“Hey! A bookstall!” Bud said. The boys, intrigued, stopped to examine the volumes, some of which were old, and many printed in different languages.
Tom became excited as he noticed one old book entitled Jewels of the East.
He flipped through its pages as the proprietor stood by eagerly. The volume was written in English and had been printed in 1810.
MYSTERIOUS HOSTILITY 95
“Look!” Tom exclaimed. “Here’s a chapter on famous ruby mines!” Turning to the proprietor, he asked the price.
The shop owner started to name a sum, but suddenly paled and stopped short with a gasp. “N-no! The book is not for sale!” he mumbled.
Tom, suspicious that the man had suddenly been intimidated, whirled just in time to see a tall, sinister-looking, turbaned native not far away. He was scowling and fingering a knife at his belt. As he caught Tom’s glance, the stranger vanished hastily among the crowd of shoppers.
“We want to buy this book! How much?” Bud persisted. But the proprietor no longer seemed to understand English. He shook his head, snatched the book away, and thrust it out of sight.
The boys, their interest thoroughly aroused, continued to argue. But the shop owner remained adamant. Finally Tom and Bud gave up, and left.
Thinking over the incident in his bunk aboard the Sky Queen that night, Tom felt sure the book might contain a clue to the Amir’s Mine. The next morning he and Bud decided to return to the bazaar, and headed for the bookseller’s stall. To the boys’ astonishment, it was shuttered and empty! They tried to question the merchants nearby, but received no enlightening answers.