Not until late in the afternoon, however, had they descried the looked-for figures approaching. They had gone out a little way into the desert to welcome them, and it had been a triumphal procession homeward. Everybody had crowded around to hear the tale of “The Crazy One’s” latest wanderings, as explained by the merry Ben Hassim, and it had not been dreamed necessary to keep watch. No watch ever was kept, anyway, as the tribe had no enemies and few, indeed, were the travellers who came this way. Suddenly, a body of white men, strangely-clad (like that other, said Allola, nodding toward the tent within which lay the wounded Athensian) and mounted on swift camels, dashed into the midst of the encampment. They bore short heavy swords and lances, but made no effort to harm anyone. In number they were, perhaps, two score. Dividing, they encircled the enclosure where the whole tribe was gathered. The dozen men and the score of half grown boys of the tribe, caught without arms, were helpless to resist. All were made prisoner, the Sheik Abraham was dragged from his tent where he was conversing with “The Crazy One.” The women were brought forth. Only “The Crazy One,” rolling quickly beneath the wall of the Sheik Abraham’s tent, managed for the moment to escape. Allola saw him from her retreat beneath the Sheik Abraham’s divan, where she had thrown herself. She was overlooked. “Then I heard his voice screaming into the devil machine,” said Allola. “And I knew he had fled to his tent and was calling upon his gods for protection. The strangers heard, too, and pursued and caught him. There was a fight. I heard, but I could not see. I lay hidden then until you came.” Mr. Hampton looked thoughtful. “That explains some things,” he said. “Professor Souchard hurrying to get back to meet us was tracked by Athensians. Probably he had aroused some watcher’s suspicions on an earlier scouting expedition along their mountain wall, and when he appeared this time a war party was summoned. Before it could arrive, unconscious of his impending fate, he had departed. But his trail across the desert was followed, the war party pushed its animals and, although he may have had a whole day’s start, they caught up with him an hour after his arrival at the oasis. He was cut down as he called for help.” Jack groaned. “Poor old Professor. If only we had been here. Our party, with guns, could have put the Athensians to flight in a twinkling.”