THEexplorers, particularly Tishmak, knew the danger of a sandstorm. It was not infrequent for large caravans to be completely engulfed by the heavy veil of sand, leaving only the dead bodies of the camels and their riders. The Americans remembered a tale that Fekmah had told them about a trading caravan of five hundred dromedaries coming to a tragic end in this region. Would their little caravan also perish?
“Get your goggles,” commanded Fekmah, his tone indicating that he was calm even in the face of danger.
“And be sure they fit tightly!” warned Dr. Kirshner. “Even then we’ll get some of the sand.”
The atmosphere was rapidly becoming extremely dry and hot, and at intervals a fierce wind brought minute particles of sand into the explorers’ faces.
“Now,” began Fekmah, after conversing briefly with the guide, “we must get dromedaries ingroup, so they not get fright and run away. Then we crouch down behind them.”
The camels were drawn up together and fastened in a circle with ropes.
“It might be wise to put up our tent, mightn’t it?” asked Mr. Lewis, but Fekmah shook his head vigorously.
“No, no,” he said. “Then we get in trap and not get out. If sand very heavy, we want to be in open.”
The dense mist was thickening and spreading, until it soon covered the whole horizon. The sky in the distance was not visible for the heavy cloud of fine particles.
The explorers got out blankets and wrapped themselves tightly. Even then, said Fekmah, the small bits of soil would get through to their skins.
They had scarcely finished preparations when the first breaker suddenly came with all force, striking the adventurers in the face and penetrating the blanket.
It was blinding, smothering, but they managed to get air and fought with a determination that was born of adventure. Crouching behind the sturdy dromedaries, they held their heads low to avoid as much of the fury of the storm as possible.
It was with great difficulty that the camels kept their positions together, but they succeeded admirably.
“Doesn’t seem right for them to have to stop thesand for us,” said Joe, shouting in order to make himself heard.
“It’s a shame,” Bob shouted back. “But they can probably stand it better than we can.”
Slowly they found themselves enveloped in a heavy opaque atmosphere, so dense as to seem almost as a wall. The thought of being completely covered up was constantly in their minds, bringing about almost a feeling of despair.
The burning wind was constantly lashing them in the face, until it seemed that they could stand it no longer. Indeed, if their heavy goggles had not been of unbreakable glass, the furious particles of sand would have smashed them in the explorers’ eyes. Even as it was, some of the sand found its way in.
“This is terrible!” moaned Joe. “Awful—simply——”
He stopped suddenly, as his mouth became filled with sand. Another gust of wind had come, bringing with it an enormous quantity of the burning sand.
The explorers’ eyes were smarting, their lips were cracked and bleeding. They felt that they would smother. Nothing could have been worse, it seemed.
They could hear the dromedaries snorting with fear and irritation. What if the brutes could not stand?
Conversation was now impossible, for they dared not open their mouths for fear of swallowing some of the stinging sand. Even when they breathed, the fine particles filtered through the net that hung over their faces.
The sky above was of a bright red color, and a weird light trickled through the fog of yellow. It was the most unusual happening that the Americans had ever witnessed.
“If it just wasn’t for this terrible wind!” muttered Mr. Holton, when there had come a slight lull.
“Yes,” agreed Fekmah. “Then it not be so hard to stand it.”
He had scarcely finished when another gust of hot sand struck them cruelly, making their faces sting anew.
Suddenly Tishmak noticed that they were nearly engulfed in a heavy pile of sand. With a quick motion he drew himself out and drove the dromedaries to another spot.
For a brief moment the explorers were exposed to the full violence of the storm. Then they again took places behind the newly located camels.
“Not taking any chances on being covered up, are you?” said Dr. Kirshner to Tishmak.
The latter did not understand the words, but he caught the meaning and smiled.
How long the terrific onslaught of sand lasted,no one knew. They had lost all sense of time, and the heavy atmosphere completely hid the sun.
It was only gradually that the terrible storm subsided, and then the air was exceedingly hot and dry, promising to remain that way for some time. Slowly the cloud of sand about them grew thin, until it finally cleared away completely. Now only an occasional hot wind annoyed them, but it was scarcely anything compared to the previous bombardment of sand.
“No more of anything like that for me!” muttered Bob, as he worked his feet loose from the high pile that strove to bury him alive.
The dromedaries, too, had their legs embedded in the sand so deeply that it required several minutes of constant digging to relieve them.
“Suppose we rest awhile before going on,” suggested Bob. “It has been a great strain for all of us, standing against that terrible rush of sand.”
The others readily agreed, and all thoughts of continuing the journey at once were dismissed from mind.
“At least,” Joe said, “we got out alive, and that’s more than you can say of many caravans.”
“Yes,” returned his father. “Perhaps under this very spot are the bones of men and camels that were not as lucky as we were.”
“That storm rather short lasting,” remarkedFekmah, glancing at his watch. “Many times storm last several hours.”
Joe sighed.
“I’d hate to have had to stand much more of it,” he said.
It was nearly noon, and the tent was pitched for the midday rest. All were very weary after the terrific strain.
“Let’s have our lunch,” suggested Mr. Lewis. “I’m very hungry, and I’m sure everyone else is.”
The noon meal and rest followed, the explorers not continuing until after three o’clock.
Late that afternoon they came to one of the largest uninhabited oases that they had yet seen. It was situated snugly on a narrow stretch between high dunes.
“It’s a wonder a small town hasn’t sprung up around here,” remarked Bob, drinking greedily of the refreshing water that gushed from the large spring.
Dr. Kirshner nodded.
“With all these palm trees and the abundance of water it is surprising,” he said. “But I suppose there are so few people, even among the natives, who would live here that it wouldn’t pay.”
The containers were hurriedly filled.
“It might be well to stay here for the night,” said Fekmah. “It is getting late, and we all need sleep very bad.”
He turned to Tishmak and put the question before him in the native language.
The guide at once gave his approval, more than glad of the chance to stop.
