With this spirit, he can watch the development of affairs composedly, though the suspicion that has crept into his mind causes him a little worry.

Sir Lionel is evidently getting ready to make a move for liberty.  His very actions betray it in more ways than one.  John cannot but think that he goes about it with something like a flourish of trumpets that is hardly in keeping with the situation, for it is supposed that a dozen pairs of eyes are upon them.

First of all, he secures a weapon that is hanging upon the wall near-by.  It must be his own revolver, John believes.  How lucky that the Arabs hung it so close to his hand.  No one appears to notice the action.  Really, Sir Lionel is attended by the goddess of luck.

Then the professor makes a move in the same direction, crawls forward, and lays hands on a gun that rests against the wall.  This he smuggles back with him, and again the guards are all interested in other business, laughing, and joking.

So far, good.  Perhaps they can, if this marvelous good fortune follows them, steal all the arms in the camp, and even capture the brigade.  So John concludes with a smile, as he sees what the professor has done.

Anxiously, he waits to see what there will be next on the programme.  Some of the guards have left the place, others lie down to sleep.

“The grand climax is coming,” he thinks, as he takes note of these things.  “Blunt is getting ready to sweep the board.  Well, good luck to him.”

Even Mustapha has discovered that something strange is on the tapis.

He has a singular way of expressing it.

“Poor Monsieur Constans,” he whispers.

“What is the matter with him?” ejaculates John, in about the same tone.

“It is too bad.”

“Mustapha, speak out.”

“He will come after a while.”

“Yes, yes.”

“And he will find no Bab Azoun, no band of illustrious robbers to do battle with.”

John’s mind instantly hits upon flight as the cause for all this.

“Why do you speak so?”

“This wonderful soldier, he do it all; by the mighty power of his arm he will overcome the hosts of Bab Azoun.  Great is Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet; but I have never seen such a thing before in all my life.”

Then the exquisite, dry humor of the thing strikes John, and with such force that he comes very near bursting with laughter.

He has not the slightest desire to do anything that will bring about a change in the plan.  So long as Lady Ruth is rescued from her unpleasant position, it matters little what the means are.

Hence, he watches the development of matters with a keen interest.  It is not long before he is in a position to see that there is solid truth in his suspicions.  The actions of Sir Lionel confirm the fact that he has been induced to compromise his honor in order to succeed with John as a rival.