READY FOR NEW ADVENTURES
"Quick, Dan, let's get a fire going!"
Dick Oakwood was taking no chances. He shouted orders to Raal and the
other tribesmen and they rushed about getting dead branches and brush
from the forest. Soon a huge fire was sending up a column of smoke.
Evidently the pilot was searching for the lost party, for he flew the
plane slowly. Dick Oakwood was in a position to sympathize with Rex
Carter, the anxious father hunting over the jungle for some trace of
his children. Dick had gone through so many hours of worry lately that
he knew how terrible was the suspense that the unhappy man was
suffering.
While he felt sure that the wrecked monoplane would be seen, he made
doubly certain of it by sending up a signal that would attract the
pilot's attention from miles away.
With his eyes straining at the cabin plane, he suddenly gave a great
shout:
"Hurrah! They have seen the fire. Look! Now they're banking again."
"Oh Dan!" cried Ray. "It's coming straight toward us. I'm so happy!
I could almost believe in your old Mahatma now."
"He's a wise old bird," Dan asserted. "It's coming out just as he said
it would."
The natives had sighted the cabin plane and expressed their feelings in
different ways. The Kungoras took to the woods in terror. The Gorols,
clutching their weapons, dodged behind rocks and bushes, ready to fight
off the flying demons if they should prove hostile. Only the Taharans,
reassured by Raal, stood their ground without fear, believing that the
Boy King would protect them. But even they were a little uneasy as the
giant plane flew above the clearing and its shadow swept over them like
a great hawk's.
"Fear nothing!" cried Dick to encourage them. "They are my friends."
"Tahara hal!" shouted the warriors lustily.
Professor Oakwood, standing beside the Mahatma, shook the Hindu's hand.
"You are a good prophet," he said. "It is just an hour since you said
the plane would be here. And now it comes on the dot."
Sikandar smiled and sent his warning to the Taharans in the open space.
"Scatter to the woods, make way for the friendly eagle."
As the tribesmen scampered to safety, the great plane banked and
leveled for a landing, while the pilot searched for a safe spot. A
minute later it was on the ground with its three powerful motors still.
The door flew open and Rex Carter leaped out to catch his boy and girl
in his arms.
The big, ruddy-faced business man was almost in tears, so great was his
relief.
"I had given you up for lost!" he exclaimed in a choking voice. "I
never expected to see you alive again!"
"How did you know where to look for us?" asked Ray, hugging and kissing
her father.
"It was Hassam. The fellow knew about the tribes that Jess Slythe
traded with and directed us here. But it was a hopeless search, or so
it seemed. Why you might have been hidden in that jungle and we could
have passed close overhead without seeing you."
"It must have been terrible for you," said Ray, clinging to him.
"And how you must have suffered!" exclaimed her father. "If ever I lay
hands on that scoundrel who stole you away, I'll make him wish he had
never been born."
"Same here!" Dan clenched his fists and glared about as though he
expected to see the treacherous Slythe lurking near by.
Rex Carter clapped his son on the shoulder and looked at him
affectionately. "You're a great boy!" he said. "These adventures have
hardened your muscles and tanned your skin. I was wrong to let you out
of my sight so long, but now that it's over, I feel that it has made a
man of you."
Dan eagerly related all his experiences since he had parted from his
father and soon Professor Oakwood and Dick came to shake hands and
exchange congratulations.
Later Rex Carter was introduced to the Hindu seer, who received the
wealthy business man with quiet dignity. Carter was impressed for
though the Mahatma wore nothing but a saffron-colored loin cloth, he
was as majestic as though he were clad in the robes of a king.
Dan explained how the wise man had come to Africa in search of an
ancient crown, on which was the symbol of perfect wisdom.
At first Rex Carter was inclined to take it lightly, but when he
learned that the diadem was probably the same one that Dick Oakwood had
worn in the land of the Taharans, he could hardly restrain his
impatience.
"I'll fly you there, today," he said. "By sundown we will all be in
the realm of the Boy King."
"I accept your offer with thanks," said the Mahatma.
"And after that I'll take you to India. Any place you want to go!"
continued Carter. "You have done more for my children than I can ever
pay for. Pack up your belongings and we will take off for Tahara now."
"My belongings are here," said the Mahatma, displaying the square of
black cloth which contained his crystal.
"Is that all you own?" The millionaire was startled.
"That is all. More would be a weight to drag me from the higher plane
where my spirit dwells."
"That's all right for a Hindu sage, but it would be all wrong for an
American business man," Rex Carter answered, thinking of his vast
factory, his town house and country estate, his yacht and automobiles.
With only a bow for reply, the Mahatma went a little way off, where he
summoned his faithful Kungoras and took leave of them.
