When Ain-el-Khair saw this he turned to Frank and made a most profound salaam, saying:
“You have kept your word, Christian sorcerer, and now you shall see that Ain-el-Khair can keep his.”
Then he lost no time in donning the shirt, which, fortunately, was large enough, although it was a “tight fit.”
The caravan of camels had been captured by the sheik, and he was holding them for tribute; but he quickly decided not to bother with them longer, but to ride at once with horses in search of Ben Ahmet.
In a short time the desert robbers were on the move, and Frank rode at the side of Ain-el-Khair, with Ephraim and the professor close behind.
It was a queer adventure, and Frank was inclined to wonder if he would not awaken and discover that it was a dream.
Night came on the desert, and the caravan had not been sighted. Still Ain-el-Khair pressed on, and he was finally rewarded by seeing the gleam of a camp-fire.
Toward the light they rode. When they had come near enough for him to tell, the old sheik declared a caravan had halted there for the night.
“We will attack it,” he said, “and I pray Allah we may find my enemy there.”
Straight toward the caravan they rode, and like a whirlwind the desert robbers dashed down upon it. The fighting men of the caravan fired a few shots, but, discovering they were greatly outnumbered, quickly ceased, throwing down their muskets and crying to be spared.