“Oh, come,” expostulated Frank, who never liked to take a dare, and this looked like a dare to him, “give me time and I’ll have that fixed up. We’ve got all sorts of radio supplies in our luggage, you know, and as long as the motor hasn’t been wrecked we can fix this up. I’ll bet on it.” The motor had not been subject to the general attack, as a matter of fact. Standing below the table, perhaps it had been overlooked. At Frank’s words, therefore, the others nodded. “That’s right, old thing,” said Jack, slapping him on the back. “We’ll pitch in on this tomorrow, and we’ll have it fixed up in no time. That is,” he added, pausing, “if something else doesn’t come up for us to do, like——” “Like what?” demanded Bob. “Well, either defending ourselves or pursuing the raiders.” “Pursuing them?” asked Frank. Jack nodded. “When that old woman is able to talk, we’ll find out what happened here tonight,” he said. “If Sheik Abraham and his few tribesmen and women were carried off captive, and there is a chance we can help them, I know father will want to do it.” “And I’ll want to do it, too,” said big Bob, gruffly. “Darned shame these people getting into trouble, and perhaps on our account, too.” “Our account?” It was Jack’s turn to look surprised. “Sure thing,” said Bob, slangily. “Why not? How else can you figure it? Who was killed? Nobody but the Professor and Ben Hassim, the two men who had penetrated the Shaitun Mountains and found this old city and learned about a way to get to Athensi. Who killed ’em? Well, by the looks of that wounded fellow your father is doctoring, it was a raiding party of Athensians.” Everybody looked thoughtful. As for Jack, he felt increased respect for his big friend’s powers of reasoning. “But, great Scott, Bob, what would bring them six or seven days across the desert?” he demanded. “As far as the Professor ever could discover, they never left their hidden strongholds. Oh, of course, once a year a party went to Gao. But I understood that lay in an opposite direction from this oasis across the desert.” Ali, who had been an interested listener to this discussion, interrupted. “Perhaps, these strange people learned the Professor meant to disturb their privacy and bring the world to their doors,” he said. “And they resented, and took this method of putting a stop to it.” “But how could they have learned about him or his plans?” demurred Frank. “Oh, this is a mess. Well, when that wounded chap finds his tongue, maybe we’ll learn something. Or when the old woman becomes able to answer questions. Anyway, let’s look around here for any letters or papers or other things the Professor might have left, and then go back to your father, Jack.” CHAPTER V. ALLOLA’S STORY.