“He say he wanted to stay here for night, but thought we in big hurry,” Fekmah told the Americans.
“We are,” returned Mr. Holton. “But here is a very good place to camp, and I think we’d better take advantage of the opportunity.”
The tent and provisions were unpacked from the camels, which seemed more than glad of the chance to relax.
“Funny,” remarked Mr. Lewis, “that camels don’t care to lie in the shade when there is an opportunity. You would think the terrible sun would be avoided as much as possible, but that is not the case.”
“Either they like the heat or they are too lazy to move,” said Joe.
For some time the two youths sat with their elders. Then Bob got up and stretched.
“Suppose you and I get on our dromedaries and ride over to that distant hill,” he said to Joe, pointing away to the horizon. “I’d like to see what’s beyond there. This seems to be very high ground, and we might get a view of the distant mountains from the top of that dune.”
“Be sure and take your rifles, boys,” warned Mr. Lewis. “And don’t stay too long.”
The boys slung their guns over their shoulders and rode off, waving to their friends.
The hill that Bob referred to was at least a mile away, and the ground on the way was of loose sand. The boys urged their mounts to trot faster, however, and they would probably cover the distance in a very short time.
“I wonder if we could get a glimpse of the Ahaggar Mountains?” said Joe.
“Might. But you must remember that we are still a great distance away.”
As the boys had expected, they came to the hill in but a few minutes. It was very high and steep, but the soil was hard. The dromedaries had no difficulty in climbing steadily up.
At last they came to the top and gazed out into the distance.
“Look!” cried Joe. “The mountains! We can see them!”
Sure enough, the Ahaggar range was visible, stretching miles and miles to either side. A few sharp peaks protruded high above the others, but for the most part the line of mountains was rather regular.
“Suppose that high peak is Illiman?” asked Joe, pointing to a high crag that towered above the other mountains.
“You mean the one Fekmah was talking about? It might be. He would know if he saw it, I suppose. And of course Tishmak would.”
The youths spent nearly a half-hour peering out at the mountains, greatly impressed by the wonderful view.
“How far away do you suppose they are?” questioned Joe.
“Fifty miles, at least; maybe more. It will probably take us another half-day to get to them.”
Finally the youths turned and rode back down the hill to tell their elders of the magnificent view. Fekmah particularly would be pleased, Joe thought.
But the boys were not overly anxious to get back to the oasis at once. There were many other high sand dunes that they would like to ride over.
“We won’t stay much longer,” said Bob. “Just ride around a bit.”
To their right was another high hill that might afford a view in another direction. The youths rode over to it and climbed the gradual side.
Then, when they came to the top, they cried out in surprise and fear.
In the distance appeared to be a whole regiment of galloping horsemen coming toward them!
FORa moment the youths were taken completely aback in surprise. That they would see anything like this away out on the Sahara was not in the least expected. They stood for some time in sheer amazement and not a little fear.
“An army coming at us!” muttered Bob, staring at the distant spectacle.
“An army, yes. Must be five hundred cavalrymen.”
“But—but it can’t be! It’s impossible. What would soldiers be doing away out here on the desert? Something’s seriously wrong somewhere. If just one of us should see such a thing it might indicate that the old brain wasn’t working just right, but for you and I both——”
“Come on,” suggested Joe, giving his dromedary a slight kick. “Let’s get out of here. I’m greatly worried.”
The youths turned their camels back to camp for a short distance; then they urged them on to a fast trot.
They were not a little relieved when they finally reached the oasis, where they found their friends awaiting them.
“Where have you been so long?” inquired Mr. Lewis, his face not a little serious.
“We thought maybe something held you back,” added Dr. Kirshner.
“It did,” replied Bob, trying to remain calm.
The men sat up quickly, sensing that some misfortune had come upon the boys.
“What was it?” demanded Mr. Holton tensely.
“An army,” Joe returned soberly.
For a second there was silence. Then the men broke out in laughter. Evidently they thought the youths were joking. Even Fekmah joined in, his dark features drawn together in mirth.
“Nothing to laugh at,” said Joe, vexed because the men thought their experience funny. “It nearly scared Bob and me out of our wits.”
Mr. Holton grew more serious.
“Come, now,” he said. “Tell us what you mean.”
Joe told of seeing the phenomenon from the top of the hill, saying that there appeared to be at least five hundred horsemen coming toward them.
When he had finished, the naturalists and Dr. Kirshner jumped up in wonder and not a little fear, but Fekmah only laughed.
“W-what’s humorous!” demanded Mr. Lewis, greatly perplexed.
“Everything,” said Fekmah, laughing still harder. “What the young men saw was only an illusion or mirage. There no army on Sahara. Only look like army.”
“You mean it was a trick of nature, like the more common mirages of lakes on the desert?” asked Dr. Kirshner with great interest.
“Yes,” the Arab answered. “Caused by the bending of the rays of light when they strike the hot sand.”
“Well, that’s a new one on me!” confessed Bob. “I was aware of the fact that mirages of lakes are common, but that I should see an army——”
It was now rapidly becoming dark. The explorers thought it best to sleep all through the night and not wait for the moon, for they greatly needed the rest.
“Tomorrow morning I’d like to see that mirage that you boys thought was an army,” said Mr. Holton, when they prepared to retire.
“And I, too,” put in Dr. Kirshner. “As it isn’t out of our way, we can all ride over there.”
“It’ll be a good chance to take some motion pictures,” said Bob. “A scene as unusual as that is sure to attract the curiosity of an audience.”
Tishmak informed them that they would be out of this short sand stretch early the next morning. Then they would come into the Ahaggar Mountains, the real home of the mysterious Tuaregs.
“And I expect to begin my work in this region,” announced Dr. Kirshner. “Perhaps if I put legend and history together, I can locate something that will prove of great value to the world of archæology. I have in mind at present the tomb of a great king who reigned in those mountains many thousands of years ago. He is said to be an ancestor of the Berbers, who are related to the Tuaregs. When we come to the many Tuareg villages, I intend to make inquiries as to their ancient legends.”
