Steady Aim
The creature that was slowly moving toward Joe was as large as his
hand, with long, powerful legs that were doubled ready to spring. And
Joe well knew what that spring would mean.
The youth viewed the hideous scorpion with a terrible awe, fearing to
move lest it become angered and charge. What was he to do? He knew he
could not get up in time, for his terrible enemy would be upon him.
Yet if he should remain sitting, he would surely feel the hairy mass
upon him in a very few seconds.
Slowly Joe reached into his holster for his pistol. He was a poor shot
with such a weapon, but the chance had to be taken. Still there was a
possibility that he might kill the huge spider by throwing the gun at
it.
With a sudden movement the youth drew out the automatic and carefully
but hurriedly threw it with all his strength.
Then his heart sank as he saw the gun whiz past the scorpion and roll
across the hard ground. The sudden movement angered the creature
still more, and it crouched as if to charge.
Suddenly, as a last resort, Joe sprang to his feet and dodged to one
side, just as the scorpion left the ground. As the result the charge
was unsuccessful, the huge spider alighting several feet to the
youth's left.
The next moment Joe was in the tent, looking about nervously. He
picked up his rifle and dashed back outside.
The scorpion was slowly crawling toward the entrance to the tent when
Joe took careful aim and fired.
His aim was true. The small bullet caught the creature squarely,
shattering it into pulp, which flew in several directions.
After watching the remains of the scorpion for a moment, Joe turned
about, to find Dr. Kirshner and Bob standing beside him with small
rifles.
"That was a wonderful shot, Joe," praised the archæologist. "Bob and I
happened to have our rifles and would have taken a shot at the
scorpion if you had missed."
"So you saw, did you? Well, I don't mind saying that I was frightened
stiff for a few minutes. Thought sure I was a goner."
He was forced to tell of the entire experience, and in the end his
listeners looked grave.
"A very narrow escape," said Dr. Kirshner, who, along with the
naturalists and Fekmah, had listened breathlessly.
"Scorpions are terrible adversaries," said Mr. Holton soberly. "The
fluid they inject is extremely poisonous! From now on we'll have to
watch more closely."
After breakfast the explorers continued on the dromedaries. They were
to reach another stretch of sand dunes late that afternoon, Tishmak
told them.
"Sand hills will seem good after these endless miles in the Tudemait
Plateau," remarked Joe. "But there won't be any shade, and there is a
little here from the rocks."
"Wait till we get to the Ahaggars, if you want shade," smiled Mr.
Lewis. "Some of that region resembles the mountainous part of Arizona.
There are deep ravines, narrow valleys, high peaks, unknown caves, and
many other remarkable phenomena of nature."
"That is where our journey comes to an end, isn't it?" asked Bob.
"Yes. In the southern part of the Ahaggar range. Thus far, Fekmah
hasn't had much need of the map, because he has directed us more by
compass. But when we see the mountains, it will be necessary for him
to consult it frequently. Whether or not it will prove accurate, made
from memory as it was, we have yet to see."
The way now led through a dry river valley, which wound through the
many black rocks. Some of the rugged hills near by towered to two and
three thousand feet, their perpendicular sides gray or deep black.
There was sparse vegetation, but a few gum trees were scattered about
over the hard soil.
Tishmak had informed them that they would come to a well some time
that afternoon. The water, he said, would be very cool, for it came
from far underground.
"I'd like to see that Land of Thirst you were talking about," remarked
Joe to Fekmah, as the Arab mentioned the well of cool water that lay
ahead of them. "It must be an interesting region."
Fekmah shook his head.
"Caravans avoid it much as can," he said grimly. "Too much danger of
falling dead. Then, too, it is supposed to be inhabited by evil
spirits."
"Evil spirits?"
"Yes. Superstitious natives near there never see parts of it. I much
glad we not have to go through it, because we sure to get very much
thirsty."
Shortly after the explorers had passed around a large hill they heard
camel steps from behind a sharp corner in the river bed.
"Quick!" directed Dr. Kirshner. "Let's hide in back of these rocks. It
may be more bandits."
The adventurers drove their dromedaries out of sight and then
followed, looking about cautiously.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, and soon a small caravan of
natives came into view, looking very strange indeed with their faces
tightly covered with black veils.
"Tuaregs!" exclaimed Dr. Kirshner, who had made a study of the peoples
in the Sahara. "Tuaregs at last!"
He rode out from behind the place of hiding and shouted a friendly
greeting in their own language. The people at once called back and
moved on up to the archæologist.
"Guess we might as well go out," smiled Mr. Holton, urging his camel
to move forward.
Soon the others joined Dr. Kirshner, who seemed to be having no
trouble in understanding the people.
