CHAPTER XVI
Steady Aim
The creature that was slowly moving toward Joe was as large as hishand, with long, powerful legs that were doubled ready to spring. AndJoe well knew what that spring would mean.
The youth viewed the hideous scorpion with a terrible awe, fearing tomove lest it become angered and charge. What was he to do? He knew hecould 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 massupon him in a very few seconds.
Slowly Joe reached into his holster for his pistol. He was a poor shotwith such a weapon, but the chance had to be taken. Still there was apossibility that he might kill the huge spider by throwing the gun atit.
With a sudden movement the youth drew out the automatic and carefullybut hurriedly threw it with all his strength.
Then his heart sank as he saw the gun whiz past the scorpion and rollacross the hard ground. The sudden movement angered the creaturestill more, and it crouched as if to charge.
Suddenly, as a last resort, Joe sprang to his feet and dodged to oneside, just as the scorpion left the ground. As the result the chargewas unsuccessful, the huge spider alighting several feet to theyouth's left.
The next moment Joe was in the tent, looking about nervously. Hepicked up his rifle and dashed back outside.
The scorpion was slowly crawling toward the entrance to the tent whenJoe 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 turnedabout, to find Dr. Kirshner and Bob standing beside him with smallrifles.
"That was a wonderful shot, Joe," praised the archaeologist. "Bob and Ihappened to have our rifles and would have taken a shot at thescorpion if you had missed."
"So you saw, did you? Well, I don't mind saying that I was frightenedstiff for a few minutes. Thought sure I was a goner."
He was forced to tell of the entire experience, and in the end hislisteners looked grave.
"A very narrow escape," said Dr. Kirshner, who, along with thenaturalists and Fekmah, had listened breathlessly.
"Scorpions are terrible adversaries," said Mr. Holton soberly. "Thefluid they inject is extremely poisonous! From now on we'll have towatch more closely."
After breakfast the explorers continued on the dromedaries. They wereto reach another stretch of sand dunes late that afternoon, Tishmaktold them.
"Sand hills will seem good after these endless miles in the TudemaitPlateau," remarked Joe. "But there won't be any shade, and there is alittle 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, andmany 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, Fekmahhasn't had much need of the map, because he has directed us more bycompass. But when we see the mountains, it will be necessary for himto consult it frequently. Whether or not it will prove accurate, madefrom memory as it was, we have yet to see."
The way now led through a dry river valley, which wound through themany black rocks. Some of the rugged hills near by towered to two andthree thousand feet, their perpendicular sides gray or deep black.
There was sparse vegetation, but a few gum trees were scattered aboutover the hard soil.
Tishmak had informed them that they would come to a well some timethat afternoon. The water, he said, would be very cool, for it camefrom far underground.
"I'd like to see that Land of Thirst you were talking about," remarkedJoe to Fekmah, as the Arab mentioned the well of cool water that layahead of them. "It must be an interesting region."
Fekmah shook his head.
"Caravans avoid it much as can," he said grimly. "Too much danger offalling dead. Then, too, it is supposed to be inhabited by evilspirits."
"Evil spirits?"
"Yes. Superstitious natives near there never see parts of it. I muchglad we not have to go through it, because we sure to get very muchthirsty."
Shortly after the explorers had passed around a large hill they heardcamel steps from behind a sharp corner in the river bed.
"Quick!" directed Dr. Kirshner. "Let's hide in back of these rocks. Itmay be more bandits."
The adventurers drove their dromedaries out of sight and thenfollowed, looking about cautiously.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, and soon a small caravan ofnatives came into view, looking very strange indeed with their facestightly covered with black veils.
"Tuaregs!" exclaimed Dr. Kirshner, who had made a study of the peoplesin the Sahara. "Tuaregs at last!"
He rode out from behind the place of hiding and shouted a friendlygreeting in their own language. The people at once called back andmoved on up to the archaeologist.
"Guess we might as well go out," smiled Mr. Holton, urging his camelto move forward.