They were up early the next morning, anticipating the exploration of the mountains that lay ahead of them.
But in order to get to the Ahaggars, it would be necessary to continue for a short distance over the sand dunes.
After breakfast they rode over to the distant hill to get a view of the mirage seen by the boys the day before. Sure enough, the army of horsemen appeared to be riding toward them, and the details were rather plain.
Mr. Lewis shook his head in bewilderment.
“Sure is strange,” he muttered. “Why should the horses and the riders be so clearly defined? I can easily understand the mirage of a lake, but this sure gets my goat.”
They stood for some time staring at the distant spectacle, Bob and Joe taking motion pictures.Finally they rode on up the hill to catch a glimpse of the Ahaggars.
“I rather think that peak not Illiman but Oudane,” said Fekmah to the youths, in answer to their question asking the name of the distant high mountain. “Mount Oudane very high, and much nearer than Mount Illiman.”
More movies were taken by the youths. Then they rode down the opposite side of the dune in the direction of the mountains.
“Ahaggars very strange,” said Fekmah to the Americans, as they rode in a group at the back of their pack camels. “There are high cliffs, tall needle-like peaks, deep caves. There are canyons, ravines, underground passageways. We see much, and we too be in great danger.”
“Danger?” Joe looked up in some surprise.
“Yes. Very great danger. Wild Tuaregs roam about, and when on a raid, think only of robbing travelers. Then, too, we be in region where the two thieves who stole my map are. They perhaps be waiting for us and shoot us quick without giving warning. Many other dangers we might see.”
Fekmah sobered the Americans a little. They had not anticipated any great peril, although they knew the two thieves might, should they have arrived at the hidden riches first, give them trouble.
“But we’ll come out all right,” predicted Bob, again becoming cheerful. “We’ll show those fellowsthat we’re capable of attending to any crisis.”
A little farther on they reached the wall of rock that had previously shut out the view of the mountains. It stretched many miles to their right and left, but there were numerous breaks that afforded openings into the country beyond.
They had barely reached the other side of the wall-like formation when Joe caught sight of a group of tents quite a distance to the east. He motioned for his friends to look in that direction.
“Probably Arabs,” pronounced Fekmah, after Tishmak had chattered rapidly for a moment. “They nomads, who wander about the desert taking their flock of goats with them.”
“Suppose we go over and see them,” suggested Mr. Holton. “Perhaps they can give us a description of the country ahead of us. There may be many more wells than we think, and it will do us no harm to know of them.”
The others were in favor of carrying out Mr. Holton’s move. But Fekmah warned them to be on the lookout for treachery.
“They probably not do us harm, but can never tell,” he said, as the dromedaries were turned in the direction of the tents.
They reached the encampment in a very short time and were about to look up some of the Arabs when a savage growl made them wheel around in surprise and fear.
“Look!” cried Joe, laying his hand on his rifle.
Two large, savage dogs were making toward them with all fury, showing their terrible teeth in anger. The enraged creatures were probably owned by the Arabs in the tents and were acting as guards against all marauders.
The foremost dog was almost upon Mr. Lewis’s camel. In another moment the beast would sink its teeth in the dromedary’s throat.
Displaying the quickness of a cat, the naturalist unslung his rifle, took hasty aim, and fired.
The report of the gun was followed by a longdrawn howl from the huge dog.
“Quick!” cried Bob. “The other dog!”
The second beast was rushing forward angrily.
Mr. Lewis again took aim. The others, trusting in his marksmanship, made no move to get their rifles.
Click! There was no report this time. His magazine was empty!
Mr. Holton tried vainly to get his rifle out in time. Something must be done at once, for the savage dog would be at the camels in but a moment.
Suddenly Joe leaped from his camel directly in the path of the oncoming animal. The dog stopped for a second, then rushed at the youth with terrible ferocity.
“It’s now or never!” Joe thought and broughtthe butt of his rifle down with all his strength on the dog’s head.
There was a cry of pain, and the next moment the beast rolled over in a dazed condition. At last the terrible enemies had been overcome.
“Great work, Joe!” praised Mr. Holton. “We weren’t expecting to see you act so quickly.”
“I didn’t know whether I could hit him at the right time or not,” the youth said, wiping the perspiration from his brow. “But I thought I’d take a chance. It——”
He stopped fearfully as a rifle shot rang out. Another report followed the first, and Tishmak fell from his dromedary.
“Back!” cried Dr. Kirshner. “It’s the Arabs shooting from the tents. Hurry or we’ll all be hit!”
Tishmak was rapidly picked up and placed on his camel, and then the explorers retreated behind a formation of rock near the high wall of stone that was to their right.
“You look after Tishmak,” said Mr. Holton to Dr. Kirshner. “Meanwhile we’ll keep these Arabs away. We certainly aroused their tempers when we put those dogs out.”
A volley of shots came from the Arabs’ tents, and the Americans at once answered with their own rifles. Wherever a shot was heard, Mr. Holton directed his friends to fire at the spot.
Suddenly Mr. Lewis caught a glimpse of a largeone-armed Arab who emerged into full view to send a bullet at his white enemies. Without hesitation the naturalist fired, bringing the man down with a thud.
“Look!” cried Bob. “They’re backing up. That fellow you shot must have been the leader.”
“Does seem that way,” agreed Mr. Lewis. “But we must remain on guard. These are treacherous characters.”
Only an occasional shot rang out. Then finally there was silence.
“Now we’ll see how Tishmak is,” said Mr. Holton, leaving his position at the end of the rocky crag.
They found that Dr. Kirshner had bound and treated the wound, which was in the left arm. The Arab seemed in high spirits, despite the fact that he was evidently in pain.
“It doesn’t appear serious,” said the archæologist. “With the right kind of attention it will probably be all right in a few days.”
“Lucky that he wasn’t killed, or that more of us weren’t hit,” remarked Mr. Lewis gravely. “The Sahara is a dangerous place for explorers.”
