“It’s some years since I saw or heard of him,” he replied. “But why do you ask? Surely you must know more about his whereabouts than I do.”
Don’s new-found hope died almost as soon as it was born, and his face was clouded with disappointment.
“Mr. Richard Sturdy is my brother,” explained the captain. “He went away some time ago on an exploring expedition. The ship he sailed on was wrecked, and my brother received an injury to his head that we fear has affected his mind. We are now going to Egypt to look for him.”
Then, while the old Egyptian listened with the keenest interest and sympathy, Don’s uncle told briefly of the happenings that had brought the party on the present voyage.
“I am very sorry to hear this,” Phalos observed, when the story was finished. “I sincerely hope your search will be crowned with success. It may be that I can help you, for I know my native country as no foreigner can. And, if I can, you may command my services. I may be able to repay in some small measure the debt I owe to this brave nephew of yours and his friend.”
“We appreciate your offer, and we shall certainly avail ourselves of it,” said the professor warmly. “Perhaps you can help us even now by telling us something about your acquaintance with my brother-in-law.”
“Mr. Sturdy and I were drawn together by many common interests while he was in my country,” explained Zeta Phalos. “He was an enthusiast about the monuments and wonders of old Egypt, and that, of course, was pleasing to me. He was especially interested in the tombs of former Egyptian rulers, and spent weeks and months in studying those that had been opened and in looking for others that still remained untouched. I was able to help him in this, for all my life has been practically devoted to the same thing. So we grew to be very close friends.”
“Was there any particular tomb or tombs that he was searching for?” asked Don eagerly.
The old Egyptian shot a quick look at his questioner.
“Perhaps he was,” he answered evasively. “But he was rather a reticent man and kept his plans pretty closely to himself.”