He turned to the Arabs and directed them to take up Ben Hassim’s body. Then he and Jack lifted that of the Professor. Bob and Frank, bearing the body of the third man, led the way, and the little procession moved back to the clearing. They were met by Ali, who in the short time of their absence had managed to search all the tents, and had succeeded in finding neither living nor dead except for one old woman who could hardly be said to be either. Although alive, she was half dead from fright. CHAPTER IV. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. The old woman was given in charge of the Arabs to be questioned later. She was so old that she went without a veil when in the presence of men. Reduced to a state of abject fear by events yet to be learned, she was left in charge of two Arabs placed on guard by a fire lighted in the middle of the open enclosure. The first thing to be done was to look after the wounded man. Mr. Hampton ordered him carried into the large tent, which had been that of the Sheik Abraham, leader of this little tribe of Arabs which inhabited the Oasis Aiz-Or. Grass mats were scattered about the roomy interior, and there was a divan covered with faded rugs. On a little tabouret burned a lamp of palmolive oil which gave off a not unpleasant odor. The boys who followed close at the heels of the Arab bearers looked around with curiosity, while the body of the wounded man was laid on the divan and Mr. Hampton began making a critical examination to determine the extent of his injuries. Casting their flashlights into the shadows not penetrated by the feeble rays of the lamp which Ali had found and lighted, the boys discerned a heavy curtain cutting off one part of the tent. Ali came up to them. “That is the women’s quarters,” he said. “Sheik Abraham kept his three wives there. I have never been here before. The oasis is far from all travel routes and Sheik Abraham rarely, if ever, got to the bigger desert towns and villages. But I believe he must have had three wives, for there are that many divans. Ordinarily it would be death for an unbeliever to penetrate into the women’s quarters. Sheik Abraham is a Mohammedan, of course.” He shrugged. Ali was a cosmopolite and to the boys spoke cynically of all religion. Yet they had seen him spread his prayer mat and perform his devotions night and morning with the other Arabs. “Now,” said Ali, lifting the curtain, “you can see an Arab sheik’s selemlik without fear. Behold.” After all, the boys were disappointed. Desultory reading about Arab sheiks had led them to expect they knew not what. Certainly, handsome tents, softly carpeted, filled with silks and perfumes, with shining lances and silver-mounted rifles. As for the selemlik, or women’s quarters, they believed such a place would be a nest of beauty.