"They live in the Ahaggars," explained the archæologist, after a few
minutes of conversing with them. "They're on their way north to In
Salah. That's a town of considerable importance."
The natives did not stop long, and the American expedition was also
anxious to be going.
"I didn't know Tuaregs were found this far north," said Mr. Lewis, as
the people disappeared from view. "Their home is in the lower
Ahaggars, and they seldom ever, if what I've heard is true, wander far
away."
The explorers stopped before noon for the meal and rest. Then, at two
o'clock, they continued on their way, anxious to leave the plateau
behind.
Suddenly, as they gradually ascended a long grade, an agile form
darted out to one side of Bob's dromedary, its red coat showing
brightly in the sunlight.
"A fox!" Bob exclaimed and raised his rifle to his shoulder.
Glancing along the sights, he pulled the trigger. There was a howl of
pain as the bullet struck the animal broadside. Another howl; then
silence.
"You got him!" cried Joe, delighted.
"A big specimen, too," declared Mr. Lewis, getting out his knife.
The animal was carefully but rapidly skinned and the hide placed in
the solution of preservative.
"Already we have a large number of specimens," said Mr. Holton, as
they left the skinned body behind. "And we hope to see a good many
other animals and birds as we pass on."
Late that afternoon the adventurers came to the well that Tishmak had
told about, and found the water very cool. It reached the surface in a
shady spot among the many high rocks.
All drank with a thirst that came from long traveling in a dry, hot
region. Bob and Joe especially welcomed it, the latter declaring it
better than flavored beverages.
"That's right," agreed Mr. Holton. "One can drink many things, but
water is, after all, the old stand-by."
When the containers were filled, the explorers rested in the shade of
the rocks. There was something about that spot that made them hesitate
to leave it behind. Perhaps it was the cool water, or it might have
been the wall-like formations of stone all about.
Finally Tishmak got up and mounted his dromedary, motioning for the
others to follow suit.
All the remainder of that afternoon they trudged on over the Tudemait
Plateau. Slightly to their surprise, they had not yet reached the
region of sand that lay at the south of the plateau. Fekmah especially
was very restless, saying that he could not understand why the rocky
region had not been left behind shortly after the midday rest.
"It supposed to be only about a hundred and seventy kilometers [about
one hundred miles] across, and we have traveled at least that far," he
said, very much perplexed.
"Perhaps we have followed the arc of a circle," suggested Mr. Lewis.
"Suppose you ask Tishmak."
The guide was also in the dark, not being able to give an explanation.
"Well," said Bob, "it might be well to keep going awhile longer. We'll
surely come to the sandy region before long."
The others thought this good advice, but late that evening they were
still on the plateau.
They retired that night with high hopes that the morning would bring
good fortune. During the last few hours they had had an uneasy feeling
that their efforts to find the region of sand were in vain.
The next day they were off early, after a hurried breakfast.
"We'll get out of these rocks some time this morning," predicted Mr.
Lewis with a smile.
And he was right. Gradually the boulders they passed grew smaller and
the soil more loose. By the time they had stopped for the noon meal
they were again among sand dunes.
The heat was now terrific. If it had been warm before, it was
scorching now. Everywhere they went they were under the blaze of the
fierce sun. How the camels managed to keep from burning their feet was
a mystery to the youths.
Their throats were parched, their tongues numb. Water, water! If they
could only drink and drink and drink! But only small amounts were
allowed to be taken, for this region was many, many miles across, and
there was no well or oasis anywhere near their path of traveling.
"If we have much more of this I'm afraid I'll fall off my camel," said
Bob with a grim smile.
"Not quite that bad off, are you?" laughed Dr. Kirshner. "Dying of
thirst is a rare occurrence in this part of the Sahara. But it does
happen sometimes, and it is a tragic death indeed."
"Worst thing is," explained Mr. Holton, "there is a time when the
victim of thirst would die should he touch water. In that case, water
is virtually a poison."
The sand hills that they were passing over were much lower than those
in the country below Wargla. The desert stretched away to the horizon
in endless waves, which, as far as the travelers could see, were
unbroken.
Vegetation was scarce, only a scattering of yellow plants dotting the
dunes. This promised to be a disadvantage to the dromedaries, for
previously they had occasionally nibbled on the trees and shrubs that
were clustered about.
"Look at the sky," said Joe, turning his gaze upward.
"Funny color, isn't it?" Bob returned. Then, as he peered into the
distance, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and fear.
But the others had seen also and were equally as excited.
Away to their right a heavy mist had risen and was rapidly turning
reddish.
"A sandstorm!" cried Fekmah in great anxiety. "A sandstorm is
coming!"