CHAPTER XI
Fighting Heavy Odds
"Keep your hands on your guns," called Dr. Kirshner, as he gazed atthe approaching party of Arabs.
There were ten of them, and each armed with a short range rifle,which, although inferior to the guns of the Americans, could do agreat deal of damage. In addition to the mounts of the Arabs, therewere six or seven pack camels that trailed.
As the caravan came nearer, Tishmak waved and shouted a friendlygreeting, but he did not receive the same in return. Evidently the menhad no friendly intentions.
Tishmak chattered a moment to Fekmah, who then turned to theAmericans.
"They are probably nomad bandits," Fekmah said excitedly. "Tishmaksays we might have fight."
"A fight!" cried Joe. "Why? Are they going to try to rob us?"
Fekmah nodded.
"Worse, perhaps," he replied.
"Those fellows would think nothing of killing all of us," said Mr.Lewis gravely. "So we want to be ready for anything that mighthappen."
As the Arabs came nearer, their leader shouted something to Tishmak,whose jaw dropped in surprise and astonishment.
Tishmak turned to Fekmah and conversed rapidly. Then Fekmah translatedto the Americans.
"They want two of our camels," he said nervously.
Dr. Kirshner gasped in amazement.
"Want two of _our_ camels?" he cried, his voice indicating a highstate of anger.
"What for?" demanded Bob.
"They say theirs are too much loaded," Fekmah answered. "Want tospread out packs on more camels."
"Well, of all the nerve!" exclaimed Mr. Holton. "Tell them to get outof here--and get out quick, or we'll fill them full of holes!"
Fekmah turned to the Arabs and put Mr. Holton's command before them.Then an answer came.
"They say they go, but we will be sorry," interpreted Fekmah, as themen turned their camels in the opposite direction.
A moment later they disappeared behind a low dune, leaving a cloud ofdust at their heels.
For a moment there was silence among the explorers. Then Mr. Lewisspoke up.
"I don't like this," he said, greatly annoyed. "Those men are likelyto slip up on us when we're not expecting them. And such desperatecharacters would lose no time in shooting us."
"But what can we do?" questioned Bob.
"Keep on the lookout is all," returned Mr. Holton. "But I'd feel muchsafer if this hadn't happened."
The explorers rode on into the oasis and dismounted. It seemedpleasing to see green trees and grass again. They were delighted thatgood fortune had enabled them to find an oasis at a time when it waswise to stop for a meal and rest.
There was good water not far away, and they drank all they wanted,glad of the chance to quench their rapidly overpowering thirst.
"Now," began Mr. Holton, "we're going to have something to eat. Butfirst let's put up the tents. It isn't wise to be in such a sun asthis."
The bags of supplies were removed from the camels. Then the tents weretaken out and put up by Bob and Joe. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton got outthe food and soon laid out a delicious meal of canned goods and nativeproducts.
"Eat all you want, but don't gorge yourselves," cautioned Mr. Holton,as they sat about the tent. "There's plenty of stuff, but still wemust be careful. If we're to be gone any length of time, we'll haveto use our provisions sparingly."
They ate quietly, taking it easy in the shade of the tent. The heat ofthe fierce African sun was somewhat abated by the heavy canvas, whichwould also serve as a shelter from sand storms, should any come up.
When the meal was over, they sat for a few minutes talking. ThenFekmah got up and went over to the corner of the tent.
"Let us sleep for two or three hours," he said, curling up on the softsoil. "The sun will soon get so hot that we cannot travel withoutmaking sick."
"Suits me," agreed Joe. "I feel like I could sleep for two or threedays."
"One of us had better stand guard, though," said Mr. Lewis. "Thatbandit caravan might return unexpectedly."
"I'll do it," volunteered Dr. Kirshner. "I'm not sleepy. I'll justtake it easy here and read."
For the next three hours Bob and Joe slept soundly, forgetting thatthey were under a scorching desert sun. They were not tired, but wereextremely drowsy from the heat.
Then suddenly they were awakened with a start. They looked aboutwonderingly.
Dr. Kirshner stood over them, holding his rifle in readiness.
"The bandits!" he exclaimed excitedly. "I believe they're coming!"
Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis jumped to their feet and grabbed their guns.Cautiously they peered out, holding the flap but a few inches up.
"Where are they?" demanded Bob's father, while Tishmak and Fekmah ranforward.
"I'm not sure that it's they," the archaeologist said. "But I heardcamel steps a moment ago, and in this country it is best toinvestigate before it's too late."
A second later Tishmak stopped still and listened. He held up a handfor silence. Fekmah had also caught a sound.
"It's they," he whispered. "Camels! They're coming this way!"
The swishing sound increased, and Dr. Kirshner called his friendstogether for a plan of defense.