They waited several minutes for any more rifle shots from the Arabs, but none came. Finally Mr. Holton mounted his dromedary.
“Let’s get on our way,” he suggested. “I don’t think there’s any danger now. The Arabs have retreatedto a distance beyond their tents, and I believe they’ll stay there awhile.”
Tishmak was helped on his camel. Then, when the others had also mounted, they rode off.
They were now rapidly leaving the region of low sand dunes behind. Rocks of all sizes and shapes became more numerous, and vegetation was more abundant. There were, however, stretches of coarse sand plains, which were now and then dotted with boulders.
Suddenly, as they ascended a long low hill, Bob and Joe cried out in delight and pointed to something a half-mile or so away.
“A lake!” exclaimed Joe happily. “A lake of water!”
“NOTa lake,” said Fekmah, shaking his head. “Only another mirage. They are rather common all through this region, and we may see much more short time.”
“Well, if there was a real lake there beside that mirage, I wouldn’t know which to pick,” confessed Joe. “And look! Even waves are there. And foam caps!”
“Wonderful facsimile, all right,” remarked Dr. Kirshner. “Old Nature is capable of playing mighty big jokes on us sometimes.”
For over a half-hour the illusion was visible to the explorers; then, when they rounded a large pile of rocks, it could no longer be seen.
“And I’m glad,” said Bob. “Now maybe I can get my mind away from thinking only of water. It wasn’t very pleasant to see what looked like it and not be able to have it.”
“When do we come to another oasis?” inquired Joe of Fekmah.
“Tishmak say within next fifty miles,” was theresponse. “It be very small, but there be much water to drink.”
Late that evening they came to the foothills of the Ahaggars. Majestic Mount Oudane was directly before them, and the whole Ahaggar range appeared to be only a few miles away in the clear desert air.
They at last reached the small oasis among the many red boulders. After filling their containers, they continued toward the mountains, greatly refreshed and ready for action. But darkness was rapidly falling, and it would be necessary to stop before long for the night.
Tishmak, however, thought it best to travel in the moonlight. The others were more than willing to do this, for now that they were so near their goal they hesitated to lose any precious time.
“We can go on for a while,” said Mr. Lewis, as daylight rapidly faded. “Then we’ll turn in and get a few hours of sleep.”
Soon it became dark, making it necessary to stop. But before long the moon came out in full splendor, flooding the rocky vastness with enchanting light. The distant needle-like peaks took on a strange appearance, like mysterious towers of a fairyland.
The scene was unusual and slightly weird, resembling the rough surface of the moon. Forsome time the Americans were silent, absorbed in thought. Finally Bob roused himself.
“Those mountains seem rather intangible, or ghost-like,” he remarked, as he and Joe rode at the rear of the caravan.
Joe nodded.
“It’s like we’re the characters of an Arabian Nights story,” he muttered. “No vegetation, no life of any kind around anywhere. Gets under my skin a little.”
Through the early part of the night they rode ever on, on toward the mysterious Ahaggars. One question stood out in the minds of all. What did the future hold in store?
Finally Tishmak brought his dromedary to a halt beside a huge boulder. He motioned for the others to follow suit.
“We’ll stop here for the night,” announced Fekmah, after conversing with the guide. “But we must be up very early in morning and get on way to mountains.”
That night everyone slept soundly, anxious to refresh themselves thoroughly for the tiresome march through the Ahaggars.
“Let’s go,” urged Joe, as he dressed the next morning at dawn. “We can’t get to those hidden riches any too soon for me.”
Mr. Holton laughed unwillingly.
“Who ever heard of fast traveling in the mountains?” he asked. “If we make ten or fifteen miles in a day we’ll be lucky.”
“There are stretches of smooth country, though,” Dr. Kirshner put in. “And when we get to the central plateau of the Ahaggars, it won’t be so hard to cover territory.”
A breakfast of limited food but a bountiful supply of water was prepared by Mr. Lewis, and then camp was broken.
In the early-morning light the peaks ahead looked pale purple, but, said Fekmah, this color would gradually change to mauve and blue as the sunlight became more radiant.
As they rounded a tall, red boulder, Tishmak suddenly halted his camel and pointed to a little crevice between the rocks.
“Well, as I live!” murmured the archæologist in surprise. “Camels—dead, mummified camels.”
The beasts had evidently been dead a long time, for their skins were extremely dry and cracked. The fierce desert sun had preserved their bodies for an indefinite period.
“And look, they’ve got their mouths down to the ground, as if they were searching for water,” observed Joe.
“They were,” affirmed Fekmah. “There once a well here, but it dried up just before camels got to it.”
“Perhaps they wandered for days searching for it, and then finally found it—dry.” Bob shuddered.
It was a pitiable sight, particularly to the Americans. They half expected to come across the mummified body of some unfortunate explorer who had died a tragic death from thirst.
“We must be doubly careful to have the containers filled with water,” warned Mr. Holton. “This is a dangerous region, and disaster could easily come upon our little expedition.”
They trudged on in the rapidly rising temperature of the terrible sun, keeping their eyes off the ground as much as possible to escape the glare. They could easily have worn sun glasses, but hesitated to do so because of the rather obstructed vision.
“What’s this!” cried Dr. Kirshner, as they came to a huge rock that was directly in their path.
“Some kind of an inscription, isn’t it?” inquired Bob.
“It is that!” came the excited reply. “An ancient Libyan record, perhaps of a noteworthy event that took place in this vicinity. If you will give me a few minutes I’ll copy this down. It may prove of great interest in my future study of early Sahara peoples.”
The others waited for the archæologist to transcribe the writing. It proved very difficult to readoffhand, but that a full translation would eventually come to light was not in the least doubted by the other Americans. In fact they had come to regard Dr. Kirshner as a wonder among men of his profession.
At last he put the paper back in its place and made a sign to Tishmak that he was ready to continue the journey.
“Now let’s make time,” said Bob anxiously. “We ought to get over a good many more miles before time for the noon rest.”
