The two girls, fully dressed, came out of the tent as they approached.
"Young ladies," the Professor announced, "I regret to say that a misfortune has befallen us, a misfortune which we shall be able, without a doubt, to surmount, but which will mean a day of hardship and much inconvenience." "Where are the camels ?" Lenora asked breathlessly.
"Gone!" Quest replied.
"And the Arabs ?" "Gone with them--we are left high and dry," Quest explained.

"Those fellows are as superstitious as they can be, and Hassan's death has given them the scares.

They have gone back to Port Said." "And what is worse," the Professor added, with a groan, "they have taken with them all our stores, our rifles and our water." "How far are we from the Mongar Camp ?" Lenora asked.
"About a day's tramp," Quest replied quickly.

"We may reach there by nightfall." "Then let's start walking at once, before it gets any hotter," Lenora suggested.
Quest patted her on the back.

They made a close search of the tents but found that the Arabs had taken everything in the way of food and drink, except a single half-filled tin of drinking water.