He pointed with his arm and commenced to talk in an excited fashion to his two companions.
From across the desert, facing them, came a little company of horsemen, galloping fast and with the sunlight flashing upon their rifles.
"The Mongars!" the Arab cried, pointing wildly.

"They attack the caravan!" The three Arabs talked together for a moment in an excited fashion.

Then, without excuse or warning, they swung the two women to the ground, leapt on their horses, and, turning northwards, galloped away.

Already the crack of the rifles and little puffs of white smoke showed them where the Mongars, advancing cautiously, were commencing their attack.

The Professor looked on anxiously.
"I am not at all sure," he said in an undertone to Quest, "about our position with the Mongars.