“The death of Abdul Hashim won’t help us after we are murdered,” remarked Archie, with a grin of appreciation.
“But it will be a satisfaction, nevertheless, to our friends,” I added, attempting indifference.
Now, the desert Arab is perhaps the most lawless creature on earth, except the desert Bega; but also he has a most wholesome fear of the authorities. The Egyptian mounted police is considered the finest and ablest body of the kind in existence, and its officers are merciless in hunting down the offenders of the law. So the Arab covers his crimes as much as possible, not being wholly deterred from them by the police, but striving in stealthy ways to escape discovery. Joe’s argument was, therefore, the most forcible one we could have advanced to safeguard our lives, and we were glad to see that it made our captor thoughtful. It might not serve, after all, if the sheik saw any particular object in killing us off, but until he did the thought of punishment evidently deterred him from harming us.
He tried another argument.
“Come,” said he, assuming a soft, caressing tone, “there is much treasure left, you say, and we will divide it equally. Or we will make it in quarters—I am not greedy, and a quarter is enough for one poor Arab like me, who only wants money to rebuild his village. And afterward I will escort you and your prize safely to Koser, or to Cairo, as you may prefer. All will be well with us, and we shall part friends. Is it agreed, then?”
He was not at all clever, this big and handsome bandit. No wonder the Professor found it easy to fool him.
For answer I shook my head.
“What you ask is impossible,” I said, truly. “Van Dorn has guarded his secret well, for only he knows where to unearth the treasure.”
“Then,” declared the sheik, with an abrupt change in tone, “I must have Van Dorn. Come; let us ride on.”
“Do you expect to capture Van Dorn’s party with three men?” inquired Archie, maliciously.