And they did. The country had not yet become rough enough to hinder the progress of the dromedaries, even though huge boulders were strewn about. By ten o’clock they had reached the base of the Plateau of the Mouydir, a thousand-foot-high wall of solid stone.
“Tuaregs have many superstitious legends about this rock,” said Fekmah, after talking several minutes with Tishmak. “They believe evil spirits up in great caves come down and kill travelers. They too think sandstorms and whirlwinds are caused by spirits hiding up in large cracks there.”
“How interesting,” said Dr. Kirshner, getting out his small portable typewriter.
Bob and Joe had taken motion pictures along the journey, and now they saw another opportunity to film a scenic wonder.
“I’d like for you to do a little acting,” said Bob to Fekmah, as the youth turned his camera in the direction of the mammoth wall of rock.
The Arab looked up in some surprise.
“I want you to point to the Plateau of Mouydir and talk to Dr. Kirshner,” the young man explained. “Tell him about the legend of the Tuaregs. Meanwhile I’ll be photographing you. Too bad this can’t be a talking picture. All right. Let’s go.”
Fekmah understood and smiled. Dr. Kirshner was also willing to assist the young photographers in their work.
The Arab and the American engaged in conversation, while Bob took movies of them pointing to the high rock. When it was finished, Bob and Joe smiled in satisfaction.
“That’s the kind of scenes we ought to have more of,” Joe said. “They’re different from the usual monotony of ‘shooting’ the country alone.”
“Gives a sort of individuality, huh?” laughed Mr. Holton. “Well, any time we can be of use to you, let us know.”
Camp was made at the very base of the huge rock. Then the usual meal was prepared.
“Use water sparingly,” cautioned Mr. Lewis, as they sat down on the cool sand in the shade of the tent. “Tishmak says we will not come to another well till tomorrow afternoon.”
“That’s a long time to wait,” said Dr. Kirshner gravely. “Can we make what we have hold out?”
“We’ve got to,” Joe’s father returned. “We’ll have to restrain from taking any undue exercise in the heat of the sun.”
“Hum-m!” Dr. Kirshner looked disappointed. “That seems to want to spoil my plans for this afternoon.”
“How’s that?”
“I had intended to do a little exploring up on top of that wall of stone.”
There were exclamations of surprise and anxiety.
“What!” cried Mr. Lewis. “Why, you couldn’t scale that steep cliff with ladders and ropes!”
“Maybe not in some places,” the archæologist smiled. “But I have noticed that there are large fissures that would offer footholds with comparative ease, and I’m going to chance it. There’s no telling what I may bring to light from up on that lofty rock.”
There was a period of silence, finally broken by Bob.
“May Joe and I go with you?” he asked.
There were loud protests from the youths’ fathers, who thought it almost madness to attempt to climb the steep slope. But Dr. Kirshner held up a hand for silence.
“Wait till we finish this meal and I’ll show youa place where it will be more or less easy to get to the top,” he said.
“If it’s there, I’d like to see it,” came from Mr. Holton.
When the noon meal was over, the archæologist led them to a point perhaps a quarter of a mile from the camp. He pointed up and smiled.
“Doesn’t that look like an easy climb?” he asked. “Plenty of safe footholds and cracks to grasp. I’m going up.”
Bob and Joe put in a request to their fathers to accompany the scientist and were finally given permission.
“But be careful,” warned Mr. Lewis. “And don’t wander too far away.”
Dr. Kirshner led the way up the side of the cliff, followed by Joe and Bob. The climb was in some places difficult and a little dangerous, but they plodded surely up.
At last, panting and perspiring, they came to the last foothold and pulled themselves up to the top. Then they turned to take in the view below.
Cries of astonishment came from all at the wonderful panorama that stretched out before them. Hundreds of feet down and to their right was the camp, and a short distance away were Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis. The dromedaries were tethered beside a large rock near the cliff.
“I suppose Fekmah and Tishmak are in thetent,” remarked the scientist, scanning the landscape.
With the aid of his powerful binoculars the camp was made to appear quite near, and the features of the naturalists were easily made out.
At last Dr. Kirshner turned about.
“A fine view,” he said. “But let us not spend too much time here. I want to explore the roof of this cliff.”
The rocky surface was in most places flat, but there were a few huge fissures that apparently extended far into the rock.
They had come to one unusually deep crack when Dr. Kirshner stopped and slid down the steep side, desirous of seeing the unusual.
He reached the bottom some fifteen feet below, sending a score of small rocks down the side of the crevice.
“What’s there?” Joe called down, bending over the side.
“Nothing, I guess. Thereis——Wait a minute!”
The next moment he was all excitement, having evidently come across something on the side of the rock.
“Drawings!” he cried animatedly, pointing to the wall about him. “Prehistoric drawings of—of elephants!”
“ELEPHANTS?”asked Bob, almost bursting out in laughter.
“Come on,” suggested Joe, moving slowly down the side of the fissure. “Let’s have a look at the strange drawings.”
The youths slid to the bottom, where Dr. Kirshner stood staring at the wall.
Bob nodded.
“Drawings of elephants, all right,” he said, his eyes on the etched rock. “And look how plain they are.”
The archæologist took out his notebook and copied the sketches as best he could. Then he turned to the youths.
“Here is proof that the desert was not always a desert,” he said, his eyes becoming bright with interest. “Thousands of years ago this region was green with tropical vegetation, like the dense forests of East Africa. It was probably inhabited by tribes of people much different from the Arabs and Tuaregs who now live here. Then came a gradualdry spell, and in time the luxurious growth gave way to a hot desert of sand and rocks.”
“Those drawings of elephants, then, were made while this region was covered with forests?” questioned Joe, becoming as interested as the scientist.
The latter nodded.
“Elephants and other wild game probably roamed about here in great numbers,” he explained.
After one last look at the strange sketches, the explorers began the task of climbing up the side of the ravine. It was not easy to pull themselves up out of the steep crevice, but the rocky walls were solid, not even threatening to give way.
