CHAPTER II
Scoundrels at Work
"What do you suppose they want?" asked Joe, as the youths followed themovements of the Arabs.
"They're not there for any good," returned Bob, a look of anger, andat the same time anxiety, on his face. "Probably want to find that mapthat tells of the hidden treasure. Oh, of course it could be acoincidence that they picked the same hotel that we did, but it isn'tlikely."
The boys watched the suspicious characters until they disappeared intothe hotel. Then Joe suggested that they cautiously follow.
"All right," Bob agreed. "But we must be careful and not get tooclose. They might have guns and think nothing of using them, and theycould probably get away in this country."
Slowly the youths moved up to the entrance and peeped around thecorner. Satisfied that there was no one in sight, they went inside.
"Nobody here but our dads and Dr. Kirshner," observed Bob, glancingabout. "I wonder if they noticed the Arabs?"
"Let's ask them."
The men had noticed the fellows, they said, but thought nothing aboutit. Why? Was anything wrong?
Bob explained that they were the two who had acted in a suspiciousmanner on the ship, and at once the scientists' faces lightened.
"Come on," urged Dr. Kirshner. "We can't get there any too rapidly.When they find that we haven't got the map, they'll probably helpthemselves to money and anything else that happens to be lying about.They may even search other rooms."
Hastily, and yet quietly, the boys and their elders went up thestairway. They were unarmed, their revolvers and other firearms havingbeen left in their rooms. This might prove a handicap if the Arabspossessed weapons, but the Americans thought nothing of the risk theywere taking.
"We're five to two, even if we haven't our guns," said Bob, clinchinghis fists. "They're likely to be shaken by numbers."
But Dr. Kirshner, who knew the ways of these cunning natives, smiledgrimly.
In a short time they reached the floor on which were their rooms andturned cautiously down the hall. With utmost care lest they bediscovered, the explorers tiptoed up to their rooms.
Mr. Holton took the lead and glanced around the door into the room. Amoment later his face scowled.
"What is it?" demanded Joe, in a whisper. "Are they inside?"
Mr. Holton shook his head.
"Worse than that," he said solemnly. "Take a look."
While the others are taking in the situation, it might be well to tellsomething about Bob Holton and Joe Lewis and, incidentally, theirfathers.
Bob was a big, well-built youth of some eighteen years. He wasparticularly fond of adventure and life in the open, and alwayswelcomed an opportunity that might bring about a realization of hisdesire.
Joe, who was about the same age, was of medium size and strength, witha naturally dark complexion that was now still further darkened by thetropical sun. He, like his friend, was fond of adventure, hunting andfishing and hiking whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The youths were together much of their time and agreed on practicallyevery point. Their home was in Washington, D. C., where their fathers,Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, were employed as naturalists by a largemuseum.
A short time before, the youths were successful in persuading theirfathers to take them on an expedition to unexplored Brazil. Here theyhelped the naturalists shoot and classify wild animals, birds, andreptiles and had many thrilling adventures with wild animals andsavage Indians. How they fought hand-to-hand with a huge jaguar,barely prevented themselves from being crushed by a terrible anaconda,battled against rapids, and finally became lost and wandered for daysin the world's greatest jungle are told in the first volume of thisseries, entitled, _Lost in the Wilds of Brazil_.
The boys spent the following winter finishing up in high school, andscarcely was graduation over when their fathers were requested by themuseum to make an expedition to the Sahara Desert to collect specimensof any animal life that might be present in the remote interior. Dr.Kirshner, of whom something has been said, wished to accompany thenaturalists to investigate the remains of ancient civilizations. Atonce Bob and Joe requested that they be taken also, and after carefulconsideration their elders at last consented. What the boys wereparticularly looking forward to was taking motion pictures of thedesert, for they had been engaged by the Neuman Film Corporation toget many unusual scenes.
Less than a week later the expedition sailed on the steamer _Sylvania_and made the long voyage without any special incident.
Now let us return to the boys, as they advanced into their elders'room.
At once their mood changed, an expression of astonishment, laterturning to anger, creeping over their faces.
Everything in the room was in the wildest disorder. Clothes, shoes,satchels, rifles, papers lay scattered about, the scene suggestingthat a cyclone had visited the place. It was most deplorable, and thetravelers stood for some time as if trying to catch the true meaningof it all.
