e little bag. Von
Hofe's face expressed mild interest; that of Schoverling was aflame with
passion; Charlie knew that his own eyes were gleaming and glittering, as
were those of Jack. But almost instantly the General laughed and resumed
control of himself.

"We're acting like a lot of fools. Here, boys, rip open the rest of
those tusks and see if there are more sacks."

They fell to work with their knives, von Hofe joining in the work, and a
few moments later a little heap of skin bags, each the size of a man's
fist, was piled up. Each tusk had held one, and two or three yet
retained the wooden plugs, which had to be dug out, so firmly were they
fastened.

Charlie stood at the edge of the group, oblivious to all else. Suddenly
he felt the hand of his gun-bearer, Amir Ali, laid on his arm, and the
Gurkha whispered in his ear.

"Will the sahib come over here?"

Wondering, the boy followed the Gurkha off to one side. The gun-bearer
pointed to the mainland, toward the foot of the lake, and Charlie
whipped out his glasses instantly.

CHAPTER XVI

SELIM SHOWS HIS TEETH

No sooner had he obtained a focus than Charlie gave a cry of surprise.
There, half a mile away still, were a dozen camels grouped together and
covering the ground with huge strides. On their backs he could make out
the white figures of men, and something flashed in the sunlight like a
rifle-barrel.

Despite his surprise, Charlie saw with a glance that the others had not
heeded him, and smiled. Casing his glasses, he walked back to the group
and stood beside Schoverling, who was examining some of the gold-dust
from the opened bag.

"I have a little surprise-party for you," he said quietly. They looked
up at him, but Jack caught something in his voice. "You might be
interested in knowing that Selim and his party are about half a mile
away and coming up at full speed."

With a rush and a shout the party ran to where they could get a good
look at the mainland, Charlie smiling at the sensation his words had
created. Gholab, whose keen eyes had first detected the approaching
camels, came running from the camp with the rifles in his arms.

Schoverling, after a long look through his glasses, turned and took one
of the 30-30s without a word, buckling on his bandolier hurriedly. Von
Hofe turned to him protestingly.

"We are not going to fight, Schoverling?"

"Don't see what else," returned the explorer, grimly, as he motioned to
the boys to t