Then followed an hour of exploration about the top of the cliff, during which time the archæologist came upon the remains of many other ancient drawings and inscriptions. By the time that they were ready to begin the descent of the cliff, he had filled his notebook.
“But when we get to the Ahaggars we’ll undoubtedly find many more,” he said, slowly leading the way down.
After what seemed a long time, they came to the bottom of the precipice and lost no time in getting back to camp.
“Have any luck?” asked Mr. Holton, looking up with interest as the three explorers moved toward the tent.
“Did we!” laughed Joe and proceeded to tell of the many drawings and inscriptions.
“You boys should have taken the motion-picture cameras with you,” Mr. Lewis said. “They would have furnished proof to the outside world.”
“Perhaps we can yet,” said Joe.
“No, you can’t,” protested Mr. Holton. “We must not waste any time here, if we are to find the hidden riches. Right now,” he added, “you three had better turn in and take your afternoon rest. That sun is terrible!”
Dr. Kirshner and the youths did as suggested, glad to rest their tired limbs. But they were up promptly at three, packing the tent and provisions on the dromedaries.
Now, as they continued farther toward the barren mountains, they began to realize what thirst really meant. As Tishmak had told them, no well would be reached until late the next afternoon, and their water containers were none too full. Their throats were parched, and their tongues began to feel numb. The fierce sun seemed all the hotter, greatly stimulating thirst.
All through that day they rode onward, the Ahaggars gradually becoming nearer. It was late that night when they finally stopped and camped in a wild region of large red rocks.
The next day their thirst became almost overpowering, even though they did not exercise. Itseemed that they could stand it no longer, but they rode continually on toward the well that was located at the foot of the mountains.
The noon meal was almost without water. They did, however, sip a small amount of the precious fluid.
“Oh, if we could only drink all we want!” groaned Joe, hesitating to eat the beans that had been prepared. “Everything is so dry without water.”
But although the explorers were extremely anxious to come to the well, they gave full consideration to the midday rest. It would have meant destruction to ride under that terrible desert sun.
“Before long we’ll come to the well,” said Fekmah, as they prepared to continue the journey. “In an hour it be seen.”
“And how glad we’ll be,” muttered Bob, anticipating the pleasure of drinking a large quantity of the refreshing fluid.
The hour passed slowly. They were looking about now, searching among the many huge rocks.
Suddenly Tishmak halted abruptly, and the expression of hope that had been on his face changed to one of fear. He motioned for the others to move on up to where he was.
No translation of his excited words was necessary to the Americans. They understood his anxiety. The well was dry!
For a moment the explorers sank back, and fear—stark fear—seized them. Thoughts of disaster haunted their stricken brains—stories of how large trading caravans had been brought to a tragic end because of no water. It was torture unthinkable!
“And after all this waiting,” groaned Bob, his hope almost gone.
The others were equally touched. Now that they had met with defeat, they felt at a loss to know how to carry on.
As a last resort Tishmak had fallen into a convulsion of motions asking Allah that they might be delivered from the jaws of death. His enthusiasm grew more intense with every moment, becoming almost disgusting to the others. Even Fekmah, although he was a devout believer in Mohammedanism, thought the actions of his fellow countryman detestable.
“Come, now,” urged Dr. Kirshner, using his knowledge of the native language to console Tishmak. “We’ll come out all right. This isn’t the only jam we’ve been in.”
The guide finally became his natural self, although still a bit panicky.
“You’d think after all the expeditions he’s led into the Sahara he would be calm in the face of danger,” remarked Bob.
“Danger, yes. But not in the face of tragedy!”thought Dr. Kirshner, although he said nothing. He feared all too much that this might be the end.
“Where is the next well?” asked Mr. Lewis calmly.
Fekmah put the question before the guide, who replied that there was no water within a distance of fifty miles. And mountains lay directly before them, hindering travel. It might mean a several days’ journey before they would come to the well, and then there was a possibility that it, also, was dry. Disaster seemed almost inevitable!
“But let’s hurry on,” said Mr. Holton. “Perhaps if we make time we can get to it much sooner than we think.”
The camels were urged forward at a fast trot. But before long they were entering the mountains, and the rapid pace was necessarily slackened somewhat.
During that desperate ride against time, the explorers hardly thought of the scenic wonders that lay before them. Indeed if they had not been in such anxiety, they would have seen much to interest them greatly.
Tall, needle-like peaks were all about, grotesque rocks dotted the irregular plateau before them, deep gulches and ravines were everywhere. It was a wonderful view, that beheld by the adventurers, and could have been enjoyed to the fullest had they not been in such terrible plight.
Luckily there was a full moon that night, lighting the vast expanse with a weird brightness. Countless stars shone down from the clear sky, appearing so close that they could seemingly be touched.
“Like we’re in another world,” breathed Bob, as he and his chum rode rapidly at the rear of the pack camels.
“Does seem strange, doesn’t it? I wonder if we’ll live to find the hidden riches?”
“Of course we will.” Bob cheered his friend as best he could, and himself felt much the better for it.
Luck was with them that night. The plateau remained open and free from peaks and rocky crags that would have delayed progress. It was, however, very unlevel, and the dromedaries often found it necessary to slow down to a difficult walk.
It was very late when they finally halted and made camp under the beautiful mountain sky. After a brief supper, at which almost the last drop of water was used, they fell asleep, not to awaken until the sun was well up in the sky the next morning.
“You know,” remarked Fekmah, “it seems strange that that well was dry. I been thinking about it since we left it behind. Tishmak too thinks it strange.”
“Why?” questioned Mr. Lewis, sensing that something was in the wind.
“Because,” Fekmah said gravely, “it a large well, and should not go dry much easy. Tishmak think it been covered up.”
There were exclamations of surprise from the Americans.
“You mean,” began Mr. Holton, beginning to catch the point, “that someone did it to keep us from continuing the journey?”
“Yes. I think it might have been the two thieves who stole my map. They did it to keep us away from hidden treasure.”
