“Well, boys, that’s all for the time being,” said Mr. Hampton, at length, after some further discussion. “When we buried Professor Souchard and Ben Hassim, as you will recall, there was no mark of bullet. They had been garroted, their necks broken, in the fashion of the Hindu Thugs. Now Allola says she saw no guns among the Athensians. These two circumstances would seem to indicate they are without firearms. Nevertheless, I cannot believe that a people, keeping up an annual contact with the outside world, would be without knowledge of firearms. Besides, those of the tribesmen were taken, for there isn’t one in the oasis. Would they have taken guns without knowing their use? No, they might have suspected they were weapons and have smashed them, but they wouldn’t have carried them away. Then, too, there is this matter of carrying off the whole tribe of Sheik Abraham. What was the reason for that?” “Probably the raiders planned to use them as slaves,” said Ali, to whom the dark secrets of the slave-raiders who still practice their trade in many places in the heart of the Dark Continent from the Abyssinian borders on the east to the Niger and Kongo territory, were not unknown. “Perhaps,” said Mr. Hampton, slowly. “If the tribesmen were to be used as slaves, that would indicate why their lives were spared. But it is also possibly the Athensians suspected Professor Souchard might have imparted information regarding their country, and they were taking no chances on leaving any witness against them behind.” CHAPTER VI. THE TALE OF THE SLAVE TRADER. Days succeeded during which the party marked time. Mr. Hampton was resolved to take no further steps until first having a talk with the wounded Athensian. He was showing signs of recovery, and was being fed broth at intervals, but was delirious. Should he return to his senses, Mr. Hampton planned to question him in his own tongue. From Professor Souchard he had acquired an elementary vocabulary in that language as taught the latter by the Athensian exiles in Korakum. In the meantime, after exhausting the possibilities of the oasis and its small vegetable farms and flocks of sheep and goats, which had been left behind by the raiders, the boys found time hanging pretty heavy on their hands. Frank had more to occupy him than his comrades, as he was intent on making good on his boast that the radio station could be repaired. Almost every waking hour he spent in this occupation.