“It is the Mongar cry of warning,” he said hoarsely.  “Something is going to happen.”

The whole encampment was suddenly in a state of activity.  The Mongars ran hither and thither, getting together their horses.  The Chief, with Craig by his side, was standing on the outskirts of the camp.  The cry came again, this time much louder and nearer.  Soon they caught the muffled trampling of a horse’s hoofs galloping across the soft sands, then the gleam of his white garments as he came suddenly into sight, in the edge of the little circle of light thrown by the fire.  They saw him leap from his horse, run to the Chief, bend double in some form of salute, then commence to talk rapidly.  The Chief listened with no sign of emotion, but in a moment or two he was giving rapid orders.  Camels appeared from some invisible place.  Men, already on horseback, were galloping hither and thither, collecting fire-arms and spare ammunition.  Pack-horses were being loaded, tents rolled up and every evidence of breaking camp.

“Seems to me there’s a move on,” Quest muttered, as they rose to their feet.  “I wonder if we are in it.”

A moment or two later Craig approached them.  He came with his shoulders stooped and his eyes fixed upon the ground.  He scarcely raised them as he spoke.

“Word has been brought to the Chief,” he announced, “that the Arab who escaped from the caravan has fallen in with an outpost of British soldiers.  They have already started in pursuit of us.  The Mongars will take refuge in the jungle, where they have prepared hiding-places.  We start at once.”

“What about us?” the Professor enquired.

“I endeavoured,” Craig continued, “to persuade the Chief to allow you to remain here, when the care of you would devolve upon the English soldiers.  He and Feerda, however, have absolutely refused my request.  Feerda has overheard some of your conversation, and the Chief believes that you will betray us.  You will have to come along, too.”

“You mean,” Laura exclaimed, “that we’ve got to tramp into what you call the jungle, and hide there because these thieves are being chased?”

Craig glanced uneasily around.

“Young lady,” he said, “you will do well to speak little here.  They have long ears and quick understandings, these men.  You may call them a race of robbers.  They only remember that they are the descendants of an Imperial race, and what they take by the right of conquest they believe Allah sends them.  You must do the bidding of the Chief.”

He turned away towards where the Chief and Feerda, already on horseback, were waiting for him.  Quest leaned towards the Professor.

“Why not tackle the Chief yourself?” he suggested.  “Here he comes now.  Craig may be speaking the truth, but, on the other hand, it’s all to his interests to keep us away from the soldiers.”

The Professor rose at once to his feet and stepped out to where the Chief was giving orders.