With a sudden movement the youth drew out the automatic and carefully but hurriedly threw it with all his strength.
Then his heart sank as he saw the gun whiz past the scorpion and roll across the hard ground. The sudden movement angered the creature still more, and it crouched as if to charge.
Suddenly, as a last resort, Joe sprang to his feet and dodged to one side, just as the scorpion left the ground. As the result the charge was unsuccessful, the huge spider alighting several feet to the youth’s left.
The next moment Joe was in the tent, looking about nervously. He picked up his rifle and dashed back outside.
The scorpion was slowly crawling toward the entrance to the tent when Joe took careful aim and fired.
His aim was true. The small bullet caught the creature squarely, shattering it into pulp, which flew in several directions.
After watching the remains of the scorpion for a moment, Joe turned about, to find Dr. Kirshner and Bob standing beside him with small rifles.
“That was a wonderful shot, Joe,” praised the archæologist. “Bob and I happened to have our rifles and would have taken a shot at the scorpion if you had missed.”
“So you saw, did you? Well, I don’t mind saying that I was frightened stiff for a few minutes. Thought sure I was a goner.”
He was forced to tell of the entire experience, and in the end his listeners looked grave.