CHAPTER VI
The Fight in the Dark
The next instant the boys rushed from their hiding place and launched themselves upon the rascals.
They were both tall and muscular, and had the advantage of the surprise. Don knocked the flashlight from Tezra’s hand, and lashed out at him with both fists. The blows staggered the Egyptian, and his confusion was increased by tripping over the leg of Phalos, who was rising from his seat to take part in the fracas.
Tezra went down full length on the floor, with Don on top of him. Teddy had grappled with Nepahak and dragged him from the door.
The sound of voices and of hurrying feet outside indicated that the uproar had been heard. The imminence of capture made the rascals frantic, and with a desperate effort they freed themselves from their opponents, tore open the door, and vanished.
A moment later several of the crew with one of the officers came into the room. One of the men turned on the electric light, and the party looked with exclamations of astonishment at the disordered room and the panting and disheveled boys.
“What’s going on here?” asked the officer sharply.
Phalos stepped forward.
“Two men tried to rob me,” he explained. “They had bound and gagged me. These boys learned of my plight and came to my help.”
“Who were the men that tried to rob you and where are they?” asked the officer.
“They pulled away and ran out of the door just before you got here,” was the reply. “Their names are Tezra and Nepahak. You will find their names on the passenger list of the boat.”
The officer gave some hurried commands to his men and they went out. Then he turned to Phalos.
“Are you hurt?” he asked solicitously.
“Not seriously,” answered the old Egyptian. “Somewhat bruised by the rough handling they gave me and shaken up by the experience. Nothing more than that.”
“I am glad to hear that,” was the reply. “This has been a most deplorable occurrence. I assure you that we will make every effort to arrest the rascals and hand them over to the authorities as soon as we reach port. In the meantime, I would deem it a favor if you and these boys—who, by the way, showed mighty good pluck in tackling the thieves—would kindly keep this matter to yourselves. It doesn’t do the ship or the line any good to have a thing of this kind noised about. Then, too, it’s apt to make the other passengers nervous and spoil the pleasure of their journey. Would you mind promising me that?”
“Not the least in the world,” answered Phalos promptly, and Don and Teddy nodded in agreement.
“With the exception of my uncles,” qualified Don. “They’re my guardians and have a right to know anything that happens to me while I’m traveling in their charge. But I can promise that they won’t mention it to any one else.”
“That’s all right,” replied the officer. “Now, Mr. Phalos, is there anything I can do for you? Perhaps you would like to have me send the ship’s doctor in to look you over.”
“Don’t take that trouble, thanks,” replied Phalos. “I was not injured. A good night’s sleep will probably set me up again.”
“Did the thieves get anything?” asked the officer, casting a look around as he prepared to leave.
“Nothing at all, thanks to the courage of those two brave boys.”
“I’ll have a guard set over this room, so that if those fellows should come back he can nab them,” promised the officer. “But I guess they’ll steer clear of it. Probably we’ll have them in custody before morning.”
He bade Phalos and the boys good-night and went out, closing the door behind him.
“I guess we’d better be going too, Mr. Phalos,” said Don. “That is, if there’s nothing more we can do for you.”
“I think you’ve done quite enough for me for one night,” replied Phalos, with a grateful smile. “I can never thank you enough. You may have saved my life. At any rate you’ve preserved me from physical pain and permitted me to retain in my own keeping something that is very precious to me. I shall see you again in the morning and will express my thanks, I hope, a little more adequately.”
“We’re only too glad to have been of service,” answered Don. “Good-night,” and with a last word of thanks echoing in their ears, he and Teddy went out on the deck.
“Gee!” said Teddy, as he drew a long breath, “I feel like something that the cat dragged in, and I guess I look it too.”
“Same here,” laughed Don, as he took in the torn collars and rumpled clothes of himself and his friend. “It was some little fight those rascals put up. I only hope they’re nabbed by this time. But say, Brick, how about that little hunch of mine?” and he gave his comrade a playful poke in the ribs.
“You win,” agreed Teddy. “Your hunches are there with the goods, all right. But let’s get to our cabin and wash up and slip into some other clothes.”
As they were opening the door of their stateroom, they met captain Sturdy and Professor Bruce.
