e canvas of a spare tent; a small American flag
belonging to Schoverling was laid over him, and he was placed in one of
the graves. The faithful Zahir-ed-din was laid in the other. As the
story was told the Indians, they waited till von Hofe had recited the
Lord's Prayer over Mowbray, then Gholab Singh, Mohammedan like the other
Gurkhas, delivered a short prayer from the Koran over the Arab, and the
graves were filled in.

Charlie, Jack and the General scoured the plain that afternoon, bringing
in three eland and sending the Masai out after two zebra. On their
return they found that von Hofe had been at work, for over each grave
stood a cross of wood, rudely carved with the name of him beneath. Oddly
enough, the Mohammedans made no objection to the cross being placed over
the Arab.

"He was a good man," said the big Teuton softly. "It matters not that he
believed in Allah, for worse Christians I haf met, yes."

During the next day the game was cut up and smoked by Jack and Charlie,
the explorer and Guru bringing in enough fresh meat to keep them for two
or three days ahead. That night six of the rested oxen were inspanned to
one of the wagons, loaded with water-casks and what was left of their
yams and bananas. The spare Gurkha was left with his own rifle, an old
Snider, to provide meat for the little camp, and as the moon rose the
expedition pushed out across the river to the north--in search of Lake
Quilqua and the Rogue Elephant.

CHAPTER XI

THE DESERT TREK

The rest, short as it had been, had worked wonders for the cattle. They
were as fresh and sleek as ever, and the lightly loaded wagon was a
small burden to them. At the last moment Schoverling had flung in the
six traps.

"I have a notion," was all he would reply to the questions of the boys.

He and the boys and von Hofe rode first, the Masai tramping along to a
swinging chant beside the wagon, and the three gun-bearers bringing up
the rear. The oxen did not require any driving, as they followed the
leaders unhesitatingly and patiently.

"I guess we've got our work cut out for us," said Charlie as the long,
rolling white-dusted plain opened out before them in the moonlight. He
and Jack rode together, as usual.

"Seems weird," replied Jack, "to think o' Mowbray coming across here on
a camel only to die, an' us going back on the same trail. Wonder how
that camel died in five days?"

"I don't know. He said it was unhurt. Prob'ly the Arab push