“Ras al Had!” shouted Dick, in a burst of joy. “Oh, sheik, you came just in time!”
“I reached the camel train shortly after these men took you away,” said the old Arab. “They told me you had been carried off by Ali Beha, and I made haste to look for him here, knowing this to be one of his favorite camping places. But why were they about to flog you?”
“None of your business, you meddling old fool!” snarled Bunol, giving Ras al Had a thrust.
Instantly several of the sheik’s followers sprang on the Spaniard and bore him to the ground.
“Bind him,” commanded Ras al Had.
They obeyed, in spite of Bunol’s struggles and curses.
Dick was set free at the sheik’s command, as also were Brad and the old professor.
Ras al Had listened to Merriwell’s story, and a strange expression came to his wrinkled face as the boy told of his enemy’s plan to have him flogged and then carried into slavery in Arabia.
Turning toward the Spaniard, the sheik grimly said:
“Strip him as this boy was stripped, bind him to the post and flog him, even as he ordered you to flog this boy, who is the bosom friend of Ras al Had.”