There were cries of astonishment from the others. For the past few days the thought of the thieves had been absent from their minds. Now they began to realize that at last they had probably come into the region in which were the hidden riches.
“Then the rascals must be around here some place,” said Joe, looking about sharply. “Perhaps they’re right around here.”
Fekmah got out the map he had made from memory after the original one had been stolen. He studied it closely for a few minutes.
“Hidden treasure still great distance away,” he said at last. “We not find it till several days pass. I think the two thieves not here but somewhere near treasure.”
“What’s the next landmark?” inquired Mr. Lewis, as the camels were made to move forward.
“The gorge of Arak,” Fekmah returned. “It quite a distance from here, but Tishmak lead us to it quickly.”
All morning they trudged on without coming to the well that Tishmak knew was somewhere in the first range of mountains. Although it seemed impossible, their thirst rapidly increased still more.
“Say,” cried Bob, as a sudden thought struck him, “if those two thieves could cover up the first mountain well, they might do the same to others. Wouldn’t it be possible?”
“Not the next one,” returned Fekmah. “It too large. Take many, many men to stop it. But there are several small ones farther on that could be covered.”
At an hour before noon it was necessary to stop for the daily rest, even though they would have liked to continue in search of water.
They were in a narrow valley between tall, sharp peaks. A ribbon-like dry river bed wound in and out among the brightly colored rocks, suggesting that once a rushing stream had forced its way through the mountains.
“How I wish the river were still here,” said Joe with a sigh.
As soon as camp was made, the explorers tookit easy in the shade of the tent, more than glad to escape the terrible heat of the sun.
But before long Bob and Joe became restless. At last Joe got up and stretched. He sipped a very small quantity of water; then motioned for Bob to get up.
“What’s up?” the latter asked.
“Come on,” said Joe, picking up his rifle. “Let’s go out awhile. I’m anxious to explore these mountains around here. There’s no telling what we may come across.”
Bob was willing, and as the sun was slightly less hot, they started out in the direction of a large mountain that had tall, sharp points reaching up into the sky.
“What’s that over there?” asked Bob, pointing to a wall of rock some two hundred feet away.
“Don’t know. Let’s go over and see.”
The youths walked over to the precipice and then halted before a small crack that looked to be the entrance to a cave.
“Shall we go in?” asked Joe.
“I’m game. Come on.”
The hole in the rock was so small that it was necessary to crawl on their hands and knees for a short distance. Then the cave became larger, and they could stand.
Bob had his flashlight in his pocket and at once switched on the light.
“We’re in a large cave, all right,” observed Joe, casting eager eyes about. “There’s another opening away over there,” pointing to the far side of the cave. “Let’s go through it and see where it leads us.”
The hole was so small that the boys barely got through crawling on their stomachs. But at last they reached the other side, and Bob turned the light ahead.
“Just another cave,” said Bob. “Chances are——”
“Wait!” started Joe, gazing at the darkness before them. “Let’s have some light over there.”
The beam was turned in the direction indicated by Joe, and the next moment the boys gave startled exclamations.
“A narrow passageway,” observed Bob. “Come on. We’ll see where it takes us.”
Suddenly, as they rounded a sharp corner, the youths came face to face with something that made them cry out in delight.
There, directly before them, was a large underground pool of sparkling water.
With a word of thanksgiving the young men rushed over and gulped up large quantities of the precious fluid.
“At last!” cried Bob, too happy for words. “At last we’ve found water!”
TOthe two boys, who had hoped against hope that their parched throats could be relieved, the priceless water tasted like nectar. They had felt sure that grim tragedy was near. Now their spirits were restored to a new high level, and they considered themselves equal to anything.
At last, when they had fully quenched their thirst, they glanced about the cavern.
Near the edge of the pool were the tracks of wild animals, which had evidently made this place a frequent haunt. The youths did not recognize all the imprints, but Joe stoutly declared that gazelles had been there.
“Doesn’t seem pleasant to know that we’ve been drinking after wild animals, does it?” laughed Bob.
“No. But we won’t think of that, especially since our thirst was so great. Then, too, it’s not likely that many germs are to be found away out here in the desert mountains.”
The youths stretched out on the cool white sandbeside the pool. The atmosphere in the cavern was such a departure from the fierce outside heat that they were content idly to while the time away, despite the fact that they should be getting back to camp. At times they bent over to drink of the refreshing water, delightfully knowing that they could have all they wanted.
Then they grew drowsy and gradually fell asleep, a thing that they should not have done.
At last they were awakened—suddenly! Every nerve in their bodies seemed tense. Something told them not to move.
Slowly they edged around and looked toward the back of the cave. Then they started, as a savage growl rent the air. A fierce tiger cat was crouched ready to spring. It had evidently come to the pool for water when it had discovered the youths.
There was no time to take aim with their rifles, for the beast would be upon them.
Slowly Bob reached for his pistol, and Joe followed suit. At last the boys were ready for action.
With a quick motion Bob whirled about and took hasty aim; then fired. A second later the report of Joe’s gun rang out.
“Missed!” cried Joe in horror. “Both shots missed!”
“Well, we won’t miss again,” said Bob, gritting his teeth. “We’ve got to stop him.”
Bob jumped to his feet and took aim. Five shots followed in rapid succession. Joe continued the defense with his revolver.
When the deadly fire ceased, the tiger cat was literally riddled with bullets. It gave a convulsive twitch and rolled over, dead.
“Finally stopped him,” muttered Joe, his face wet with perspiration. “And a powerful fellow, too.”
“One can do a lot of things if he has to,” remarked Bob, putting his gun back in its holster.
The youths lost no time in getting out of the cave. They would have liked to remain in its cool retreat much longer, but they realized that it was necessary to get back to camp.
“Won’t our dads and the others be tickled beyond words when we tell them we’ve found water!” smiled Joe, as they crawled through the narrow passageway.
“Tickled is too weak to describe it,” said Bob. “I bet old Tishmak will hug us to death.”
