"Gone!" Quest replied.

"And the Arabs?"

"Gone with them--we are left high and dry," Quest explained. "Those
fellows are as superstitious as they can be, and Hassan's death has given
them the scares. They have gone back to Port Said."

"And what is worse," the Professor added, with a groan, "they have taken
with them all our stores, our rifles and our water."

"How far are we from the Mongar Camp?" Lenora asked.

"About a day's tramp," Quest replied quickly. "We may reach there by
nightfall."

"Then let's start walking at once, before it gets any hotter," Lenora
suggested.

Quest patted her on the back. They made a close search of the tents but
found that the Arabs had taken everything in the way of food and drink,
except a single half-filled tin of drinking water. They moistened their
lips with this carefully, Quest with the camphor in his hand. They found
it good, however, though lukewarm. Laura produced a packet of sweet
chocolate from her pocket.

"It's some breakfast, this," she remarked, as she handed it round. "Let's
get a move on."