Mutaba threw himself on the ground and howled with grief and the others
wailed in unison. They had lived in peace and happiness under this
wise man's rule, and though they had sometimes been impatient to go on
the warpath, they now realized that they were losing their best friend
and adviser. They begged him to change his mind and stay with them but
the Mahatma assured them that the time had come to say goodbye and
urged them to follow the ways of peace and kindness as he had taught
them.
Meanwhile Dick was instructing Raal, as leader of the tribesmen, to
return to the Kungora village, recover their ponies and begin the long
trek home across the desert. The plane could carry only a limited
number.
"I'll be glad to take the Princess Veena in the plane," said Rex
Carter. "And of course, Ray, Dan and Dick, besides the Mahatma."
But Veena would not consent to parting from Raal, whom she regarded as
her chosen mate, and Raal was equally certain that he would never trust
the girl to the demon bird.
With great difficulty Kurt and Kurul were induced to go along in the
plane. Until the last minute the Stone-Age men hung back, fearful of a
strong magic that might destroy them, yet curious to experience the
sensation of flying through the air.
"Plane good!" said Dick giving Kurt a push toward the cabin door.
"Sure! Big bird good!" Dan laughed. "Come on, Ray, show them you're
not afraid to go in. Then they will be ashamed to be scared."
Finally with a grunt of desperation Kurt took one leap that landed him
inside the cabin. Kurul followed, helped by a shove from Dick and a
minute later the motors roared, the big plane taxied with many bumps
over the clearing and finally took off.
"Tahara hal!" gasped Kurt.
"Tahara hal!" echoed Kurul feebly. And the two husky savages clung to
each other like scared children as they saw the jungle far, far below.
That same evening the pilot of the cabin plane sighted the cliffs of
Gorol Land and before sunset had made a safe landing near the Big
Spring.
Queen Vanga and Chief Wabiti came out to receive the visitors but Kulki
walked between them and showed that he was having difficulty in keeping
the former rulers from flying at each others' throats.
Since the failure of their plot with Cimbula, each had blamed the
other, and their friendship had turned sour.
Now they joined in greeting the Boy King with due reverence and ordered
a feast that promised to tax even Dan Carter's powers. Dick assured
them that Raal and the other warriors were on their way home and that
the search for the Princess Veena had been successful.
The following days were busy ones for the Boy King. Accompanied by his
father and friends, he set out on a tour of inspection to see that all
was in order in the land he ruled. Proudly he pointed out to his
father the industries he had started going.
"Just think," he said, "these people lived like Stone-Age tribes. They
did not know how to build houses or weave cloth or make tools out of
metal. It is going to be interesting to watch them advance in
civilization."
"I can send out motor trucks with machinery," said Rex Carter, "and
start you off right. And I'll send a few guards with repeating rifles
to keep the natives from starting trouble. I'll even send you a
machine gun or two."
"No thanks, Mr. Carter! I don't want _that_ brand of civilization. We
have enough factory towns and machine guns elsewhere. I'd like to
start something better here."
"In that case I advise you to blot out that big sign on the desert,"
said his father. "That word 'Gold' will attract some greedy
adventurer, and before long your whole population will be wiped out."
"You're right, Dad! It's a word that spells trouble."
Dick gave orders to the Taharans and the Gorols to scatter the rocks
that formed the letters and destroy every trace of the sign, and then
led the party to the cave where Umba had painted the walls with
pictures of animals.
"These are marvelous!" cried Professor Oakwood. "Just as fine as the
paintings in the caves of Spain and France. I could spend a whole day
here."
Leaving the rest of the party with Umba, the crippled painter, Dick
Oakwood and Mahatma Sikandar proceeded to the cave of the Great Gorol,
where he had left the ancient crown. The entrance to the cavern was
guarded by tribesmen, stationed there for that purpose, and when Dick
and the Mahatma approached, they bowed low and cried, "Tahar Tahara,
hal! Welcome, O Master."
Taking a couple of pitch pine torches, Dick led the way through the
passages of the prehistoric mine, pointing out the seams of
gold-bearing quartz.
But the Hindu paid no attention to the rich ore.
"Make haste, Dick Sahib," he said. "I would feast my eyes upon the
ancient diadem and its magic inscriptions."
"Patience, O Mahatma! Patience!" laughed Dick. "One more turn and the
passage ends in the temple of the Ape-god."
Soon they reached the small, square room where, upon the block of
stone, reposed the crown of the two tribes.
Mahatma Sikandar prostrated himself before it, murmuring a chant of
thanksgiving, then held his torch close to the massive circlet of soft
gold and gems. His keen, dark eyes were gleaming with excitement as he
studied every detail of the relic engraved with symbols.
