“Perfectly,” returned the Sheik, and he named a place and hour for the meeting the next day.
The Arab told off two of his men as an escort, and Jack and Lieutenant Edwards returned to the village, where they made their way to the house in which Jack had spent the previous night. There they turned in, satisfied that their end of the work had been satisfactorily accomplished.
While they were at breakfast in the morning, Hetherington burst into the room.
“Dellaya and Lord Hastings are in the village,” he exclaimed. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is serene,” declared the lieutenant. “Is the money here?”
“Yes; it has been taken to the house of a man named Effidi. You are to take the Sheik there and turn it over to him. We will see that Dellaya is a witness of the transaction.”
“Good,” said the lieutenant, and he and Jack left the house to keep their appointment with Abu ben Sedar.
The Sheik was awaiting them, and the three made their way to the home of Effidi, where the money was formally turned over to the Arab.
Just as the transfer was being completed, the Sheik paused suddenly to listen. His keen ear had detected a sound in the next room. He approached the wall and peered through a crack.
“Dellaya,” he exclaimed in some alarm.