Don strained his eyes in every direction, but could see nothing. The night had swallowed up the man as though he had never been.
The shout had roused the other members of the party, and they came rushing out, the captain in the van with his rifle in his hand.
“What is it?” he asked, as they all crowded around Don.
“There was a man here busy among the camels,” explained Don. “I rushed at him and he disappeared.”
The professor had his flashlight, and they turned it upon the group of camels, which, they were glad to see, were all there.
An exclamation came from the captain.
“Here’s what he was doing,” he cried, as he pointed to one of the ropes that was almost cut through.
“A thief!” ejaculated the professor.
“Perhaps,” said Phalos, with a worried look on his face. “But then again, it may have been more than a case of common theft.”
“What do you mean?” asked Don. “Do you think,” he went on, as a thought struck him, “that Tezra and Nepahak had a hand in this?”