It was even darker in the pass than it had been on the desert, where the soft diffusive light of the stars gave a faint illumination. They rode two abreast, and Jack and Frank, who rode together, could make little out of their surroundings. They were in the middle of the line and could barely see the men ahead and behind them—dark, hooded shapes all. For Mr. Hampton and the boys wore Arab burnooses and, except for their sun helmets, which they wore in place of the Arab turban, resembled their companions in appearance. Of the road itself little could be seen, except that it was smooth and without breaks, composed of immense rocks which could have been moved from a quarry and put in place only at the expense of Herculean labor, especially in that dim bygone age when laid down. Filling the pass from wall to wall, it was a road built for the ages. How deep it went, who knew? Certainly, it must have been yards in depth. Over the surface, one would have expected sand from the desert to have collected, but so free was the stone from any such accumulation that it seemed to be newly-swept. Winds playing up and down the pass like the draught in a chimney were responsible. Suddenly the Arab riding far in the lead to guard against surprise, as similarly rode a single Arab well in the rear of the main body, fell back beside Mr. Hampton and Ali who headed the procession. “What is it?” asked Ali, low-voiced. “Men ahead?” The other whispered softly to him, and Ali turned to his anxious companion, and interpreted in a relieved tone. “Akmet says there is a little pocket ahead in the canyon wall,” he whispered. “He cannot see well because of the darkness. There are trees and bushes. He will not go in alone. Akmet,” said Ali, in a tone of scorn, “does not fear to find men, but he is afraid of spirits. He wants the Master to accompany him because he is a great wizard.” In the darkness, unseen by Ali, Mr. Hampton smiled. This child-like fear of _djinn_ or spirits he had noted among the men on other occasions. Early in their association, whiling away hours in camp as they crossed the Great Desert toward the oasis, he had performed some intricate tricks of magic which had made a great impression on the men. That they believed him a wizard, he knew. “Very well,” he said, “tell Akmet to lead, and I’ll follow. Do the rest of you remain here until we return.” Then the forms of the two men melted into the darkness. A considerable time elapsed before their return and Jack, alarmed despite the absence of shots or other sounds which would indicate his father had encountered trouble, was arguing with Ali who barred the way to be permitted to go in search, when his father and Akmet returned.