Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 44

"Have you forgotten Miguel Bunol?" asked d.i.c.k.

"Thunder! I had forgotten him!"

"We left him in that closet."

"Sure."

"He must have been found ere this."

"That's right."

"Although he was bound and gagged, he could hear what was going on in that room."

"Yes."

"Well, you see, he knows how we were disguised."

"Straight goods."

"And he hates us with an undying and deadly hatred. He will lose no time in telling the Turkish officers how we escaped. The city will be scoured for us. Every avenue of escape will be closed. Our disguise will be worse than useless as soon as Bunol talks. We shall be captured. Our heads will be chopped off as soon as the Turks can attend to the job."

"Pretty bad," admitted Buckhart grimly; "but, all the same, I hate to run for it, thinking all the while that we may be leaving Nadia and Budthorne to be murdered. Can't we find them? Is there no way to--"

"What show have we to find them by searching aimlessly through the streets, Brad?" said d.i.c.k. "a.s.souan hid them somewhere with a friend.

Even the Turks might not find them, but they could have no trouble in finding us wandering about in the open streets. Be sensible, old man."

The Texan surrendered at last.

"All right, pard," he said; "we'll get out of the city, but I'll never forgive myself if any harm comes to Nadia."

CHAPTER XXII-IN THE DESERT

Three days have pa.s.sed, and it is morning on the desert. The huge, golden sun rose over the edge of the barren world, and its rays fell on a lonely camel train that was already on the move.

The camels were loaded with merchandise from the interior and bound for the port of Akka.

A noted Syrian merchant was in charge of the train. There were other Syrians, but most of the camel drivers were Arabs.

Mounted on one of the many camels were d.i.c.k Merriwell and Brad Buckhart, minus their disguises and wearing their own clothes.

Professor Gunn was swaying and rocking miserably on the back of another camel, his companion being one of the Syrians.

Brad Buckhart looked no less disconsolate than the professor, while the expression on d.i.c.k Merriwell's face was not one of absolute satisfaction and contentment.

Brad was grumbling.

"Pard, I sure am a heap sore."

"So am I," admitted d.i.c.k. "Camel riding isn't what it's cracked up to be. It is enough to make any one sore."

"I didn't mean that I was sore in that way."

"Didn't you?"

"No. I'm thinking that we were fooled a plenty."

"How do you mean?"

"By that old black wretch, a.s.souan."

"Go on."

"Haven't you thought the same thing?"

"Perhaps so; but go ahead and tell me just what you have thought."

"Why, you know how a.s.souan met us at the city's gate just as we were escaping from Damascus."

"I know."

"He told us he had hustled Nadia and Budthorne out of the town and sent them off on fleet horses, guided by Gumar, to join Ras al Had's train."

"Correct."

"And having but one good horse, which he was riding, he could not provide for us and help us overtake them."

"So he said."

"Having given us that game of talk, he induced us to follow him and got us into this merchant train, bound for Akka and the coast."

"Which seems lucky for us--"

"Then," cut in the Texan. "Now--"

"Well, at least, we escaped being seized and beheaded. It is plain a.s.souan kept his promise when he said he would try to put the Turks on a false scent, and so give us a chance for our lives."

Brad shook his head.

"Mebbe he did. Anyhow, he didn't tell these people who we were, and you happened to have money enough on you to induce the old rascal at the head of the train to take us along. He knew there was trouble in Damascus, and that foreigners were in danger, but he didn't know the full truth. Had he, I opine he would have dodged us a heap. I judge he's getting some suspicious of us now, and he wishes he hadn't bothered any with us, for all of the money."

"He did act queerly last night," admitted d.i.c.k. "He tried to question me. I think he has been talking with the professor and the professor has talked too much. But, then, we are now some distance from Damascus."

"All the same, d.i.c.k, you know we won't be safe until we get out of this infernal country. But I don't propose to leave until I know what has become of Nadia."

"a.s.souan promised to bring us together."