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〃I like the design；〃 Ramses said as； with the aid of the torch； we picked a path around the standing monuments。 〃I hope Abdullah is pleased with it。〃
〃Oh； yes。 He was only annoyed because he had to ask。 He implied that I ought to have thought of it myself。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Ramses nonmittally。
On the Thursday we were in the midst of our preparations for departure … plicated these days by Sennia and the Great Cat of Re … when a messenger arrived。 Jumana had left for Deir el Medina； Ramses was explaining to the cat that he would prefer it did not acpany him； I was dealing with the customary delaying tactics from Sennia； and Emerson was stamping up and down demanding that we hurry。 He took the note from Fatima。
〃Well； what do you think of this？〃 he inquired。 〃Yusuf wants to see us。〃
〃Us？〃 I echoed。 〃Who？ Sennia； get your books together and go。〃
〃You and me。 He says it's urgent。 I wonder who wrote it for him？〃
Ramses finished his conversation with the cat and put it down。 〃A public letter writer； perhaps。 Shall Nefret and I e？〃
Emerson stroked the cleft in his chin。 〃No； he said for us to e alone。 Run along； we'll join you shortly。〃
〃Unless something interesting develops；〃 I amended。
〃Something about Jamil； perhaps；〃 Nefret said。 〃Do you suppose Yusuf knows where he's been hiding？〃
〃Let us hope so。 It would be a relief to have that business over and done with。 I ought to have made more of an effort to question Yusuf；〃 I admitted。
〃Don't be unkind to the poor old fellow；〃 Nefret said。 〃He must have been suffering horribly； torn between his love for his son and his loyalty to you。〃
〃It could be another trick；〃 said Ramses。 〃Remember your warning； Father； not to go after the boy alone； even if he is wearing …〃
〃I won't be alone；〃 Emerson said。 〃Your mother will be with me。〃
Ramses's heavy dark eyebrows tilted。 〃Don't forget your parasol； Mother。〃
〃Certainly not。 However； I expect Yusuf only wants sympathy and some medicine。 It is the least I can do； and I ought to have done it before this。〃
I put together a little parcel for Yusuf； some of his favorite tobacco and a freshly baked assortment of Fatima's honey cakes； of which he was fond。 I also took my medical kit。 The others had gone by the time I had collected everything I needed。 Emerson and I were soon on our way； but as we turned the horses onto the path that led by the tombs on the lower part of the hill of Sheikh Abd el Gurneh； I saw something that made me bring my little mare to a rude halt。
〃Emerson！ Look there！〃
Where she had e from I could not tell … one of the tombs； perhaps … but the outlines of that trim figure were unmistakable。 Only a few women in Luxor wore boots and divided skirts and only one other woman wore a belt jangling with objects。
Emerson； who had also stopped； let out an oath。 〃After her！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Not so fast； my dear。 We must follow at a distance and ascertain where she is going … and why。 She has been in the village； if Yusuf admitted his intention of turning Jamil in； she may be on her way to warn him。〃
〃Damnation；〃 said Emerson。 〃How could she 。 。 。 Well； we will soon find out。〃
He had dismounted as he spoke。 Hailing one of the villagers； he said； 〃Give me your galabeeyah。〃
〃But； Father of Curses；〃 the fellow began。
〃Hand it over； I say。〃 Emerson dispensed baksheesh with so lavish a hand that he was instantly obeyed。 The jingle of coins attracted several other men。 One of them was willing to part with his outer garment too。 （I had selected the shortest and cleanest of them。）
Jumana was almost out of sight by then； trotting along with the agility I knew so well； but the delay had been necessary； she would have spotted us instantly if we had been in our usual clothing and on horseback。 We got into our impromptu disguises； left the horses with one of the men； and hastened after the girl。
〃She's heading back toward our house；〃 Emerson said； looking uneasy。 〃Perhaps we are wrong； Peabody。 She may have been paying a duty call on her father。〃
