So they finally decided on camels, the “ships of the desert,” whose padded hoofs seemed especially made to travel the sandy wastes and who could go for days without water in case of necessity.
The captain and the professor, in their frequent journeys in Oriental countries, had learned to ride the beasts without difficulty. Teddy, too, during the time he was in charge of the Algerian, Alam Bokaru, master of camels, had become fairly expert.
To Don, however, though he had occasionally mounted one of the brutes, it was something to be mastered. But as they had to remain at Luxor for a couple of days, owing to the delay in receiving the permit for excavations, for which Zeta Phalos had applied to the Egyptian Government, he had plenty of time to learn and had soon conquered the swaying, sickening sensations that beset the novice.
Who should accompany the party had been a subject of much thought on the part of Phalos.
“I do not think that we shall have to do much digging,” he said, as he was discussing the matter with the captain and the professor. “If my indications are correct, it will be a matter of finding a certain entrance rather among the rocks than the sands. And the main thing, anyway, is to find that entrance. If we find that much excavation is needed, we can retrace our steps and get a force of laborers. In the meantime, the fewer we have with us, the better our chances of not having our secret betrayed.”
“Right you are,” agreed the captain.
“But we shall need some one to take care of the animals, shan’t we?” asked Don, who was standing near.
“Yes,” replied Phalos, smiling on the eager, level-headed boy. “And for that purpose I have fixed on Ismillah and Abdul. They have been in my household for years. Their fathers served my father. They are absolutely trustworthy and devoted to me. Ismillah is an excellent cook and handy man, and Abdul knows all there is to be known about camels.”
So it was settled, and after the permits had arrived and all the supplies secured that would be needed for the trip, the searchers set out on their double quest—to seek for Mr. Sturdy and for the Tombs of Gold.
The first was by far the most important, to the Americans of the party at least, and it was to this they gave their chief attention.