbazzar went on, ending a short, uncomfortable silence. He nodded his massive head in the direction of his own tent, which lay to the south. “It took years to collect the ingredients mentioned in the formula. Some of them are perishable. One oil I got from Persia six months ago is already changing colour under the influence of climate. Besides, if these things were destroyed, God knows when I’d assemble them again.” “But you have the case well hidden,” said John Cumberland. “It’s buried in the sand under the floor of my tent, but I don’t feel too happy about it, all the same.” “The papyrus!” cried Barry eagerly--“you have that with you?” “Not on your life!” Danbazzar returned. “No, sir, I have a photograph of it, and one of the formula as well. The originals are in the vault of my New York bank.” “Yes,” John Cumberland nodded, turning to Barry. “I thought I had mentioned this to you.” “No, Dad; I imagined we had them with us.” “And now,” said Danbazzar, standing up, “I’m going along to look at the work. If that second portcullis is broken, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be down to the mummy chamber to-morrow. We’re reaping the benefit of what I did last year. It would be better if you both remained in camp till I return. We shall have to follow some rule of this kind for the present.” He took a small repeater from his pocket and dropped it in the arms chest, taking in its place a heavy revolver. When he had gone, John Cumberland looked at his son rather blankly. “I hope and believe, Barry,” said he, “that this thing is a big bluff. If it isn’t, I shall feel inclined to withdraw.” “Withdraw!” cried Barry. “You surely wouldn’t do that!” “I’m not thinking of the danger,” the older man went on quietly, “but of the impossible position we should find ourselves in if we definitely came to blows with these Arabs. The whole plan would be exposed. I can’t afford to take that risk, even if Danbazzar can.” “You are thinking of the Egyptian authorities?” suggested Barry slowly. “I am.” His father nodded. “Imagine the disgrace if we were arrested! No. If it comes to shooting, this party must break up. We could only hope to return at some future time, when the district was more settled.” “I never heard of such a thing,” Barry declared. “Of course, I know nothing of the country. It’s most unusual, isn’t it?” “Most unusual,” John Cumberland agreed. “I confess I can’t understand it. But I don’t like it.”