As Perry had learned that a piastre was worth only a trifle less than a nickel, he did not deem a dollar too much, and promptly agreed. Whereupon the guide called, and another equally athletic Arab joined them.
“Twenty piastres,” he said in a mournful voice.
Perry protested. For all he knew, the whole tribe might come around demanding the same twenty piastres, and the lad’s purse was slim. His father had given him enough spending money, but by no means too much.
“Twenty piastres to this one,” he said, pointing to the first Arab who had spoken to him.
“No go alone,” was the reply. “Always two.”
Perry hesitated. After all, was there anything he wanted to do more than climb that Pyramid? He decided that there wasn’t, and let go his second dollar with a good grace.
And then they started.
It had never occurred to Perry to think what climbing a pyramid would be like. In the distance, truly, the blocks seemed like large steps. But no sooner was the lad fairly on the ledge from which the pyramid rises, and looked upward, than his heart gave a bound. The Pyramid seemed miles high! He turned hesitatingly to the guide.
“I’ve got to be back by—” he began, when each of the Arabs grasped him by an arm and jumped upwards.
The first leap was nearly five feet high!