He threw up his arms and fell over on his
side. Laura, who had only sipped her cup, threw it from her. She, too,
reeled for a moment. The Professor and Quest came running up, attracted by
Lenora's shriek.
"They're poisoned!" she cried.
"The Veedemzoo!" Quest shouted. "My God! Pull yourself together, Laura.
Hold up for a minute."
He dashed back to their little encampment and reappeared almost
immediately. He threw Laura's head back and forced some liquid down her
throat.
"It's camphor," he cried. "You'll be all right, Laura. Hold on to
yourself."
He swung round to where the dragoman was lying, forced his mouth open, but
it was too late--the man was dead. He returned to Laura. She stumbled to
her feet. She was pale, and drops of perspiration were standing on her
forehead. She was able to rise to her feet, however, without assistance.
"I am all right now," she declared.
Quest felt her pulse and her forehead. They moved back to the fire.
"We are within a dozen miles or so of the Mongar village," Quest said
grimly. "Do you suppose that fellow could have been watching?"
They all talked together for a time in low voices. The Professor was
inclined to scout the theory of Craig having approached them.
"You must remember," he pointed out, "that the Mongars hate these fellows.
It was part of my arrangement with Hassan that they should leave us when
we got in sight of the Mongar Encampment. It may have been meant for
Hassan. The Mongars hate the dragomen who bring tourists in this direction
at all.
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