Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 25

It was a single word of command, but it was spoken in a tone that caused the man to pause.

Through the crowd strode a man with a dark face and a black beard that was threaded with gray. He was dressed in garments that seemed to proclaim him a person of more than common rank. He advanced and bent over the lad, whom he lifted to a standing position, supporting him with one arm.

"Boy," he demanded, "what does it mean? Tell me what has happened to thee and to the beautiful maiden."

"The-the beautiful maiden?" muttered d.i.c.k. "You mean-you mean-Nadia?"

Then he remembered, and the shock caused him to straighten up stiffly.

He turned and looked into the face of Ras al Had.

"You-you treacherous snake!" he panted.

With all the strength he could summon, he struck the old sheik in the face.

The mob gasped, and then it howled. It pressed forward, seeking to lay hands on the tottering boy who had dared strike one of the true faith.

Again Ras al Had drew his sword. Some of them expected to see him run the infidel through the body. Instead of that, he drove them back.

"Keep thy hands off him!" commanded the sheik. "Leave him to me!"

Once more he clutched the lad, who was swaying and apparently ready to fall.

"Don't touch me, you traitor!" gasped Merriwell. "I wish I had left you to die beside the railroad, instead of pumping the breath of life back into your miserable, old carca.s.s!"

"You are mad, boy."

"That's right, I am!"

"Tell me what happened?"

"You know!"

"By the beard of the Prophet, I swear I do not know."

"It is no sin to lie to an infidel!"

"Ras al Had never lied to any man."

"You do not know what happened? Well, we were betrayed by those black dogs you sent to escort us. We were led here. I was choked into unconsciousness. What has become of Nadia I cannot tell."

A strange and terrible look came to the face of the old Arab. His eyes glittered with a deadly light.

"Do you swear that my men did this?"

"Yes."

"Then to you I swear that each and every one of them shall pay the penalty of their treachery with his life! That is the oath of Ras al Had! Do you hear me!"

"I hear, but--"

"You shall see that I keep it. Trust me again. With a word I might have set these men upon you to beat the life from your weak body. Why did I not speak that word?"

"I don't know," confessed d.i.c.k, "unless it was in order that you might have the satisfaction of deceiving me and betraying me again."

"If I leave you now, they will fall on you. I will remain by you and take you to a place of safety. I will prove to you that I am honest.

More than that, I will find the maiden and restore her to you."

"Can-can you do it?"

"I have given my pledge. Lean on my arm. No one will place the weight of a finger on you while you are with me."

They walked away, the old sheik supporting the boy and questioning him.

d.i.c.k related everything that had taken place. As well as possible he described the appearance of the old Turk who had joined the escort sent by Ras al Had to conduct the boy and girl back to their friends.

"I think I know the man," nodded the sheik. "I am sure I know him."

"But your servants-you can force the truth from them."

"I doubt if I behold any one of them for many days to come. Without doubt they were well paid for what they did, and they will endeavor to keep beyond my reach, for they know the meaning of my wrath. Yet they shall not escape me in the end."

"But it is the girl-it is poor Nadia I am thinking of!" groaned d.i.c.k.

"She may be dragged into a harem."

"Has she friends of influence in your country?"

"Yes. She--"

"You must appeal to the American consul. In the meantime I will be at work. Hast forgotten that she fell beneath the covetous eye of Hafsa Pasha?"

"No! I believe that wretch is behind this dirty piece of work! If so, I'll have his life!"

"It is not likely she will be taken into a harem until the man who caused her capture learns what is going to be done about it. She will be kept somewhere for the time being. If you have influence enough to create a great disturbance about it, some day she will be set free in some remote part of the city. It will be claimed that she was captured and held for ransom by brigands. You know such a thing has happened to some of your American missionaries. If her disappearance causes no great disturbance, then the man into whose power she has fallen may add her to his harem. For a few days, however, I believe she is safe. For her captors will not dare injure her."

To a slight degree these words relieved d.i.c.k. Of course he was still greatly distressed over what had happened to Nadia; but if she was not immediately dragged into a harem, there might be plenty of opportunity to frustrate any designs upon her.

d.i.c.k's brain was growing clearer and his body stronger. He no longer believed that Ras al Had was concerned in bringing about the misfortune that had befallen Nadia.

"Forgive me, sheik, for striking you as I did," he entreated. "I ask your pardon in all humbleness. I was infuriated with the conviction that you had betrayed us."

"Say no more of that. I should have accompanied you, for then no harm would have befallen you. I feel that I am responsible; and, feeling thus, I shall leave no stone unturned to aid you. This way, we will find a conveyance at the corner. When you have reached your friends, lose no time in laying the case before your consul. He will know the best course to pursue; but meanwhile Ras al Had will be working faithfully for you."

CHAPTER XIII-INWARD TORTURE

Alone, Brad Buckhart returned to the hotel. He realized that he had acted in a ridiculous manner in avoiding his friends and running away from d.i.c.k and Nadia on the streets, but his feeling of shame for such folly was smothered by one of resentment and jealousy.