At last they reached the outside and turned their footsteps toward camp. It was but a short distance away, beyond the tall precipice at the entrance to the cave. The youths put unusual energy into their legs and in but a few moments were met by all of their friends. Their fathers, in particular, rushed forward anxiously.
“Where have you been so long?” demanded Mr. Holton, vexed to the utmost that the young men should stay away from camp for an indefinite period without giving an explanation of where they were going.
Joe’s father’s temper was also wrought up.
“Did something hold you back?” he asked.
“Yes,” Joe answered quietly. “Several things kept us from returning sooner. But it may interest you more if we tell you that we’ve found water.”
“Water!” Mr. Lewis was all excitement. “You mean—you actually have located a well?”
Mr. Holton and Dr. Kirshner listened breathlessly. Fekmah translated joyfully to Tishmak.
“Not exactly a well,” returned Bob, “but something just as good. An underground pool. And how cool it is! Come on,” he added. “I know you’re all dying for a drink.”
Hastily the men followed their young companions over to the large cliff. Then, after crawling through the small opening, they found themselves at the edge of the pool of bubbling water.
For a moment the men could hardly believe their eyes. At last! Water!
Suddenly, as though urged on by some unseen power, they bent down and drank until they could hold no more. It was pleasure unthinkable!
At last Dr. Kirshner straightened up.
“I’ve never had such enjoyment in years,” he said happily, and then added: “Lucky that our thirst was no worse than it was, or it would have been necessary to restrain ourselves from drinking too much at once.”
When the men had finished drinking, they glanced about the cave. Their flashlights fell on the body of the tiger cat, and they looked up in surprise.
“What’s this?” inquired Mr. Lewis, pointing to the bullet-riddled carcass.
Bob and Joe smiled.
“That old boy tried to make us remain for dinner, but we fooled him,” explained Bob. “We had to empty our revolvers to stop him, though.”
There was a clamor of excited questions, and the youths were forced to relate every detail of the encounter. When they had finished, the naturalists bent over to examine the striped skin.
“Too bad, but I’m afraid you’ve put too many bullets in him for us to use the skin,” said Mr. Holton regretfully. “And a large specimen, too. But then,” he went on, “we won’t think of that when your lives hung in the balance.”
The explorers spent a few minutes sitting in the cool white sand. Then they went back outside to get the water containers.
They had had an uneasy feeling that perhaps the camels had been molested during their stay inthe cavern, and gave a sigh of relief upon seeing them sitting peacefully near the tent.
As it was getting late, camp was broken, and the dromedaries were led to the entrance of the cave. The water containers were carried in to the pool and filled to capacity with what stood between the explorers and death.
“Now that everything is in readiness, I suppose we must be getting on our way,” said Dr. Kirshner. “But I must admit I hate to leave that pool behind. Somehow I’ve become greatly attached to it.”
“Does seem too bad,” Mr. Lewis agreed. “But I suppose we will find other wells and sources of water. Where is the next one, Fekmah?”
“Many miles away,” the Arab returned. “But come to think of it, Tishmak says one around here near. If it very far away, we go to it.”
When the question was put to him, the guide replied that the well was but a few miles away. He considered it unnecessary to find it, as another was a day’s journey in their direction. He informed them that since it was very large, it could not be easily covered up by the two thieves.
With one last look at the high precipice, the explorers turned the camels back on the lane between the mountains. With the right kind of luck they would come to the gorge of Arak some timethe next day, and another landmark on Fekmah’s duplicate map would have been noted.
As they penetrated farther into the mountains, the scenery became more beautiful. There were many wonders that caused the explorers to gasp in astonishment.
“The Ahaggar range is of larger extent than the Alps,” said Dr. Kirshner, as they circled about among the rugged cliffs. “And although not of extremely high altitude, these Saharan mountains have many show points that cannot be found elsewhere.”
“And they are comparatively unknown to the outside world,” put in Bob. “Why, the average person doesn’t even dream of mountains being in the heart of the old Sahara.”
All along the way Bob and Joe took motion pictures of the many strange marvels of nature. They photographed the tall peaks, the deep gorges, and the narrow valleys. They turned the cameras on the many ancient inscriptions that were of so much interest to the archæologist.
“We’ve run off a good many hundred feet of film,” remarked Joe, after the cameras had “purred” for an unusually long period as the youths filmed a deep canyon through which they passed. “In fact, if they had given us twice as much film we could easily have used it all.”
Bob nodded.
“And there’s less danger of losing it in a hot, dry region like this,” he said. “Isn’t at all to be compared with the damp, tropical climate of Brazil.”
Slowly the country became more rough, until that evening, after the meal, the adventurers found it very difficult to pick out a way between the many large rocks. On one occasion they passed through a dark tunnel-like passage beneath high, overhanging peaks, and had literally to feel their way through. There was not the faintest ray of moonlight to lighten the deep passageway.
When they finally came to the other end they gave sighs of relief that at last the moon could again be seen. But now something else hindered progress. A peculiar desert plant, with sharp, poisonous needles and a rather disagreeable odor, had been known previously to the explorers. Now, as they emerged from the dark recesses of the tunnel, they came upon large clusters of these plants. Everywhere the dromedaries went, it seemed, they were forced to tramp through these formidable shrubs.
“It’s a wonder they can stand it,” said Joe, shaking his head. “Their feet are already swollen almost double.”
“Be tragedy if the animals would have to stop,” the other youth said. “It would mean our end, I guess.”
“They’ll make it all right,” put in Mr. Lewis, who was riding at the rear with the boys. “But, needless to say, we couldn’t walk on them.”
Suddenly, as they came to the edge of a dry river bed, Dr. Kirshner halted his camel and looked about on the ground. The others waited a moment to see what he had discovered.
“An ancient tool of flint,” he announced, commanding his camel to kneel.
The archæologist picked up the instrument and examined it carefully with the aid of a flashlight. It was about a foot long and shaped to resemble a crescent. The inner edge was as sharp as a razor.