Questionable Strangers
Before long the little town of Wargla vanished from the horizon, and a
sense of dread crept over Bob and Joe at the thought that they were
now shut off completely from the outside world. What tragedies might
befall them before they would again see the United States? There were
all sorts of dangers out on that vast stretch of wasteland. Would
their lives be threatened--and possibly lost?
Bob glanced back and saw the worried look on his chum's face. That
Joe's thoughts had been the same as his was evident.
"Snap out of it, Joe, old man!" he said, rousing himself. "Think of
the fun we'll have. And the strange sights we'll see. It'll be great.
And behind it all lies adventure."
Joe nodded. His face took on a smile as he anticipated the coming
events.
"Wonder what adventures we'll have?" he mused. "But I suppose we'll
soon see."
The boys were at the end of the little caravan, keeping an eye on the
pack camels. Although ropes had been fastened from the back of one
animal to the head of another, keeping them in single file, it was
best to guard them closely, for anything might happen on the desert.
Tishmak, acting as the guide, was in the lead, followed by Dr.
Kirshner and the youths' fathers. Fekmah was in the middle of the
line. The twenty dromedaries were spread out over perhaps a quarter of
a mile and trotted at a speed that promised to cover many miles in a
short time.
"I guess dromedaries don't compare with camels when it comes to fast
traveling," remarked Joe, recalling something that Fekmah had said
some time before. "The one-hump animal makes four times as much
speed."
In the early morning, as it was, the atmosphere was chilly. Bob and
Joe welcomed the warmth of their tight-fitting coats.
"I never thought I'd need a wrap on the desert," smiled Bob, fastening
the collar around his neck.
"We'll need more than coats at night, if what Dr. Kirshner said is
true," said Joe. "Gets cold as Greenland's icy mountains."
"Seems strange, doesn't it?"
"Yes. But you remember it was the same way in Brazil. And that's about
as hot a country as there is anywhere."
Soon the flat hill of Gara Krima, dominating the sandy plain, could be
seen, its smooth surface tinted with many colors. Then it was left
behind, and the explorers came to a region of loose sand. The
dromedaries found it more difficult to plod through, and slackened
their rapid pace somewhat. Although their feet were specially adapted
for traveling on sand, they made much better time on hard surfaces.
"Look at the dust they're making," observed Bob, as a dense cloud of
fine sand particles arose, making it necessary for the youths to ride
a short distance to one side of the pack animals.
"They don't believe in kicking it up, do they?" Joe said dryly.
After a while the sun came out in full splendor, sending its dazzling
rays down on the scorched sand. Bob and Joe soon perspired freely, and
were glad to remove their coats.
"Whew!" gasped Joe. "I'd give anything for a drink of water."
"So would I," his friend replied. "I'm going to ride on up and ask for
one."
"Remember me while you're there."
It was a good distance to the other end of the caravan, but the
sure-footed dromedary trotted along briskly. Fekmah waved as Bob
passed.
"How about a drink of water, Dad?" asked Bob, coming up to his
father's camel.
"Go to it," was the answer. "We'll come to a well before long, and
refill the canteens."
The third and fourth animals back were the water carriers, and Bob
lost no time in filling his container. Then he drank freely of the
refreshing liquid, and felt new life creep into him. Although warm,
the water did wonders in quenching his thirst.
Again he filled the container and rode back to his friend, who was
delighted.
"I was afraid they wouldn't let you have it," Joe said, wiping the
perspiration from his brow.
"Wouldn't have, only there's a well not far away, and we'll have a
chance to refill the tanks."
"Well, huh? Wonder if they're this close together all along?"
"Let's hope so."
A little later the explorers passed a scattering of bones and
skeletons that were partly covered with sand. They were dry from age,
having probably been uncovered by a sandstorm.
"Camels' bones, I suppose," remarked Joe. "They've become overcome
with thirst, most likely."
"Who knows but that the skeletons of their riders are there some
place, too," said Bob, his face sober.
The sight was not a pleasant one, for it brought to mind the fact
that it was altogether too possible that their little caravan might
perish for want of water also. Some time elapsed before the boys
resumed their cheerful mood.
As they traveled on, the ground became strewn with small red pebbles
that shone brightly in the dazzling sunlight.