“Oh, there you are,” said the captain. “We were wondering what had become of you. But what has happened?” he asked quickly, as he noticed the state of the boys’ garments.
“Oh, we’ve had a little scrimmage,” replied Don, and went on to narrate the exciting happenings of the last half hour.
His uncle listened with interest, not unmixed with some alarm, interrupting him at times with questions.
“You did well, both of you,” Captain Sturdy said approvingly when Don had finished. “Though it would perhaps, have been more prudent if you had summoned help as soon as you had discovered the state of things before you climbed through the transom. You ran a big chance of having one or both of those rascals stick a knife into you.”
“I suppose so,” answered Don. “But I didn’t think of that. All I saw was that helpless old man in the power of those villains. If they’d only been a minute or two later in getting back, we’d have had the old man out on the deck, and they wouldn’t have dared to attack him there.”
“It’s curious that the thieves should have attempted so bold a thing right here on the ship,” remarked the professor. “They must have been desperately anxious to get what he had. Had they searched his baggage?”
“No,” replied Don. “And that’s the funny thing about it. They hadn’t broken into his bags or trunk, and it didn’t seem that they intended to do so.”
“But you say that they were there to rob him?” said the professor, in some perplexity.
“Yes,” replied Don. “But the thing they wanted to get wasn’t in his baggage. It was in his mind.”
“You mean they wanted to extort a secret from him?” put in the captain.
“That was it,” Don affirmed. “The old Egyptian told us that himself. They were going to torture him to get it out of him.”
“It must have been very valuable if they were prepared to go to such lengths as that,” remarked the professor. “Did he tell you what it was?”
“He didn’t,” replied Don. “But Tezra let it out when he told Mr. Phalos that he was going to make him tell the secret of the Tombs of Gold.”
“The Tombs of Gold!” exclaimed Professor Bruce, with a start.
“Ever hear of them, Amos?” asked his brother-in-law, casting a keen glance at him.
“Many times,” replied the professor. “But I never knew how much faith to put in their existence. There have been persistent rumors that there are such tombs in the Egyptian desert, and more than one expedition has been organized to search for them. But they’ve always had their troubles for their pains.”
“Then you think they’re myths?” asked the captain.
“I wouldn’t say that,” was the reply. “There are so many wonderful things in that mysterious country that I’d hesitate to say offhand that anything was impossible. And our own experience in connection with the city of Brass and Cave of Emeralds in the Sahara have taught us how much truth there may often be concealed in tradition.”
“True enough,” agreed the captain. “I’m beginning to think we may find this old Egyptian a very interesting person.”
“He promised to look us up to-morrow morning,” said Don. “If he does, I’ll introduce him to you.”
The boys were eager the next morning to learn whether the rascals had been apprehended. Don sought out the officer whom he had seen the night before, a Mr. Maitland.
“Anything doing, Mr. Maitland?” he inquired.
“Not a thing,” was the disappointed reply. “We haven’t found hide or hair of them. They seem to have vanished into thin air. But I’m having a quiet hunt going on for them, and sooner or later we’ll get our hands on them. They must be somewhere on the ship.”
“Unless they jumped overboard,” suggested Don.
The officer laughed.
“Not a chance,” he replied. “Rascals like that think too much of their precious skins. We’ll catch them some time skulking around the ship. For the present, they’ve probably slipped down a hatchway into a hold. There are plenty of hiding places there, and for a time they may elude us. But not for long.”
Phalos had not appeared at the breakfast table, but had been served in his room. About the middle of the forenoon, however, he made his appearance, and, catching sight of Don and his party, came up to them with a smile.
“I was too agitated last night to thank you properly,” he said, addressing himself to Don and Teddy. “But I want to do it now. In my confusion, I didn’t even learn your names.”
“This is my friend, Teddy Allison,” said Don, indicating his comrade. “These are my uncles, Professor Bruce and Captain Sturdy. My own name is Don Sturdy.”
“Sturdy!” exclaimed the Egyptian, as he acknowledged the introductions. “I had a very dear friend of that name once, a Mr. Richard Sturdy. Is he, by any chance, related to you?”
“Related!” cried Don, as an electric shock seemed to pass through him. “He’s my father! Oh, tell me, what do you know about him?”
Phalos looked at him, a little surprised at his vehemence.