Finally their anxiety caused them to move forward and inspect thebelongings.
"Good thing we didn't have the treasure map," remarked Mr. Lewis,examining the contents of a small black bag. "It wouldn't be herenow."
At the end of their inspection the explorers found that nothing hadbeen taken from their belongings. It appeared that the crafty Arabswished only the treasure map, and that, not being able to find it,they had left without any other spoils.
"They sure acted in wild haste," observed Mr. Holton. "It's almostimpossible to see how all this could have been torn up so quickly. Itwasn't five minutes from the time that you boys told of seeing the menthat we were up here."
"Trust the Arabs to do that," said Dr. Kirshner, with a dry smile.
The scientists' possessions were placed back in their proper places,and then they went to inspect the room occupied by Bob and Joe.
"Probably nothing taken from here, either," was the opinion expressedby Mr. Holton, and he proved right, as they later found.
"This shows that these Arabs are desperate characters, and willprobably stop at nothing," said Dr. Kirshner, after a moment ofthought. "We must be extremely careful to lock everything up from nowon. It may even mean that we'll have to watch ourselves, too."
"What do you mean?" asked Joe.
"Simply that they may try to kidnap one or all of us to get possessionof the map," he replied in a low voice. "I know these natives. I'veseen some of their actions before and feel sure that if these two menthought there was a good chance to get the map, they would try to doit."
"It may not be as easy as they think," said Bob, although he was a bituneasy.
No more time was spent in the rooms, for they were all desirous ofseeing more of the strange city and country.
"It might be wise to call on our Arabian friend first," said Dr.Kirshner. "The one who knows about the treasure, I mean. We haven'tseen him since we left the ship last night, and he may be anxious toknow what plans we have in mind."
"Yes," agreed Joe. "And while there we can warn him against thesecrooks. They may come on to him for the map, since they found that wehaven't it."
First, however, the boys' fathers and Dr. Kirshner wished tobreakfast.
"And while they're busy eating, suppose we go out," suggested Joe. "Wedon't need to stay but a few minutes."
Bob agreed. He, like his friend, was anxious to observe thestrangeness of this unusual city. If what he had heard was true, itwould be something to be long remembered.
Out on the street the youths were at once impressed by the widevariety of races and costumes. Frenchmen, Italians, Spaniards,Mahonese, and Maltese all walked side by side, the majority inEuropean garb. Arabs, or rather those who are commonly called Arabs,for they are a very mixed breed, sauntered along, clad in their longgowns and _hlafa_, which hung down over the face and sides of thehead. Occasionally a Negro could be seen, although this was theexception rather than the rule.
"Sure have variety here," smiled Joe. "There's about every rac
eimaginable present."
In a short time the youths reached the Place du Gouvernement, orcentral square, and the busy scene of life was very interesting. Onone side of the forum was the Mosque of Djema-el-Djedid and the GrandMosquee, and on the others were stores, hotels, and cafes. Stretchingaway in the distance were the four great streets of the city.
Bob and Joe spent some time in one position, watching the throng ofArabs, soldiers, Jews, and others peculiar to this metropolis.Strange, the boys thought, that the people paid little or no attentionto them. But this was probably due to the fact that hundreds oftourists visit the city each year.
"I'd like to visit some of the stores," remarked Bob. "But we'd betterget back to the hotel."
"Yes. Our dads and Dr. Kirshner will probably be waiting for us."
Reluctantly they made their way back and found that the scientistswere ready to leave for the Arab friend's hotel.
"We'll trust that we'll find him in his room, or in the lobby," saidMr. Holton, as he and the others followed Dr. Kirshner.
"He'll probably be there," returned the archaeologist. "He's expectingus over this morning to talk over the best procedure to find thehidden treasure."
The hotel in which the Arab was staying was but a short distance upthe street and around the corner. The explorers were barely withinsight of the building when a figure rushed madly out of the door andcame toward them.
"Something the matter with that fellow?" asked Bob, surprised to seesuch haste from the native.
"Looks that way," returned Mr. Holton. "He's----By George! It's ourArab friend. Wonder what has happened?"
A moment later the man was up to them, his face white, his handstrembling.
"The treasure map!" he cried in poor English. "It is gone!"