“Either by the compass, as one would at sea, or by trusting to the Arabs, who know the landmarks.”
“And sometimes by the camels’ bones,” said the professor, who had entered the room unheard. “Plenty of them die along the caravan tracks. But I daresay we shall find our way, for there is the big river which marks our course pretty well, if we were at fault.”
“Thankye, sir; you’d be sure to know,” said Sam hurriedly. “I was only asking Mr Frank like so as to pick up a little about the place.”
The man asked no more questions, but made the best of his way to his own room.
“Come down and out into the grounds, my lad,” said the professor. “The doctor’s sitting in the garden having his cigar.”
“I was just going to bed.”
“Yes, but come with me for an hour first. I’ve an old friend waiting to see me, and I thought I’d bring you down.”
“I don’t want to meet his old friends,” thought Frank impatiently. Then aloud, as he followed: “Of course you will say nothing about the object of our visit here?”
“Trust me,” said the professor quietly.
“Is your friend staying here?”