Dick Oakwood picked it up and held it so that the inner surface could
be seen and the Mahatma gave an exclamation of delight.
"These are the magic signs!" he cried. "Behold the wisdom of the ages
engraved by seers many thousand years ago!"
"Do you understand it, Mahatma?"
"_I_ understand it? Not I! Only a glimpse of its profound wisdom has
reached my soul."
"Then what good will it do you?"
"I have recorded every detail of the inscription _here_." The old man
tapped his forehead. "The picture of that crown is in my brain like a
photograph. Soon I shall go to Holy India and there in the remote
caves and temples, I shall speak to the masters who are far wiser than
I."
"And will those wise men tell you what it all means?"
"Little by little! Bit by bit!" replied the Mahatma. "Each of these
holy men will be able to interpret a part of the meaning. I shall
visit the cave hermits in the Himalayas and the devotees in the
temples, who recline on beds of spikes. I shall even go to the
fastness of Tibet, where the lamas spend their lives in the search for
truth."
"The temples of India! The Himalayas, with Everest the highest
mountain in the world! The forbidden land of Tibet! What wonderful
sights you will see!"
"Would you like to see Holy India, my son?"
"Would I? Say, I'd like nothing better than to be there with you!"
exclaimed Dick. "It would be a real adventure to visit that land of
mystery."
"The crystal has told me that you shall accompany me," said the Hindu.
"And that before many moons."
"Do you mean it?"
"I have spoken."
"But what about my kingdom? How can I leave these people? They trust
me. They need me."
"Raal is a strong warrior," said the Mahatma. "He can rule while you
are gone, and Kulki, the clever Gorol can be his chief adviser."
"I hate to go away and leave them to the mercy of Arab slave raiders,"
said Dick. "After all, being a king, means responsibility. Suppose
Jess Slythe should start another raid while I am gone. He could wipe
out the whole population."
"That evil man will not trouble your land. Certainly not for a long
time. Perhaps never. So you are free to fly in the great plane and
see the wonders of Holy India."
"Great!" exclaimed Dick. "And what about Ray and Dan? Will they come
too?"
"My crystal says they will be with us. Also your father and Rex
Carter."
"I'd like to take Kurt and Kurul along," said Dick. "It would be
interesting to have Stone-Age men in the party. I'd like to know what
they would do in the great world beyond the desert and the jungle."
"What will be, will be," answered the Mahatma quietly. "And now, my
son, this is my request to you: say no more to me about the ancient
crown and the symbols engraved on it. The image is clear in my mind.
By talking about it, the sharp outline will become dim and cloudy.
Promise!"
"Yes, Mahatma, I promise. Until you speak of it, I remain silent."
"Come then. Let us go!"
With this future of travel and fresh adventure to occupy his mind, the
Boy King could hardly wait until Raal and his warriors returned.
Meanwhile preparations were made for the flight to India. Rex Carter
had to return with Professor Oakwood to the Pomegranate Oasis to wind
up the affairs of the solar eclipse expedition.
"I'm taking Ray and Dan along," he said. "I'll feel safer to have them
in sight."
"But let's work fast, Dad," cried Ray. "I want to set out for India as
soon as we can."
"Patience, kid sister! Patience!" laughed Dan.
"Don't talk like the Mahatma. It gives me the jitters," Ray exclaimed.
"Something tells me that I'll be sorry I ever met that man. It's one
thrill after another when he is in the picture. I like it--but it
makes me nervous."
A few weeks later the big cabin plane returned to the land of the Boy
King to find all in readiness for the take-off to India. Raal had been
appointed viceroy, with Princess Veena sharing the honors as his wife.
Professor Oakwood had been hard at work collecting material for a book
and specimens for museums, and was reluctant to leave the Stone-Age
tribes.
"Don't worry, Dad. We are all coming back some day," Dick promised him
as the party took off on its search for adventure among the mystics of
India.
Far below on the desert the whole population was gathered to wave
goodbye to Tahara as the great wings bore their Boy King away. "Tahara
hal!" came their farewell shout, growing fainter and fainter in the
distance as the plane headed eastward toward the home of mystery and
romance.
THE END
Books by
HAROLD M. SHERMAN
IT'S A PASS
INTERFERENCE
DOWN THE ICE
OVER THE LINE
STRIKE HIM OUT
UNDER THE BASKET
THE TENNIS TERROR
CAPTAIN OF THE ELEVEN
TAHARA--BOY MYSTIC OF INDIA
TAHARA--AMONG AFRICAN TRIBES
TAHARA--BOY KING OF THE DESERT
TAHARA--IN THE LAND OF YUCATAN
THE FUN LOVING GANG--IN WRONG RIGHT
THE FUN LOVING GANG--ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING