He then looked into the adjoining room, and the bath.
“Well, are you satisfied?” demanded Dick.
Achmet showed a trace of annoyance and disappointment. He stated that he had been told by the Nubian that the professor was there, and further that he was sure Zenas Gunn had not left the hotel since his arrival.
“Which makes it plain that he has played the spy on us right along,” said Dick, addressing Brad, but not lowering his voice.
“Sure!” rasped Buckhart.
“I will wait for his return,” said the Turk. “While I am waiting, perhaps you will inform me what business has brought you to this country.”
“Our business is none of your business,” declared Dick.
“Of that I will judge when I am satisfied that I have learned your business.”
“We are traveling.”
“For what purpose?”
“To see the world.”
“Two boys and an old man. In Italy your behavior was suspicious. You disappeared from Naples in great haste, without explaining why you left so suddenly or whither you went.”
“Great tarantulas!” muttered Brad. “He’s even got track of us as far back as that.”
“In Venice you were concerned in some singular and unaccountable things, and in Greece you had dealings with lawless characters. Had you remained in Athens, you must have explained your actions to officials of the city government. You left there, also, in haste.”
Dick wondered that the man should know so much of their movements.
“It seems,” continued Achmet, “that in various places the police have been warned against you; but that in each instance they sought to find out about you only to find you suddenly departed.”
“This certain is a plenty interesting!” gasped Buckhart. “What does it mean, pard? Can you tell?”
Dick had been thinking swiftly. His hand fell on his friend’s arm.
“Brad, it is the work of Bunol and Marsh, our bitter enemies. They were sore because we fooled them by getting the Budthornes out of their power. They have lost track of Dunbar Budthorne and his sister, Nadia, but have managed somehow to keep trace of us, and have tried to cause us as much annoyance as possible.”
“I opine you’re right, Dick,” nodded Buckhart. “That’s just it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see those two onery varmints turn up any time. Well, they’ve succeeded in making a lot of fool work for a lot of fool people, and this is the first time we’ve been touched by it.”
Achmet had listened to their words with a manner of mingled interest and doubt. It was plain that he did not understand, and he was on the point of questioning them further when the sudden sound of excited and angry voices reached their ears through the partly open doorway.
“The professor!” cried Dick. “Something is doing, Brad! Come on!”
“Lay the trail, pard! I’m at your heels!”
They rushed forth and ran toward the point from which came the sound of those voices.
“You’re a miserable, crawling worm! You’re a whisky-soaked, dried-up, offensive squid! You have annoyed the lady by your obnoxious attentions, and they must cease!”
It was the voice of Zenas.
“Yo’, suh, are a long-eared jackass, suh, and I demand satisfaction fo’ your insults, suh!”
“Major Fitts!” exclaimed Dick, in dismay.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen!” shrilled another voice. “This is scandalous! You must not quarrel over me! It is shocking to my delicate sensibilities. I cannot permit it!”
“And Sarah Ann, sure as shooting!” cried Brad.
At the head of the stairs were three persons. Zenas Gunn was shaking his fist down at Major Fitts, while the major was shaking his fist up at the professor. Miss Ketchum had her hands clasped in an attitude of despair, while she implored them to desist.
Dick halted, folding his arms.
“Now what do you think of that?” he muttered, in disgust.
“It certain is some annoying,” chuckled Buckhart, pausing with his hands resting on his hips. “Shall we pitch in, pard, and break it up?”
“I’m tempted to let those two old fools have it out,” said Merriwell.
“Good idea! Mebbe it will cure them both.”
“Take your fist away!” snarled the professor, knocking the hand of the little man aside.
“Don’t yo’ strike at me, suh!” panted the major, his face red as a boiled lobster, and his gray mustache bristling.
“Strike at you!” retorted Zenas scornfully. “If I ever struck at you, you human wart, there wouldn’t be anything left of you but a grease spot!”
“Oh, please, please stop!” sobbed Sarah Ann, trying to get hold of them and force them apart.
“Yo’ had better hide behind a lady’s petticoat!” raged the man from Mississippi.
“Hide behind nothing!” retorted Gunn, giving Miss Ketchum an embrace and looking over one shoulder, while he reached over her other shoulder to again shake his fist at Fitts. “She is trying to keep me from annihilating you.”
Finding herself in the professor’s embrace, Miss Ketchum screamed and seemed on the point of fainting.
“Oh, Moses!” laughed Buckhart. “Look at that, pard – just look!”
“I see,” said Dick, also convulsed. “The professor isn’t losing the opportunity to hug Sarah Ann, and it makes the major bloodthirsty.”
Fitts danced round in an endeavor to get hold of Gunn, but the latter skillfully turned so that he kept Miss Ketchum’s limp form between them.
“Unhand that lady!” rasped the man from Mississippi, fairly frothing. “How dare yo’ behave in such a manner!”
“Oh, go back to your kennel!” advised Zenas.
The major caught hold of Sarah Ann and managed to dance round until he could get his hands on the professor.
“Release her!” he commanded.
Miss Ketchum straightened up a little.
“Such a shocking scandal!” she sobbed.
“Yo’ have compromised her, suh!” panted Fitts. “Yo’ shall pay the penalty with your life, suh!”
“I’ve stood just as much of this as I can!” grated Zenas. “I’ll just throw you downstairs!”
Which he attempted to do, while Sarah Ann again tried to part them. On the top stair both lost their balance. Wildly they grabbed at something as they toppled. The right hand of Zenas caught Miss Ketchum. The left hand of the major closed on her, also. Then all three toppled, a shriek of terror escaped the woman, and down they went.
Bump, bump, bump-ety-bump!
Tangled in a most astonishing manner, the three seemed to bound like a huge rubber ball from stair to stair. At intervals legs and arms shot out from the mass and described half circles in the air. The woman continued to scream, the professor yelled, while the major grunted and gasped with every thump. It sounded as if the entire hotel was falling.
“Oh, say, pard, this is awful!” cried Buckhart, rushing toward the stairs.
“I’m afraid the professor will be somewhat dented,” said Dick, also losing no time.
Thud! crash!
The