moments' silence, and the professor spoke.

"It is very vexatious, just when we were so hungry, but it is plain
enough. Something has startled the horses. Your Ali Baba, Lawrence,
has been biting them, and they have all gone off back, and Hamed has
followed to catch them. There, let's have a draught of spring water and
trudge back."

"Humph! yes," said Mr Burne hopefully. "We may meet them coming back
before long."

They each drank and rose refreshed.

"Come, Yussuf," said the professor. "This way."

"No, effendi," he exclaimed sharply; "not that way, but this."

"What do you mean?" cried Mr Preston, for the guide pointed up the
ravine instead of down.

"The horses have not been frightened, but have been stolen--carried
off."

"Nonsense, man!" cried Mr Burne.

"See!" said Yussuf, pointing to the soil moistened by the stream that
ran from the source, "the horses have gone along this little valley by
the side of the stream--here are their hoof-marks--and come out again
higher up beyond this ridge of the mountain. Yes: I know. The valleys
join again there beyond where we were to-day, and I ought to have known
it," he cried, stamping his foot.

"Known? Known what, man?" cried Mr Burne angrily.

"That those men, who I said were travellers, were the robbers, who have
seized our horses, and carried everything off into the hills."

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

A SKIRMISH.

"This is a pretty state of affairs," cried Mr Burne, opening and
shutting his snuff-box to make it snap. "Now, what's to be done?"

"Tramp to the nearest village, I suppose, and buy more," replied the
professor coolly, "We must expect reverses. This is one."

"Hang your reverses, man! I don't expect and I will not have them, if I
can help it--serves us right for not watching over our baggage."

"Well, Yussuf, I suppose you are right," said the professor.

"Yes, effendi. What is to be done?"

"What I say."

"Yes; what you say," replied the Turk frowning; "and he is so young. We
are only three."

"What are you thinking, Yussuf?"

"That it makes my blood boil, effendi, to be robbed; and I feel that we
ought to follow and punish the dogs. They are cowards, and would fly.
A robber always shrinks from the man who faces him boldly."

"And you would follow them, Yussuf?"

"If your excellency would," he said eagerly.

The grave quiet professor's face flushed, his eyes brightened, and for a
few moments he felt as if his youthf