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"They took her with them," muttered Ben "Those horrible people just took her aith theht to the camp Ben set off for it at a run

12 Captured

There was hardly anyone in or around the big tents when Ben slipped into the ca there were out in the ruins, freeing ancient walls fro of secret burial chaly past the tents to the place marked out by ropes where the excavation site lay Itto cliists were scraping desert sand off the steps

The sound of excited voices brought Ben out of his drea the narrow alleys between the tents, until he suddenly ca robes, and a few others wearing pith hel that stood in the e date pal their arms around; others seeh the crowd until he could see what they were so excited about Several cages, both large and small, stood under the palm tree There were chickens in so e contained Sorrel She had turned her back on the gaping hunized her at once

The es -- Arabic, French, English, German -- but Ben could pick up a phrase here and there that he understood

"Innose and a receding chin "No one can doubt it"

"I do doubt it, though, Professor Rosenberg," said a tall, thin roaned and raised his eyes to heaven "Oh, please! Don’t start on about those fabulous creatures of yours again, Greenbloom"

But Professor Greenblooue," he said quietly, "is a brownie A Spotted Forest Brownie, to be precise -- which is distinctly surprising, since the species occurs chiefly in the highlands of Scotland"

Ben looked at him in surprise How could theto the conversation, too, for Ben saw her prick up her ears However, Professor Rosenberg just shook his head pityingly

"I don’t kno you can keepsuch a fool of yourself, Greenbloom!" he said "I y, a doctor of history and ancient languages and I don’t knohat else besides Yet you insist on putting forward these ridiculous theories!"

"Infools of yourselves," replied Professor Greenbloom "A monkey! Oh, come on! Did you ever see a rily at the pair of thearics!" she spat "Death caps, yellow stainers, destroying angels!"

Professor Rosenberg retreated in alar!"

"It’s calling you names, didn’t you hear it?" Professor Greenbloo you i! Fly agaric, death cap, yellow stainer, destroying angel -- those are all poisonous species thatthis brownie feel pretty sick ourselves What terrible hu creatures and hold the e paunch a little closer to the cages