“I agree with you boys,” he said, quietly. “If we get the opportunity, we must not throw it away through faint-heartedness or misplaced kindness. These Sacrificial Games of which Amrath spoke constitute a bloody rite which is out of tune with modern times. The idea of Bob being compelled to fight for his life, without any real chance of winning, even if he conquers all others, makes me shudder.”
Jack and Frank were silent a long time, filled with oppressive thoughts. Yet in the end, a grim smile spread over Frank’s face and he appealed to his comrade with:
“Just the same, Jack, it would be a great sight to see old Bob doing the gladiator. He’s an expert fencer, wrestler and boxer. Let them arm him as they will, he’ll put up a real battle. I wouldn’t be surprised if he beat all contenders.”
“You bloody-minded barbarian,” said Jack. “I believe you’d like to see such a contest.”
“Well,” said Frank, “if it can’t be avoided, I want a ringside seat, that’s all.”
Mr. Hampton’s lips twitched, although he shook his head in deprecation. Youth must be served, he knew well. The delight of the three young men in sports always had seemed to him wholesome and worth while. From their earliest knee-pants days he had encouraged them in all sorts of athletic exercises. They swam like water dogs, ran like Mercuries, fenced like D’Artagnan, and as non-professional boxers and wrestlers stood high. But of them all, Bob was the most expert boxer and wrestler, due in a measure to his greater physical strength, while, as Frank had said, he was no mean hand with the foils. Should he be pitted with sword and shield against almost any warrior, he would give a good account of himself.
Frequently, these rest-period discussions turned on the question of what should be done if they failed to intercept the raiders and effect Bob’s rescue, as well as on what plan to follow if the small raiding party joined hands with a larger Athensian force.
Mr. Hampton was of the opinion that the latter contingency was quite likely to arise. Apparently, secure in their sense of isolation, the Athensians had not maintained outer guards of their mountain land at the time Professor Souchard first arrived at Korakum. Otherwise, it would not have been possible for him to escape. But that now such a guard was maintained seemed to Mr. Hampton more than likely.
Against this assumption, however, Jack argued with great good sense that Amrath would have been aware of such a guard, and would not have advised them to attempt to enter Korakum and seek out his comrades had a guard existed.
The only plan they could reach for use in case of attack by superior number was to compel the camels to kneel in a circle and from the interior of such a fort of living flesh put up the best fight possible. With their repeating rifles and plenty of ammunition, it was possible they could inflict such damage as to compel the withdrawal of the enemy. If not, well——