"Quick! Give him a drink!" he heard Dick command and the next instant a gourd of water was put to his lips and Dan gulped it eagerly.
"Where are we?" he asked, wiping his eyes and looking around in a half daze.
"At the Big Spring," said Dick. "We're safe here, but only for a few minutes. The Taharans are standing off the Arabs with their bows and arrows at the last line of defense."
While he spoke Dick was busily engaged in washing the dirt from Kurt's bleeding shoulder.
"Quick, a piece of cloth!" he said. "This needs a bandage."
A strip was put into his hands and as Dick finished tying up the wound he was surprised to see the girl, Veena, standing beside him with more of the cloth which she had woven.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I am trying to help, O Master."
"But I gave orders for all the old folks, children and women to take refuge up there back of the cliffs."
"Forgive me, O Master! I saw the fighting on the plain, and I could not stay up there in safety. I had to come down to do my share."