"Chances are those bandits were planning on surprising us while weslept," he said quietly. "They figured that the time to get the camelsthey wanted was during our afternoon siesta. But it apparently didn'toccur to them that we would set a guard.
"Now the thing for us to do is get together and give them a realwelcome with bullets. They'll probably come around the back of theoasis, where our dromedaries are grazing. We'll go around there andhide beside that sand dune. Then when the robbers--and I think that'swho the newcomers are--come, we'll fire a volley of bullets into theair. If we find we can't frighten them away, we'll shoot their camelsfrom under them. Then if that fails, we'll have to shoot the men."
The others thought this good advice.
"We must act cautiously, though," warned Mr. Lewis, as they made theirway to the back of the oasis.
When they came to the dune, they crouched down and waited. Tishmakglanced around the corner.
A moment later he drew back, his face scowling. He mumbled quietly toFekmah.
"They're coming," the latter said. "And they are the robbers."
The swishing of footsteps grew louder, indicating that the Arabs werecoming nearer.
"Now!" said Mr. Lewis. "Fire in line, aiming at the sky. Then we'llsee what happens."
Seven rifles spoke up in rapid succession, a dense cloud of smokearising.
That the robbers had been totally surprised was certain, for a loudchattering followed. Then the sand was thrown up, and they rode off atlightning speed.
Joe peeped around the corner of the dune.
"They aren't going far," he announced, following the Arabs' movementsclosely. "They've stopped behind that sand hill over there."
"By George!" exclaimed Mr. Holton. "They're going to plant a battery,are they? Well, just let them waste their ammunition. We won't fireuntil necessary."
"We may need our bullets to use on those two thieves who stoleFekmah's map," said Bob to his chum, smiling.
The explorers waited ten minutes for the robbers to take theaggressive, but they did not.
"Well," said Dr. Kirshner, turning about, "I'm going over and get ourthings packed back on the dromedaries. If nothing prevents, we want toget started in a short time now. It is much cooler, and we shouldcover a good distance by night."
"We'll stay here and guard a few minutes longer," declared Mr. Lewis."There's no telling what those fellows may do."
Suddenly a sound from the opposite direction caused them to turnabout. Then their expressions changed.
Not fifty feet down the slope were the robbers, riding at full speedtoward the explorers. The Arabs had their rifles in position to fire,which they were undoubtedly intending to do when slightly nearer.
"Quick!" cried Bob, his voice cool but determined.
"Fire at thembefore they get us!"
A moment later he took careful aim and pulled the trigger.
His rifle cracked, and the foremost camel went down, sending its ridersprawling over the ground.
Bang! came the sound of Mr. Lewis's gun, and another camel fell.
The eight Arabs who were still mounted wheeled about and galloped backhurriedly. As quickly as possible they formed a wide line, one besidethe other, until it stretched several rods.
"They're going to charge!" observed Dr. Kirshner. "Have your rifles inposition, and make every shot count."
When the bandits were confident of their formation, their leader gavethe command, and bending low over their camels, they dashed with allspeed toward the explorers.
Shots rang out from the Arabs' pistols, but they were too unsteady tocause any damage.
The explorers' rifles spoke out, and those of Bob and the naturalistsfound their marks.
Again the rifles cracked. Three more camels went down simultaneously.Now only two of the animals remained on foot, but they were haltedabruptly by their panic-stricken riders.
"Luckily we downed the leader," remarked Mr. Lewis. "And now," headded, "suppose we get away from here at once. There will be nodanger of those men starving, for this oasis will furnish them withfood and drink. They can wait for another caravan to furnish them withmore camels."
Without hesitation the party placed the packs back on the dromedariesand rode off, Tishmak in the van.
A few pistol bullets whizzed past uncomfortably close, but soon theydied down as the Arabs saw the futility of their efforts.
"Whew! That was some experience," remarked Bob, when they were wellout of sight of the oasis. "I hope we see no more such fellows."
"And you're not the only one," said Dr. Kirshner, shaking his head."But the desert swarms with bandits, and it will be strange if wedon't have another such encounter."
"Maybe we won't have such good luck the next time," mused Joe.
"Nonsense!" Bob retorted. "We'll drive them off the same as we didthese men."
"But you got that wrong," corrected Mr. Holton, smiling. "They made_us_ get away."
Bob looked a little sheepish as he saw where he had been caught.
"Well, anyway," he grinned, "they didn't get us."
As they plodded on, the sand became looser than ever before. Thedromedaries, however, did not seem to notice the change. They ploddedon with the same stiff steps.
After two hours of constant traveling, the adventurers foundthemselves in a narrow valley between two high sand dunes. The countrywas gradually losing its level character and was steadily becomingmore hilly.
Suddenly Mr. Holton gave a cry of delight and pointed to something notfar away.