CHAPTER XVII
Moments of Horror
The explorers, particularly Tishmak, knew the danger of a sandstorm.It was not infrequent for large caravans to be completely engulfed bythe heavy veil of sand, leaving only the dead bodies of the camels andtheir riders. The Americans remembered a tale that Fekmah had toldthem about a trading caravan of five hundred dromedaries coming to atragic end in this region. Would their little caravan also perish?
"Get your goggles," commanded Fekmah, his tone indicating that he wascalm even in the face of danger.
"And be sure they fit tightly!" warned Dr. Kirshner. "Even then we'llget some of the sand."
The atmosphere was rapidly becoming extremely dry and hot, and atintervals a fierce wind brought minute particles of sand into theexplorers' faces.
"Now," began Fekmah, after conversing briefly with the guide, "we mustget dromedaries in group, so they not get fright and run away. Thenwe crouch down behind them."
The camels were drawn up together and fastened in a circle with ropes.
"It might be wise to put up our tent, mightn't it?" asked Mr. Lewis,but Fekmah shook his head vigorously.
"No, no," he said. "Then we get in trap and not get out. If sand veryheavy, we want to be in open."
The dense mist was thickening and spreading, until it soon covered thewhole horizon. The sky in the distance was not visible for the heavycloud of fine particles.
The explorers got out blankets and wrapped themselves tightly. Eventhen, said Fekmah, the small bits of soil would get through to theirskins.
They had scarcely finished preparations when the first breakersuddenly came with all force, striking the adventurers in the face andpenetrating the blanket.
It was blinding, smothering, but they managed to get air and foughtwith a determination that was born of adventure. Crouching behind thesturdy dromedaries, they held their heads low to avoid as much of thefury of the storm as possible.
It was with great difficulty that the camels kept their positionstogether, but they succeeded admirably.
"Doesn't seem right for them to have to stop the sand for us," saidJoe, shouting in order to make himself heard.
"It's a shame," Bob shouted back. "But they can probably stand itbetter than we can."
Slowly they found themselves enveloped in a heavy opaque atmosphere,so dense as to seem almost as a wall. The thought of being completelycovered up was constantly in their minds, bringing about almost afeeling of despair.
The burning wind was constantly lashing them in the face, until itseemed that they could stand it no longer. Indeed, if their heavygoggles had not been of unbreakable glass, the furious particles ofsand would have smashed them in the explorers' eyes. Even as it was,some of the sand found its way in.
"This is terrible!" moaned Joe. "Awful--simply----"
He stopped suddenly, as his mouth became filled with sand. Anothergust of wind had come, bringing with it an enormous quantity of theburning sand.
The explorers' eyes were smarting, their lips were cracked andbleeding. They felt that they would smother. Nothing could have beenworse, it seemed.
They could hear the dromedaries snorting with fear and irritation.What if the brutes could not stand?
Conversation was now impossible, for they dared not open their mouthsfor fear of swallowing some of the stinging sand. Even when theybreathed, the fine particles filtered through the net that hung overtheir faces.
The sky above was of a bright red color, and a weird light trickledthrough the fog of yellow. It was the most unusual happening that theAmericans had ever witnessed.
"If it just wasn't for this terrible wind!" muttered Mr. Holton, whenthere had come a slight lull.
"Yes," agreed Fekmah. "Then it not be so hard to stand it."
He had scarcely finished when another gust of hot sand struck themcruelly, making their faces sting anew.
Suddenly Tishmak noticed that they were nearly engulfed in a heavypile of sand. With a quick motion he drew himself out and drove thedromedaries to another spot.
For a brief moment the explorers were exposed to the full violence ofthe storm. Then they again took places behind the newly locatedcamels.
"Not taking any chances on being covered up, are you?" said Dr.Kirshner to Tishmak.
The latter did not understand the words, but he caught the meaning andsmiled.
How long the terrific onslaught of sand lasted, no one knew. They hadlost all sense of time, and the heavy atmosphere completely hid thesun.
It was only gradually that the terrible storm subsided, and then theair was exceedingly hot and dry, promising to remain that way for sometime. Slowly the cloud of sand about them grew thin, until it finallycleared away completely. Now only an occasional hot wind annoyed them,but it was scarcely anything compared to the previous bombardment ofsand.
"No more of anything like that for me!" muttered Bob, as he worked hisfeet loose from the high pile that strove to bury him alive.