“It’s some years since I saw or heard of him,” he replied. “But why do you ask? Surely you must know more about his whereabouts than I do.”
Don’s new-found hope died almost as soon as it was born, and his face was clouded with disappointment.
“Mr. Richard Sturdy is my brother,” explained the captain. “He went away some time ago on an exploring expedition. The ship he sailed on was wrecked, and my brother received an injury to his head that we fear has affected his mind. We are now going to Egypt to look for him.”
Then, while the old Egyptian listened with the keenest interest and sympathy, Don’s uncle told briefly of the happenings that had brought the party on the present voyage.
“I am very sorry to hear this,” Phalos observed, when the story was finished. “I sincerely hope your search will be crowned with success. It may be that I can help you, for I know my native country as no foreigner can. And, if I can, you may command my services. I may be able to repay in some small measure the debt I owe to this brave nephew of yours and his friend.”
“We appreciate your offer, and we shall certainly avail ourselves of it,” said the professor warmly. “Perhaps you can help us even now by telling us something about your acquaintance with my brother-in-law.”
“Mr. Sturdy and I were drawn together by many common interests while he was in my country,” explained Zeta Phalos. “He was an enthusiast about the monuments and wonders of old Egypt, and that, of course, was pleasing to me. He was especially interested in the tombs of former Egyptian rulers, and spent weeks and months in studying those that had been opened and in looking for others that still remained untouched. I was able to help him in this, for all my life has been practically devoted to the same thing. So we grew to be very close friends.”
“Was there any particular tomb or tombs that he was searching for?” asked Don eagerly.
The old Egyptian shot a quick look at his questioner.
“Perhaps he was,” he answered evasively. “But he was rather a reticent man and kept his plans pretty closely to himself.”
“We thought perhaps he was looking for the Tombs of Gold,” remarked the professor casually, polishing his glasses.
Phalos gave a perceptible start.
“You’ve heard of the Tombs of Gold?” he asked, in a tone that he evidently tried to make careless.
“Oh, I know there’s a tradition that such tombs exist somewhere in Egypt,” replied Professor Bruce. “I don’t know whether there’s any truth in it or not.”
“Egypt is rich in treasure,” observed Phalos noncommittally. “In ancient days it stretched from the Euphrates to the headwaters of the Nile. Gold was brought in tribute to her kings from all parts of Africa and Asia. In the time of the Pharaohs her wealth was almost incalculable. Centuries have elapsed since then, but who shall say that some of that wealth does not remain either above or below her soil?”
“Then you believe that the Tombs of Gold really exist?” asked Don, his eyes shining.
“I did not say so,” replied Phalos. “It is possible that Mr. Sturdy thought so. He was certainly intent upon some definite object he had in mind. He was not going about at random. Especially was he interested in the Valley of the Kings. There he spent most of his time, working sometimes till far into the night.”
“It is reasonable to conclude, then, that he has now gone to the Valley of the Kings, do you think?” asked the captain.
“That is certainly where I would look for him first,” replied Phalos. “You will have to pass through Cairo to get there. My home is in that city, and I hope you will make it your headquarters during your stay.”
The friendship between Zeta Phalos and the members of the Sturdy party grew deeper as the voyage progressed. It soon became evident that the old Egyptian would prove invaluable to them when once they had landed and started on their search.
One night as the vessel was nearing the Mediterranean, Don found it impossible to sleep. His mind was full of thoughts of his parents, joyous when he thought of the coming reunion with his dear mother, sad when he dwelt on the plight of his equally dear father.
What had become of the latter? Was he wandering about aimlessly in the foreign land, exposed perhaps to hunger and thirst, to poverty and hardship? Perhaps at that moment he was dead! At the thought Don’s heart was wrung with anguish. Or perhaps—and the thought was equally terrible—his mind, that splendid scientific mind, was gone forever.
Tortured by these possibilities, Don at last rose, slipped on some clothes, and went out on the deck.
It was about two o’clock in the morning, and there was no one in sight except occasional members of the crew intent on some duty and shadowy figures of officers making their round of the ship.
The vessel was passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, and Don sat down in a chair near the stern, trying to divert his somber thoughts by gazing at the formidable frowning Rock that stood as the symbol of Great Britain’s power in the Mediterranean.
