Glancing along the sights, he pulled the trigger. There was a howl of pain as the bullet struck the animal broadside. Another howl; then silence.
“You got him!” cried Joe, delighted.
“A big specimen, too,” declared Mr. Lewis, getting out his knife.
The animal was carefully but rapidly skinned and the hide placed in the solution of preservative.
“Already we have a large number of specimens,” said Mr. Holton, as they left the skinned body behind. “And we hope to see a good many other animals and birds as we pass on.”
Late that afternoon the adventurers came to the well that Tishmak had told about, and found the water very cool. It reached the surface in a shady spot among the many high rocks.
All drank with a thirst that came from long traveling in a dry, hot region. Bob and Joe especially welcomed it, the latter declaring it better than flavored beverages.
“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Holton. “One can drink many things, but water is, after all, the old stand-by.”
When the containers were filled, the explorers rested in the shade of the rocks. There was something about that spot that made them hesitate to leave it behind. Perhaps it was the cool water, or it might have been the wall-like formations of stone all about.
Finally Tishmak got up and mounted his dromedary, motioning for the others to follow suit.