“It looks bad, though. Ingleton will be pretty well guarded, you may be sure; and I don’t for the life of me see how we can break into a strong place and get him out.”
“Unless we bribe his jailers. Could we get him away with bakshish, Abdul?”
“No, master. The sheikh would cut hands and feet off, put eyes out, and more.”
“Evidently we’ve got our work cut out, Oliphant. And you may depend upon it our friend Salathiel has somehow found out our errand and is coming to warn the sheikh. I remember now that I saw him talking to one of the Moors who came aboard the yacht.”
“That explains it.”
“How long will it take him to get here, Abdul?”
“Two three days, master.”
“We must be beforehand with him, then. Are you prepared for short rations, Oliphant? Our grub won’t last more than another day.”
“Plenty dates and figs in woods, master,” said Abdul.
“We shan’t starve, then. Let’s have a good sleep, Oliphant. We shall want all our strength for this job.”