The Wheaten Princess dropped anchor at Alexandria, and the passengers and crew made the transfer to Cairo. The words and music of the song 'You Belong To Me' were still echoing across the water.

"See the Pyramids along the Nile… Just remember darling all the while, you belong to me…"  The Passionate Pooches had been singing it as they waited to go ashore.

On arrival in Cairo, one group of travellers departed from the others and set off after two men. One man was the one Secret Agent Guinny was tailing, and the other was a well dressed older man who met the suspect in Alexandria.

Guinny, Dasher and Bailey followed them at a safe distance and, though they were moving fast and dodging down tiny side alleys, our friends doggedly stayed on the scent.They stopped abruptly as the two men disappeared into a building that was under renovation. It had a "DANGER – NO ENTRY" notice posted on the wall.

"Dasher, you stay here and wait for my signal," Guinny whispered. "I will blow this dog whistle when I am ready."

He handed Dasher his cell phone saying: "You know what to do. As soon as you hear the whistle, you must notify the FBI who will be waiting for your call, and direct them here. Tell them there are three approaches to cover."

"You can count on me!" he replied in a gruff whisper.

"Bailey," Guinny continued, "you come with me. You know what to do if by any chance I am unable to deliver the signal."

Bailey licked his lips a little nervously, and hoped he would not fail his friends. A cheeky wink from Dasher made him feel reassured. Quietly and purposefully, they moved forward towards the building, and Dasher held his breath!

While all this was taking place, several passengers and crew were taking in the sights of Cairo. At the Museum, Jynx, Mia and Finnegan P were taking a closer look at the Sphinx just outside the entrance. Others were making appropriate comments!

Professor Boomer and Dr Kelsie, along with Queenie and the students, had travelled down the River Nile and had come ashore in a secret place. They were met by a man who provided them with camels for the remainder of their journey into the Valley of the Kings. Oh, how exciting, and what a challenge it was to those who had never been on a camel before! OUCH!

Another group had just arrived by riverboat at Luxor. They were heading for all those places that previously they had only seen in movies. Soon, others joined them as they explored the most popular tourist attractions. These famous antiquities were on everyone's itinerary! Several pictures were taken along the way. Here is a selection of some of the best!

Back in Boomer's group, they were now deep in the sandy desolation of the Valley of the Kings. The heat of the sun was harsh, but the scenery was spectacular and like a scene out of Lawrence of Arabia. Queenie even fancied she could hear the sweeping soundtrack theme rolling over the mountains.

Boomer consulted his map (the real one!) and Kelsie mopped her brow and wondered if the criminals were still digging hopelessly for treasure that wasn't there! Had the police arrested them yet, she wondered.

Actually, the thugs were so absorbed in their frantic digging in the spot marked  X  on the false map they stole, that they didn't even hear the approaching police patrol, led triumphantly by Inspector Griffin and Major Sydney.

The criminals were surrounded, and there was a brief scuffle as they attempted to escape. However, the police had three under control while Griffin and Sydney took care of the remaining two, who tried to bash their way out with shovels and picks! They recognized them as the original two whom they had met on board the ship, and who had bashed poor Lexi and Tess.

Our two heroes soon had them flat on their backs and whimpering for mercy!

Griffin and Sydney looked on with satisfaction as they watched two policemen lead the last robber off in handcuffs. Their work was done.

It was the end of treasure hunting for them now, and they would be spending the next few years in a Cairo prison for assault and battery, and theft.

Shortly after the criminals were in custody, Boomer and Kelsie received the news from Griffin. It was announced to all present, and three cheers went up for the French-Canadian sleuth and his companion who had solved the mystery and set the trap for the criminals.

Guinny and Bailey sneaked into the building where Mr Doom had met up with other top members of the Art Forgery Ring. They stopped outside a door and listened. Yes. The meeting was in full swing and it was now or never. 

Guinny signalled to Bailey and they quietly moved to a nearby window overlooking the street. He put a dog whistle to his lips and blew – the sound would carry to Dasher but would not be heard by human ears.

It was all in Dasher's paws now. He would notify the FBI and soon the place would be surrounded. When all were positioned, they would attack. Guinny and Bailey would direct the attack force to the right room, and Dasher would stand by to prevent any of the criminals from escaping down the fire exit. 

After ten or fifteen minutes, it was all happening. Most of the crims were caught off guard and had no chance to go for weapons, but some did try to escape. Dasher, Guinny and Bailey soon had them pinned to the ground with sharp claws and tearing teeth! The crooks hadn't expected 'Police Dogs'! (as they presumed they were!)

It was a successful operation. Twenty-four top criminals were taken away in paddy wagons, and it would be a long time before they got out of jail!

Names and addresses were given of forgers employed by the crime ring, and it pleased our three brave fellows to know that Sisters Ella and Killian would get the original painting they had paid for.

Our three heroes went off wearily, but happily, to find a café where they could get a good meal and some cold drinks.

After they enjoyed a tasty meal they ordered some icy cocktails. Dasher gave Bailey a wink and said with genuine emotion:

"WELL DONE, Bailey!"

Guinny wiped his beard and asked:

"Ever think of joining the FBI, Bailey? You'd be a good man to have around in a crisis!" 

Bailey grinned with pride. Perhaps it would be an exciting change from buying and selling Art works!

Things were progressing happily for our carefree tourists. They wandered with breathless admiration among those ancient temples, tombs, monoliths and the Great Pyramids.

