Those of our readers familiar with the three Radio Boys by reason of following their adventures chronicled in “The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border,” “With the Revenue Guards,” “On Secret Service Duty,” “In Search of the Inca Treasure” and “Rescuing the Lost Expedition,” will realize that three more reliable young fellows in just such a situation could not be found.
Jack and Bob were both six feet tall, and Bob in addition was possessed of extraordinary strength. As for Frank, an orphan, who made his home with Bob on the Temple estate, adjoining that of the Hamptons’ near Southampton, Long Island, what he lacked in inches and girth, was made up in quickness of intellect. All three were students at Yale.
This was the way matters stood, with the party at length after its trip across the Sahara from Khartum drawing near the Oasis Aiz-Or, when Jack paused to await the approach of his comrades.
As Frank drew nearer, Jack smiled. He was thinking of the other’s comical appearance. Wrapped in the voluminous jillab which all wore as it provided greater protection against sand and heat than European clothing, Frank was crowned by a sun helmet, startling by contrast, and beneath it wore headphones clamped over his ears.
Jack was on the point of calling out some laughing remark about the latter’s vain wait for a message from Professor Souchard, when Frank’s face suddenly betrayed alarm. And with a shout he tore the headset from his ears, sending the sun helmet spinning out on the floor of the desert. Turning about, he beckoned wildly for Mr. Hampton and Ali to approach.
“What is it?” shouted Jack. “What did you hear?”
For, that Frank had received some message filling him with alarm was apparent.
Frank did not reply. His face grew pale beneath the heavy tan.
CHAPTER II.
A CRY FOR HELP.
The long rays of the setting sun, which almost touched the horizon, were flung across the desert, turning it into dazzling gold, as Mr. Hampton and Ali pushed their camels close to where the three boys had come together. The camels stood with feet spread apart, seemingly asleep. Jack and Bob, who also had drawn close, were bombarding Frank with questions and, almost inarticulate at first, he had just begun to answer when Mr. Hampton and Ali arrived.