he other.

Suddenly a tall, white-robed figure arose in the middle of the Egyptian
craft, and a moment later the pursuers saw Peggy's form passed up to
him. She was instantly clasped by one of his long arms, and the other
was lifted high above her. A gleaming knife was held in the upraised
hand.

"Fire on us if you dare!" came in French from the tall Arab. "Dog of an
American, she shall die if you come near her!"

CHAPTER XXV

THE RESCUE OF PEGGY

Brewster's heart almost ceased beating, and every vestige of color left
his face. Clear and distinct in the light from the yacht the Arab and
his burden were outlined against the black screen beyond. There was no
mistaking the earnestness of the threat, nor could the witnesses doubt
the ghastly intention of the long, cruel knife that gleamed on high.
Peggy's body served as a shield for that of her captor. Brewster and
Bragdon recognized the man as one of Mohammed's principal retainers, a
fierce-looking fellow who had attracted more than usual attention on
the day of the sheik's visit.

"For God's sake, don't kill her!" cried Brewster in agonized tones.
There was a diabolical grin on the face of the Arab, who was about to
shout back some defiant taunt when the unexpected happened.

The sharp crack of a gun sounded in the stern of Brewster's boat, and
an unerring bullet sped straight for the big Arab's forehead. It
crashed between his eyes and death must have been instantaneous. The
knife flew from his hand, his body straightened and then collapsed,
toppling over, not among his oarsmen, but across the gunwale of the
craft. Before a hand could be lifted to prevent, the dead Arab and the
girl were plunged into the sea.

A cry of horror went up from the Americans, and something surprisingly
like a shout of triumph from the abductors. Even as Brewster poised for
the spring into the water a flying form shot past him and into the sea
with a resounding splash. The man that fired the shot had reckoned
cleverly, and he was carrying out the final details of an inspired
plan. The Arab's position as he stood in the boat was such as to
warrant the sailor's belief that he could fall no other way than
forward, and that meant over the side of the boat. With all this
clearly in mind he had shot straight and true and was on his way to the
water almost as the two toppled overboard.

Monty Brewster was in the water an instant later, striking out for the
spot where they had disap