For many years rumors have persisted that there are caches of gold, precious stones, and unguents that tomb robbers had dropped or hidden in their haste to escape the guards that watched over the Valley of the Kings. Roma Wilkes-Emberly thinks her father believes these rumors are true and is determined to find them.

Ardeth-Bey is the son of a sheikh of a Bedouin tribe that is friends with Wilkes-Emberly and his daughter Roma. Roma does not like Ardeth Bey, though she grew up with him, she finds him overconfident and arrogant. The fact that he is handsome only makes it worse.

Wilkes-Emberly has asked Ardeth for his help. He wishes him to accompany his daughter through the desert on a secret errand. Neither Ardeth or Roma are eager to do this, but her father is both evasive and persistent. Ardeth agrees, but on the condition that they will catch the boat at Minya for the remainder of the journey to Cairo. 

Roma knows that something is wrong and she suspects that they will be transporting something valuable and will be a target for thieves--or worse.

Yes, I am showing off my knowledge of archaeology, Egyptology, Valley of the Kings, and Egypt in general