“But Bob had his Winchester,” objected Jack. “Why didn’t he use it? Either they closed in on him too fast, or else it became jammed.”
Ali nodded, but did not reply. He was engaged with other thoughts and in a moment gave Jack the result of his cogitations.
“A half hour for Mister Bob to arrive here, a half hour for us to arrive,” he said. “Not to speak of the time lost in our ostrich hunt. These men have more than an hour’s start of us. They are on horses, and eight or ten in number. We have a camel, which is slower, and we are only two. It would be folly to pursue.”
“Follow or not,” said Jack hotly, “I’ll not let old Bob be carried off without doing my——”
Ali held up a hand and interrupted.
“It will be a long chase,” he said. “We must organize for it. Let us return to the oasis. There are ten of us left. Armed, provisioned, mounted on our camels who have had a long rest, we can return and pick up the trail before nightfall. Camels need less rest than horses. Even though they are slower, by pushing them we may yet cut off these others, if——”
He gestured toward the distant Shaitun Mountains. Jack nodded understandingly.
“You mean if they are Athensians and are heading home?” said Jack. “Well, you are right, Ali. I want to start right away, but your way is better. Come on, mount, and we’ll get back to the oasis as fast as a camel ever made it.”
CHAPTER XI.
THE STRANGER REVIVES.
Some distance from the oasis, Mr. Hampton and Frank were encountered, riding to meet them.