CHAPTER XV
As Guests of Heathens
"What!" cried Bob excitedly. "Stop for the day! We--we can't. Our timeis worth too much!"
The naturalist laughed unwillingly.
"This time it's a question of what we have to do," he said dryly. "Ifthe blackness increases, it will be suicide to plunge through it withso many rocks and walls of stone near."
The boys and Mr. Holton rode on up to the front of the caravan, whereTishmak and Fekmah were visibly moved with fear.
The darkness was becoming more intense with every minute. Soon theexplorers could not see one another.
"It might be well to get off our dromedaries," suggested Mr. Lewis."If this is to continue long, it won't pay to remain mounted."
"This is likely to mean a loss of several hours," said Fekmah gravely."Then again, the fog of dust might pass away in but few minutes."
"Worst thing about it is the difficulty to breathe," pointed out Dr.Kirshner. "Tragedy has been known to come upon caravans in thismanner."
It was indeed stifling, but the adventurers managed to get air throughthe dust. They feared every minute that time would bring about animpossibility to breathe.
Much to their relief, that dread moment did not come, and after ahalf-hour the blackness gradually thinned out until it again becamelight.
"Thank goodness!" breathed Mr. Lewis. "Now let's get on our wayagain."
Still more the country was changing. The rocks became more jagged,taking on many shapes and forms. Small trees and plants became moreabundant, causing the region to resemble certain areas of the Americandesert. And along with this plant life came numerous traces of wildanimals.
"Wish we would run across a fox," said Joe. "I'm anxious to shootanything."
"Probably will," returned Bob. "I guess there are not only foxes butjackals and other small game. There should be much more here than inthe sandy section."
The party stopped at eleven o'clock for the meal and midday rest. Thistime the dromedaries alone were to be the guards, for they had alreadyproved their efficiency in detecting unusual noises.
At two they were again on their way, climbing a gentle slopewidespread with sharp rocks.
"Seems strange to get away from the sand dunes," remarked Bob. "Ithardly is like a desert now."
As they passed up a rocky hill, Fekmah called a halt.
"We have come to the Tudemait Plateau," he announced, getting out themap that he had made from memory. "That sharp peak in the distance isone of the landmarks. Now we pass through this plateau for rest oftoday and part of tomorrow; then come to another sandy stretch."
"Then what?" inquired Mr. Holton.
"Get to Ahaggar Mountains," the Arab replied. "We have to followcompass more close from now on, because must see peak called Illiman.Then we know we near treasure."
"And here's hoping those two thieves haven't gotten there first andtaken everything away," said Joe.
That afternoon they came to a small well and refilled theircontainers, which were beginning to get low. Despite the fact that thewater was exceedingly warm, it was greatly welcomed by the explorers.
A high hill was before them, and Bob suggested that they climb to thetop afoot and make out the character of the land ahead of them.
The others were in favor of doing so, for Fekmah might catch sight ofsomething that would be recognized as a landmark on the map.
The climb was tiresome but easy, the many boulders offering footholds.Finally they reached the top and turned their gaze toward the horizon.
"What's that 'way over there?" asked Joe, pointing to a narrow valleywalled closely by high rocks.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton had their binoculars strapped over theirshoulders. They took them out and peered into the distance.
Suddenly Mr. Holton started.
"It's a village!" he exclaimed, and Mr. Lewis nodded. "A village ofArabs. Look at the low huts of sun-baked mud," handing the binocularsto Fekmah.
"Yes," said Fekmah, gazing out through the glasses. "Suppose we goover there and see them. They treat us all right. It not take much ofour time."
"All right," returned Dr. Kirshner. "I'm anxious to make a casualstudy of them. They might have some primitive implements that belongedto their remote ancestors."
The adventurers made their way down the hill and mounted their camels.Then they rode off toward the distant valley. It was a good distanceaway, and perhaps hard of access, but the explorers were determined tofind it.
In less time than they had expected, they came to a spot that wouldprobably afford an opening into the valley. For a few minutes theywound in and out among the rocks. Then they came within sight of thevillage.
A crowd of Arabs ran out to meet them, uttering hearty greetings. Itwas evident that expeditions rarely passed within sight of theirdwellings, for they were very excited.
Tishmak and Fekmah conversed with the people in a very friendly mannerand then introduced the others of the American expedition.
Dr. Kirshner and the naturalists found it almost impossible tounderstand the language, and they were satisfied with Fekmah'stranslations.
"A good chance to take some movies," said Bob, getting out the camera.
"Don't suppose the Arabs would object," added Joe. "At any rate, we'llrisk it."
The youths cranked off several scenes of the Arabs and their village.It was clear to the explorers that the people had never seen amotion-picture camera before. The strange purring box was an object ofcuriosity, and they crowded around like so many children.
To the Americans, these people were of great interest. The men andwomen dressed almost alike, in a long, white robe that reached to theankles. A tight-fitting cloth was wound around the head, and the backof the neck was protected from the sun by a black veil. They were of anaturally swarthy complexion, which was still further darkened by thefierce desert heat.
"Not very pleasant to look at," said Bob to his chum. "But they sureare giving us a hearty welcome."
"That's probably because they're so unused to seeing strangers," Joeremarked. "Nearly all friendly natives are that way."
The Arabs led the explorers into the main part of the village, wherethere was a large open space before the chief's, or sheik's, hut.Suddenly the head native stopped and pointed to a distant large rock.He babbled animatedly to Tishmak and Fekmah, whose faces took on alook of disgust.
"Sheik say over there is a place where they bury those guilty ofwitchcraft," Fekmah explained to the Americans. "They put to aterrible death, and then their bones taken over there."
Mr. Holton shook his head repulsively.
"Ignorance is the root of evil," he said. "These people are even worseoff than the Negroes of the Congo. They so infrequently come intocontact with civilization that they have degenerated into a state ofalmost nothingness."
"With even more respect for Fekmah and Tishmak, the Arabs in manyremote sections of the Sahara are a bloodthirsty, treacherous, andimmoral people," put in Dr. Kirshner. "They do not at all comparewith their brothers in Algiers and other places nearer the coast."
Fekmah nodded.
"Praise be to Allah that I was not born here," he muttered.
The sheik invited the explorers to stay for dinner, but Fekmahpolitely refused, saying that they must hurry on.
"We have many miles to go yet," he told them in the native tongue. "Ifwe are to get far today we must be going now."
The explorers left the village for their camels, the Arabs shoutingwarm farewells.
"Professor Bigelow ought to be here," smiled Joe, referring to afamous anthropologist who had accompanied them on their expedition inBrazil.
"Wouldn't he be tickled," laughed Mr. Lewis. "But then--maybe he'salready been here. He has been about everywhere else studyingprimitive people."
Soon the adventurers were out of the narrow valley, again taking upthe journey. They were glad to get started again, welcoming any newsight in the way of oddly shaped rocks, deep valleys, and otherformations of
nature.
Darkness was rapidly falling, but they kept traveling until it becameimpossible to see ahead. Then Tishmak held up his hand for them tostop.
Again they waited for the moon, not continuing the trip until it cameout.
"Tonight we must make up for the lost time at village," said Fekmah."We can stand to stay up an hour later."
It was not until eleven o'clock that they finally came to a stop in awild, rocky region. The tents were put up for the night.
The next morning the explorers were barely up when Joe happened tonotice something crawling toward him as he sat near the tent.
He was up in a moment, looking about fearfully.
"A scorpion!" he cried excitedly.