Phalos nodded assent.
“That is what I fear; though of course I do not know,” he said. “The design may have been to cripple the expedition and make it move more slowly by the theft of one or more of the camels. That would make it easier for them to keep us in sight.”
“But if they keep us in sight, that will mean that we will also have sight of them,” remarked Don.
“I do not mean literally ‘in sight,’” explained Phalos. “But they can keep on our trail while staying just beyond reach of our vision. I have a presentiment that they are following us. They are men who will stop at nothing.”
“We should have set a guard,” said the captain. “We will after this. I’ll take my turn to-night. And if any of those fellows try the same trick again,” he added, as he handled his rifle significantly, “it will go hard with them.”
He took his position at the door of his tent, and the rest resumed their attempts at slumber, although there was little sleep for the remainder of the night.
Nothing further developed, and they roused at dawn, made a hasty breakfast and started on.
“I have been thinking,” said Phalos, “that it would be well to use a little strategy to throw possible pursuers off our track. They probably think that we are going to the water hole of El Ira, since we are headed in that direction. But Abdul, I find, knows of another water hole off to the right that will require quite a wide circle to reach it. I would suggest that we take that route, and after replenishing our water supplies, strike out for the place where I believe we will find the Tombs of Gold. I think that plan may balk our enemies.”
This was decided on, and the party moved ahead under Abdul’s direction, turning many a look behind as they rode with a view to detecting possible pursuers.
Suddenly, the camel on which Don was riding stopped with a jerk that nearly unseated the boy. Teddy was riding beside him and his mount stopped at the same moment with similar suddenness.