A slight splash in the water attracted his attention. He turned his eyes in the direction of the sound, but could see nothing.
Then came a second splash, and with his eyes somewhat adjusted to the darkness, he could faintly detect a human head above the surface of the water. Almost instantly the head was lost in the gloom, but a faint trail of foam traced the course of a man swimming toward the shore.
At first Don jumped to the conclusion that a man had fallen overboard. But with the second splash he came to the conclusion that two were hardly likely to have fallen over so nearly at the same time. Besides, there was no call for help. And instead of swimming toward the ship, one, at least, was certainly making for the shore, which at that place was not more than a quarter of a mile distant, and probably the other man was following his example.
Just as Don was wondering what he ought to do, Mr. Maitland, who happened to be on watch, came along. He peered at Don and recognized him.
“Keeping pretty late hours, aren’t you?” he asked, with a smile. “What’s the matter? Too hot to sleep?”
“Not that exactly,” replied Don. “I was restless, and thought that a change might make me drowsy enough to make it worth while to go back to bed. I’m glad you came along, Mr. Maitland. Did you hear those splashes in the water?”
“Splashes!” exclaimed the officer, alert on the instant. “No. Where were they?”
“Rather close to the stern,” replied Don. “One followed close upon another. I know that one was made by a man, for I saw him, and I suppose the other one was too.”
The officer unslung his night glasses and looked in the direction of the shore, but could make out nothing.
“What do you suppose they were?” inquired Don. “Could they have been deserters, do you think?”
“That’s possible, I suppose,” replied Mr. Maitland, with a perplexed air, as he put up his glasses. “Though I don’t know of any dissatisfaction among the crew. And, anyway, sailors usually wait until they reach some port before they take French leave. By Jove! I have it,” he cried. “It’s those scoundrels that tried to rob the Egyptian.”
Don jumped to his feet.
“Do you think so?” he cried.
“That’s it, for a thousand dollars!” declared the officer emphatically. “They’ve managed somehow to find a hiding place in a hold, though I don’t see for the life of me how they did it. They probably knew that we’d pass close to the shore when we got to the Straits, and they decided to make a swim for it.”
“Couldn’t you get out a boat and capture them?” asked Don, chagrined at the thought of the rascals’ escape.
Mr. Maitland shook his head.
“No use,” he replied. “By the time we rounded to and lowered a boat they’d have reached the shore. Probably they’re there now. Oh, they’ve put one over on us, all right. It’s a rotten shame, too, for they richly deserved to be put behind the bars.”
There was no use, however, of crying over spilt milk, and after a few minutes more of conversation Don went again to his room.
His story of the night’s events to the members of his party and the old Egyptian the next morning created a stir. Phalos especially looked grave.
“Of course,” said Don, to cheer him up, “we’re not dead sure it was those fellows at all. Though Mr. Maitland told me this morning that the crew had been checked up and none was missing.”
“I’m afraid it’s only too true that Tezra and Nepahak have made their escape,” mourned Phalos. “And if they have, I shall hear from them again.”
“Perhaps they’ve had such a scare thrown into them that they’ll let you alone for the future,” ventured Teddy.
Phalos shook his head.
“I know them too well,” he asserted. “Tezra is persistent and relentless. Nepahak is only his tool. They may bide their time, but soon or late they will renew their attempt to get possession of—”
“Of what?” asked the captain, as Phalos hesitated.
“Oh, well,” returned Phalos, evading a reply. “I am not going to worry about what may happen. Let us talk of something pleasanter,” and he launched into a description of the Temple of Philae that he had been discussing with the professor the night before.
They were now in the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, almost every foot of whose coast and islands was rich in historic associations of the “glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.”
Under other circumstances, Don would have found an endless fascination in this storied sea and its surroundings, but now his mind was so taken up with thoughts of his parents that he could pay little attention to anything else. All that he wanted was Egypt, the Egypt where he would find his mother, the Egypt where he hoped to find his father. This filled his whole horizon. Nothing else mattered. When, oh, when would Egypt loom up on the horizon?
And his heart gave such a leap that it almost seemed as though it would leave his body when one morning a faint blur in the distance, rapidly growing larger, revealed itself as the port of Alexandria, where he would first step on Egyptian soil.