Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 51

"I hardly think I'll try it."

"Why not?"

"Well-er-ahem!-I prefer to remain here in Cairo. I am quite contented. I have visited the Pyramids, seen the Castle of the Nile, wandered through the Alabaster Mosque, viewed the Tombs of the Caliphs, and peered into the Haunted House of the Afrit. I am satisfied. I'm willing to be quiet and rest. I'll stay right here while you take an excursion up the river."

d.i.c.k winked at Brad.

"What's the attraction that interests you so much in Cairo?" he asked.

"Oh, no-no attraction," Zenas hastened to declare. "Nothing at all. I'm contented, that's all."

Merriwell was puzzled, for he felt that there was something behind the old man's strange contentment in that foreign city.

"Well, I don't think Brad and I will go off on any excursion by ourselves."

"Why not take Budthorne and Nadia along? That's a good idea. They'll enjoy it."

"I believe you are anxious to get rid of us. There's something doing, Brad."

"Sure thing, pard," agreed the Texan.

But the old man protested that they were quite wrong.

"I wish you to see all of the world that you can on this trip, that's all. You'll be quite comfortable on the excursion boat."

"Not if the blamed boat carries as large a cargo of fleas and biting and stinging things as we struck on the boat from Yafa to Alexandria,"

growled the Texan. "I was all chawed up by the time I landed from that old craft. My hide looked like a map of Asia p.r.i.c.ked out in red splotches, and lines, and b.u.mps, and scratches. The fleas and other varmints of this yere part of the world sure do love the taste of a foreigner."

"I don't think there will be such pests on the excursion boat," said Zenas quickly.

"Well, I fancy we can get along without making that excursion," observed d.i.c.k. "I'm for getting out of Cairo and continuing on our journey."

"So am I," seconded Brad.

"Oh, but I'm not ready," protested the professor. "My dear boys, this is the most interesting country in the world. You don't seem to appreciate it. You don't seem to understand that investigation and science have established the fact that more than six thousand years ago the people of this country had acquired a high degree of civilization and culture, and that in those distant ages there flourished right here in the valley of the Nile an educated priesthood, cultured society, an elaborate system of theology and a splendid and powerful form of government. The people were then far advanced in religion, architecture, painting, sculpture, philosophy, and astronomy. Oh, my dear boys, I must remain here a while longer to study and to investigate these matters."

d.i.c.k winked at Brad once more.

"We haven't observed you studying or investigating a great deal, professor," he said.

"Oh, I study far more than you suppose. I investigate by observation."

"Well, if you wish to investigate the records of former civilization, it seems to me you cannot do better than to take a trip up the Nile, along which you will see the ruins of ancient cities and temples. You should visit the ruins of Thebes, see the temple of Rameses and behold the wonders of Karnak."

"I'll have to forego that pleasure," said Zenas; "but I will not deprive you of it. You must go, boys-you shall go! I'll make arrangements for it."

But both lads positively declined, much to the vexation of the old man.

"Hum! haw!" he coughed. "I did have a vague idea that I was your guardian during this trip; but it seems that I am not."

"Would you send us away into peril?" asked d.i.c.k, with pretended resentment. "We admire you, professor-we love you, and we propose to stick by you. You can't shake us."

"Not on your life," chuckled Brad. "We're going to find out whatever your little game in Cairo is. Better tell us."

"No game at all! It's ridiculous-simply ridiculous! All right. If you won't go, I can't help it; but I may find it impossible to be with you constantly while in Cairo. Private matters may call me away from you for some days. I have met a gentleman from the United States here-a very interesting man. His name is Stringer-Colonel Erastus Stringer. He is a very fine gentleman, and I--"

"I've seen the colonel," said Merriwell. "He seems to me like a rather gay old bird. Better take care that he doesn't get you into a sc.r.a.pe."

"I think I am fully competent to take care of myself," said the old pedagogue, with dignity. "The colonel is a very quiet and retiring person. I do not approve of the disparaging manner in which you speak of him."

"I think the colonel is inclined to look too often on the jag pot," said Brad.

"Tut, tut, tut!" exclaimed Zenas. "Such vulgarity! Jag pot! Such slang!

Bradley, you often make me blush with shame for you. I fear your travels are not doing you much good. I did hope to take you back to America quite changed and altered. I hoped to polish off your rough ways and eliminate the slang from your vocabulary. But, alas! I fear my efforts will be fruitless."

The old man then launched into a lecture, to which the boys listened weariedly.

"I have given you a few things to serve as food for contemplation,"

Zenas concluded. "I will now retire and let you think them over."

When he was gone d.i.c.k turned to his friend, a puzzled expression on his face.

"What do you suppose the old boy is up to?" he asked.

"Hanged if I know," admitted the Texan; "but I'll be shot if I don't think there's something in the wind."

"We must find out what it is. Colonel Stringer is something of a lusher, as well as a practical joker. I hear he was put out of the Hotel Abbat, in Alexandria, on account of some sort of practical joke in which he was concerned."

There was a tap on their door and Dunbar Budthorne entered.

"What do you say, boys, to a trip to Citadel Hill to witness the sunset?" he asked. "Nadia wants to go."

"Then I'm ready," declared Buckhart, in a twinkling.

"I'll go along, too," said d.i.c.k, rising.

CHAPTER XXV-SUNSET FROM THE CITADEL

Directly across the street from the hotel were gathered forty or more Egyptian donkeys, saddled, bridled and ready for riders. These donkeys were guarded by boys, who acted both as guides and drivers when the little animals were engaged.

The moment d.i.c.k, Brad, Dunbar, and Nadia appeared on the steps of the hotel it seemed that all the boys made a rush across the street, yelling wildly and beckoning with their dusky hands.

"I got good donkey; tak' him!"