Jethro and Harry thought the Sphinx made the perfect background for a picture of themselves to send home to their Moms, especially as they had encouraged Tess and Lexi to pose with them!

At Karnak, some of the girls went shopping. (Wouldn't you know it!)

Others chose to see the Pyramids by Camel! (And Stella, who had given in to the pleadings of Boogie, was having second thoughts, as was just about everyone when they realized what was involved – just getting ON a camel, let alone riding one!)

There were some adventurous and athletic passengers who decided to CLIMB the Great Pyramid!

The Deir al-Bahri, Hathor Chapel proved to be a popular attraction, and perhaps the nuns expected to see something more resembling what THEY understood as a chapel. Tuckerotti had other things in mind though.

Griffin and Sydney were at last getting to do some sightseeing!

Deep into the Valley of the Kings, Boomer and Kelsie's party had come upon what their Aussie friend, Digger Graves, had told them to search for. It was a cave entrance in the face of the cliff. It didn't look obvious, being quite small, which was probably why no one had found it before. Digger Graves had stumbled on it before his accident, and he made a rough sketch of its location. He believed it to be the secret hiding place for a gold statuette of the god  ANUBIS, though he was stopped in his search by the accident that crippled him. Well, soon they would know if his map was correct. Cautiously, Boomer and Kelsie entered the cave opening, taking with them torches to light the way. They told the students to wait until called. They did not want to expose the kids to any danger that might be lurking inside.

As the torches lit up the interior, they saw what appeared to be a door in the rock. Yes. It had a primitive mechanism which, when pushed, made a grinding sound as it slowly swung open. Boomer lifted his torch to see what was inside the chamber, and they both gasped with awe.

Kelsie retraced her steps and called to Queenie and the students. She did not tell them what they were about to behold, but instructed them to follow her inside.

There was a breathless hush over the party as they entered the chamber. It was more than any of them ever thought they would see.

They shone their torches into the first alcove, and inside it, just as it had been placed over a thousand years ago, was a gold statuette – but it wasn't of Anubis.

One of the boys exclaimed in surprise:

"It's a CAT!!  -  We came all this way for a CAT?"

Kelsie laughed, and the sound echoed and re-echoed around the chamber as if spoken by a dozen voices.

"That," she said, pointing to the statuette, "is BAST."

"We know who Bast was," replied another student, "but we were expecting ANUBIS – a  DOG!"

Boomer shone his torch towards another alcove, and they all fell silent as they recognized what they were seeing. It was a monument with a statue of Anubis sitting above it.

                                                              This was what they were looking for.

Boomer set to work, opening the structure. Inside was a compartment, and when opened, it revealed a beautiful gold statuette of Anubis in human form – which was how the Jackal god was portrayed in most Egyptian art.

They all examined both of the statuettes, and the girls hoped they wouldn't be cursed for removing them from their dwelling place.

Boomer explained that they would be handed over to the Cairo Museum as soon as they returned. They belonged to Egypt.

Now that their main task was done, they could return to Queen Hatshepsut's tomb and search for the burial place of her pet dog – the one Queenie believed to be her ancient ancestor.

With the precious treasures in the safe keeping of Boomer, they soon arrived at the famous tomb of the female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut.  Joining them were Captain Guiness and Lt. Abby, along with Bailey, Dasher and Guinny.
 
Sadie came running up to Boomer, telling him how she would have loved to accompany him on his quest, but didn't fancy having to ride a camel!

Queenie was very excited, and couldn't wait to search for her ancestor's tomb, where she hoped she would find proof of her family connection to that ancient regal dog.

Inside the temple, Boomer and Kelsie went to the tomb of Hatshepsut, and they searched where her treasures had been buried around her. Pharaohs always had their pets and other precious possessions buried with them so they could go to the next world together.

Kelsie found an alcove and read the inscription.

"I think this is the place where her favourite feline was entombed. Now we have to find a similar tomb for a dog."

The students all helped with the search, and finally, in a dark, unobvious corner of the chamber, another tiny casket was found. It had a little statue of a dog on top of it.

Queenie was rapt, and asked if they could open it. Kelsie assured her that the seal was intact and they would soon be looking at her ancestor's mummified remains.

Carefully, and with reverence, Boomer opened the casket and took out its tiny mummy. Queenie gasped with emotion, and Boomer gently placed the remains of a very ancient, royal dog, into Queenie's arms.

They left the chamber in silence, and all the students refrained from the desire to ask for permission to examine their find. It was extremely fragile and would soon be reduced to dust in the outer atmosphere, so Boomer took it from Queenie and placed it back in its casket, where it would remain until they reached Cairo. Queenie had wanted it to have a special place in the Museum, where her ancestor would be preserved and forever remembered.


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The visit to Egypt was coming to an end. All the passengers and crew were making their way back to the transport that would return them to the Wheaten Princess.

Several of the girls had arranged to meet with their boyfriends and travel back together. Our two little nuns were with them, and that raised a few eyebrows as some speculated on whether they might be meeting someone special there, too! Unfortunately, their curiosity was not rewarded!

There she was, waiting for them - the beautiful ship that would take them back to Marseille, where they had begun their journey.

This final picture was snapped by Abby as the last of the passengers and crew approached the boarding gate.

Soon, the "ALL VISITORS ASHORE" was sounded and the loud speakers boomed out a well-known song of farewell.

The Wheaten Princess was on her way once more, and there were many misty eyes watching the port of Alexandria gradually becoming a dim shadow on the horizon.