Soon the others joined Dr. Kirshner, who seemed to be having notrouble in understanding the people.
"They live in the Ahaggars," explained the archaeologist, after a fewminutes of conversing with them. "They're on their way north to InSalah. That's a town of considerable importance."
The natives did not stop long, and the American expedition was alsoanxious to be going.
"I didn't know Tuaregs were found this far north," said Mr. Lewis, asthe people disappeared from view. "Their home is in the lowerAhaggars, and they seldom ever, if what I've heard is true, wander faraway."
The explorers stopped before noon for the meal and rest. Then, at twoo'clock, they continued on their way, anxious to leave the plateaubehind.
Suddenly, as they gradually ascended a long grade, an agile formdarted out to one side of Bob's dromedary, its red coat showingbrightly 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 ofpain as the bullet struck the animal broadside. Another howl; thensilence.
"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 inthe solution of preservative.
"Already we have a large number of specimens," said Mr. Holton, asthey left the skinned body behind. "And we hope to see a good manyother animals and birds as we pass on."
Late that afternoon the adventurers came to the well that Tishmak hadtold about, and found the water very cool. It reached the surface in ashady spot among the many high rocks.
All drank with a thirst that came from long traveling in a dry, hotregion. Bob and Joe especially welcomed it, the latter declaring itbetter than flavored beverages.
"That's right," agreed Mr. Holton. "One can drink many things, butwater is, after all, the old stand-by."
When the containers were filled, the explorers rested in the shade ofthe rocks. There was something about that spot that made them hesitateto leave it behind. Perhaps it was the cool water, or it might havebeen the wall-like formations of stone all about.
Finally Tishmak got up and mounted his dromedary, motioning for theothers to follow suit.
All the remainder of that afternoon they trudged on over the TudemaitPlateau. Slightly to their surprise, they had not yet reached theregion of sand that lay at the south of the plateau. Fekmah especiallywas very restless, saying that he could not understand why the rockyregion had not been left behind shortly after the midday rest.
"It supposed to be only about a hundred and seventy kilometers [aboutone hundred miles] across, and we have traveled at least that far," hesaid, very much perplexed.
"Perhaps we have followed the arc of a circle," suggested Mr. Lewis."Suppose you ask Tish
mak."
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'llsurely come to the sandy region before long."
The others thought this good advice, but late that evening they werestill on the plateau.
They retired that night with high hopes that the morning would bringgood fortune. During the last few hours they had had an uneasy feelingthat 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 andthe soil more loose. By the time they had stopped for the noon mealthey were again among sand dunes.
The heat was now terrific. If it had been warm before, it wasscorching now. Everywhere they went they were under the blaze of thefierce sun. How the camels managed to keep from burning their feet wasa mystery to the youths.
Their throats were parched, their tongues numb. Water, water! If theycould only drink and drink and drink! But only small amounts wereallowed to be taken, for this region was many, many miles across, andthere 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," saidBob with a grim smile.
"Not quite that bad off, are you?" laughed Dr. Kirshner. "Dying ofthirst is a rare occurrence in this part of the Sahara. But it doeshappen sometimes, and it is a tragic death indeed."
"Worst thing is," explained Mr. Holton, "there is a time when thevictim of thirst would die should he touch water. In that case, wateris virtually a poison."
The sand hills that they were passing over were much lower than thosein the country below Wargla. The desert stretched away to the horizonin endless waves, which, as far as the travelers could see, wereunbroken.
Vegetation was scarce, only a scattering of yellow plants dotting thedunes. This promised to be a disadvantage to the dromedaries, forpreviously they had occasionally nibbled on the trees and shrubs thatwere clustered about.
"Look at the sky," said Joe, turning his gaze upward.
"Funny color, isn't it?" Bob returned. Then, as he peered into thedistance, 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 turningreddish.
"A sandstorm!" cried Fekmah in great anxiety. "A sandstorm iscoming!"
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