“Looks that way,” returned Mr. Holton. “He’s——By George! It’s our Arab friend. Wonder what has happened?”
A moment later the man was up to them, his face white, his hands trembling.
“The treasure map!” he cried in poor English. “It is gone!”
CHAPTER III
A Villainous Deed
AT the Arab’s dread remark it seemed for a moment that the explorers were going to sink through the street. Dr. Kirshner reeled, and the perspiration came out on Mr. Holton’s face. Mr. Lewis and the boys were spellbound.
Gone! Hundreds of dollars—yes, thousands. After all this anticipating the good fortune of finding the supposedly hidden treasure. The explorers could hardly believe it.
At last Dr. Kirshner got a grip on himself.
“Do you have any idea where the thieves went?” he asked of the Arab, whose name was Fekmah.