〃Don't be such a sentimentalist； Emerson。 She admitted she hadn't spoken to him for months … and why would she not tell us of her intentions； if they were innocent？ She has deliberately deceived me； the treacherous little creature。〃
The truth of this soon became apparent。 Shoulders hunched and bent； as if to make herself less conspicuous； Jumana cut off onto a rough track that wound around houses and hills toward the western cliffs south of Deir el Bahri。 Once or twice she glanced over her shoulder。 She must have seen us； but evidently our clumsy disguises were good enough to deceive； for she went on without pausing； scrambling nimbly up the rising slope at the base of the cliffs。 I could see the temple； below and to our right； as we climbed； the colonnades and tumbled stones shone in the morning light。
Quickly as the girl moved； Emerson kept up without difficulty； his breathing even； his stride slower than his usual pace。 Since my lower limbs were not much longer than Jumana's； I had to trot。
〃Where the devil is she going？〃 I panted。 〃Curse the girl …〃
〃Save your breath；〃 Emerson advised； offering me his hand。 〃By Gad； Peabody； you don't suppose 。 。 。 That's where she's headed； though。〃
With the help of his strong arm I found the going easier； and was able to look about。 I knew the place well。 The previous year we had removed the golden statue of the god Amon…Re from its hidden shrine at the back of a shallow bay。 Jamil was the original discoverer of that place。 Could he have selected it as his hiding place？ The shaft that led down to a small chamber cut out of the rock was only eight feet deep and it was unlikely that anyone would go there； the Gurnawis knew we had cleared the place of everything it contained。
Jumana stopped； her back to us； in the mouth of the little bay。 Her head turned from side to side。 Emerson pulled me down behind a heap of detritus。 We dared not risk going closer； we were only twenty feet from Jumana； and there was no one else in sight。
She called out。 〃Jamil； are you there？〃 Her voice cracked with nervousness。
I heard nothing。 She called again； 〃I am ing。〃
〃We've got him now；〃 Emerson whispered。 〃Let's go。〃
When I got to my feet； Jumana was no longer in sight。 Emerson ran toward the opening of the bay。 I ran after him。
The declivity was shallow and the morning sun shone directly into it。 At its far end the shaft we had cleared gaped open； a black square against the rock。 There was no sign of Jumana。
〃Where is she？〃 I demanded。
〃Never mind her。 He can't have got out； there wasn't time。〃 Kneeling on the rubble…strewn ground； Emerson took out his torch and shone it down into the shaft。
It was as empty as we had left it； and that in itself was confirmation of our theory。 Sand and pebbles would have partially filled it unless someone had kept it clear。 In the light of the torch I saw additional confirmation： a rough but sturdy wooden ladder。
Before I could stop him； Emerson； disdaining the ladder； had lowered himself by his hands and dropped； landing with a thump of booted feet。 Jamil must have heard that； even if he had not heard the sound of our approach。
〃Damnation； Emerson；〃 I exclaimed。 〃Wait for me！〃
He had already proceeded into the short passage that led to the chamber。 The roof was low； he would have to bend over； which would put his head at a particularly convenient level … convenient for a blow； that is … when he emerged。 I dropped my parasol into the shaft and descended the ladder。 Snatching up the parasol； I proceeded quickly into the passageway。
There was light at the end of it； but I could hear nothing； which did not lessen my anxiety； already Emerson might be unconscious and bleeding。 I removed my little gun from my pocket。
It was plucked from my hand the moment I reached the end of the passage。
〃I knew you'd be waving that damned pistol；〃 Emerson remarked； helping me to rise。 〃He's not here； Peabody。 He's been here； though。〃
He shone his torch round the small chamber。 A pile of rugs； forming a rough pallet； tins of food； jars of water； and 。 。 。 I lifted the saucer that covered one of them。 Beer。 He had made himself fortable。
〃He has el