Nothing would satisfy him but a complete detailed account of their experiences, and it was Mr. Lewis who related all of the happenings since they had last left camp.
“Howard [Mr. Holton] and Tishmak and I were sure greatly relieved when our captors took us to the cave where Joe and Dr. Kirshner were being held,” Mr. Lewis finished. “Funny, but we had not dreamed of them being prisoners.”
“And I see you’ve brought the rascals with you,” observed Fekmah. “What are we going to do with them?”
“I’m sure we’ve all been thinking about that,” Dr. Kirshner returned. “There are no police so far south as this, and we can’t very well take them with us back to Wargla. I wonder how it would be to take them to an oasis fifty miles or so from here and leave them? There would be no danger of them starving, because dates and water would furnish food. And they couldn’t get away without camels.”
“Sounds all right,” Mr. Holton said. “Do you know where there is such an oasis?”
“No, but I’m sure our Tuareg friends do. I’ll ask them in the morning. Until then we’ll have to keep our eyes on these Arabs. It might be well to tie them up.”
This was thought good advice, and the captives were bound together so tightly that they could not escape.
The remainder of that day passed idly, and the explorers retired shortly after the evening meal.
“But we must be up early in the morning,” Mr. Holton told them. “We have a big day before us.”