“We had not that pleasure,” returned the sheik, “for he was not on board.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure, my prince.”
“He may be in hiding. Search every part of the steamer thoroughly except the cabin of the women.”
The sheik shrugged his shoulders, but gave the command to his men. They examined every possible hiding-place without finding the dragoman.
Meanwhile Kāra squatted upon the deck, thinking earnestly of what his future action should be, while the silent sheik sat beside him with composed indifference. When the Arabs returned from their unsuccessful quest, the Egyptian said to his ally:
“Let your men watch the prisoners until morning. We can do nothing more at present.”
So they stretched themselves upon the deck and rested until daybreak.
As soon as it was light enough to distinguish objects readily, Kāra arose and ordered Winston and Lord Roane brought upon deck. There they saw the Egyptian for the first time and understood why they had been attacked.
“I suspected that I owed this little diversion to you,” said Winston, glaring angrily upon his enemy. “Perhaps you do not realize, Prince Kāra, that by this lawless act you have ruined yourself and your career.”