The dromedaries, too, had their legs embedded in the sand so deeplythat it required several minutes of constant digging to relieve them.
"Suppose we rest awhile before going on," suggested Bob. "It has beena great strain for all of us, standing against that terrible rush ofsand."
The others readily agreed, and all thoughts of continuing the journeyat once were dismissed from mind.
"At least," Joe said, "we got out alive, and that's more than you cansay of many caravans."
"Yes," returned his father. "Perhaps under this very spot are thebones of men and camels that were not as lucky as we were."
"That storm rather short lasting," remarked Fekmah, glancing at hiswatch. "Many times storm last several hours."
Joe sighed.
"I'd hate to have had to stand much more of it," he said.
It was nearly noon, and the tent was pitched for the midday rest. Allwere very weary after the terrific strain.
"Let's have our lunch," suggested Mr. Lewis. "I'm very hungry, and I'msure everyone else is."
The noon meal and rest followed, the explorers not continuing untilafter three o'clock.
Late that afternoon they came to one of the largest uninhabited oasesthat they had yet seen. It was situated snugly on a narrow stretchbetween high dunes.
"It's a wonder a small town hasn't sprung up around here," remarkedBob, drinking greedily of the refreshing water that gushed from thelarge spring.
Dr. Kirshner nodded.
"With all these palm trees and the abundance of water it issurprising," he said. "But I suppose there are so few people, evenamong the natives, who would live here that it wouldn't pay."
The containers were hurriedly filled.
"It might be well to stay here for the night," said Fekmah. "It isgetting late, and we all need sleep very bad."
He turned to Tishmak and put the question before him in the nativelanguage.
The guide at once gave his approval, more than glad of the chance tostop.
"He say he wanted to stay here for night, but thought we in bighurry," Fekmah told the Americans.
"We are," returned Mr. Holton. "But here is a very good place to camp,and I think we'd better take advantage of the opportunity."
The tent and provisions were unpacked from the camels, which seemedmore than glad of the chance to relax.
"Funny," remarked Mr. Lewis, "that camels don't care to lie in theshade when there is an opportunity. You would think the terrible sunwould be avoided as much as possible, but that is not the case."
"Either they like the heat or they are too lazy to move," said Joe.
For some time the two youths sat with their elders. Then Bob got upand stretched.
"Suppose you and I get on our dromedaries and ride over to thatdistant hill," he said to Joe, pointing away to the horizon. "I'd liketo see what's beyond there. This seems to be very high ground, and wemight get a view of the distant mountains from the top of that dune."
"Be sure and take your rifles, boys," warned M
r. Lewis. "And don'tstay too long."
The boys slung their guns over their shoulders and rode off, waving totheir friends.
The hill that Bob referred to was at least a mile away, and the groundon the way was of loose sand. The boys urged their mounts to trotfaster, however, and they would probably cover the distance in a veryshort time.
"I wonder if we could get a glimpse of the Ahaggar Mountains?" saidJoe.
"Might. But you must remember that we are still a great distanceaway."
As the boys had expected, they came to the hill in but a few minutes.It was very high and steep, but the soil was hard. The dromedaries hadno difficulty in climbing steadily up.
At last they came to the top and gazed out into the distance.
"Look!" cried Joe. "The mountains! We can see them!"
Sure enough, the Ahaggar range was visible, stretching miles and milesto either side. A few sharp peaks protruded high above the others, butfor the most part the line of mountains was rather regular.
"Suppose that high peak is Illiman?" asked Joe, pointing to a highcrag that towered above the other mountains.
"You mean the one Fekmah was talking about? It might be. He would knowif he saw it, I suppose. And of course Tishmak would."
The youths spent nearly a half-hour peering out at the mountains,greatly impressed by the wonderful view.
"How far away do you suppose they are?" questioned Joe.
"Fifty miles, at least; maybe more. It will probably take us anotherhalf-day to get to them."
Finally the youths turned and rode back down the hill to tell theirelders of the magnificent view. Fekmah particularly would be pleased,Joe thought.
But the boys were not overly anxious to get back to the oasis at once.There were many other high sand dunes that they would like to rideover.
"We won't stay much longer," said Bob. "Just ride around a bit."
To their right was another high hill that might afford a view inanother direction. The youths rode over to it and climbed the gradualside.
Then, when they came to the top, they cried out in surprise and fear.
In the distance appeared to be a whole regiment of galloping horsemencoming toward them!