"I guess most of the rocks here are red," remarked Bob, who had
studied books on the Sahara.
"Burned that color by the sun, huh?"
"Seems reasonable, doesn't it? Come to think of it, though, the ground
in the Land of Thirst is black."
"The Land of Thirst?"
"Yes. I heard Fekmah talking about it this morning. It's a region
where there are few or no wells, and you have to be very careful to
have a good supply of water in the tanks before you plunge into it."
"Looks like even then it would be dangerous. What if a storm or
something would hold you back for a long time?"
"Have to take that chance," Bob replied. "Wouldn't doubt that quite a
few caravans come to a tragic end there."
"Will we go through it?" Joe asked.
"Fekmah said we might," was the response.
Finally they came to the well that Mr. Holton had told about. There
was a steady flow of water, which was comparatively cool.
"Drink all you want," said Dr. Kirshner. "Tishmak says we won't see
another for a long time."
The explorers drank and drank, until they could hold no more. Then
they began the task of replenishing the tanks. But as little had been
taken out, this was finished in a very few minutes.
"Now let's get on," urged Mr. Lewis. "We want to cover a good many
more miles yet before we stop for the noon meal."
Another hour brought them again to a region of hard soil, and the
dromedaries increased their pace several miles per hour.
"Wish it would stay like this all the way," said Joe, noting that
ground was being covered much faster.
"Won't though. But we'll have stretches of it here and there."
As the minutes passed, the glare from the sand became more intense,
and the temperature went steadily up. The boys had dark-colored
glasses but hesitated to put them on so soon.
"Wouldn't a good cold drink come in fine now?" asked Bob, keeping his
hands off his canteen with difficulty.
"Sure would. But we must fight the temptation to drink too often,"
returned Joe. "Remember, we're on the desert now, and not in the
mountains, where there are plenty of springs."
They rode rapidly on, the country remaining about the same. The red
pebbles, however, grew more numerous, some of them glowing like
rubies.
Joe remarked that they were gradually ascending, and Bob nodded.
"There's a line of high dunes over there," he said, pointing to the
distant horizon. "Fekmah said when we reach those we'll have climbed a
good many hundred feet. We should get to them tomorrow."
In a short time they passed beyond the stretch of hard soil and again
plodded through loose sand. From all indications, it was heated to a
high degree by the fierce sun. How the dromedaries stood it was a
mystery to the boys.
"I wonder how Tishmak can find the way to the Ahaggar Mountains?"
mused Joe, glancing up ahead at the guide. "He isn't using a compass."
"Does seem strange," Bob agreed. "But I suppose he's been over the
route so much that he knows all the landmarks by heart, though it
looks like a sandstorm or something else would change the surface of
the land."
Mention of the Ahaggars brought to mind the possibilities of finding
the hidden riches. Bob and Joe wondered if the two thieves who had
caused the explorers so much trouble would, with the aid of the
stolen map, locate the treasure first. Perhaps they had already found
the place and were gloating over the success of their wicked scheming.
The youths said nothing, but the expression on their faces told what
they would do to the men if given the opportunity.
"We'll finally have a chance to square things," thought Bob, gritting
his teeth. "And oh, how those fellows will look when we're through
with them!"
A little later they came to a deep valley between the mounds of sand.
In order for the camels to cross it they would find it necessary to
climb the steep sides of the dune.
Mr. Lewis rode back to the boys.
"Have to be careful here," he warned. "It's rather steep near the top.
Don't let your mounts get out of control."
The next instant he was on his way back to the front of the caravan.
The climb was hard and not a little dangerous, but the sure-footed
dromedaries did not even threaten to slip.
They had barely reached the top when a cry of delight from Joe mingled
with the scarcely less emotional exclamations of the others at sight
of a small oasis not far away down the opposite slope. A number of
tall date palms towered above the green grassy area, an indication
that water was to be had for the taking.
"Hurrah!" cried Bob. "Water at last!"
"And if I'm not mistaken, we'll find dates there, too," put in Joe.
"You're right," affirmed Mr. Lewis, coming up from the side. "And this
seems to be a good spot to stop for the noon meal. We'll have it shady
this afternoon when we take our midday rest."
Nearer and nearer they were coming to the oasis, when suddenly, from
behind a low dune of sand, appeared a small caravan of Arabs--possibly
bandits.