“Now we’ll see how Tishmak is,” said Mr. Holton, leaving his position at the end of the rocky crag.
They found that Dr. Kirshner had bound and treated the wound, which was in the left arm. The Arab seemed in high spirits, despite the fact that he was evidently in pain.
“It doesn’t appear serious,” said the archæologist. “With the right kind of attention it will probably be all right in a few days.”
“Lucky that he wasn’t killed, or that more of us weren’t hit,” remarked Mr. Lewis gravely. “The Sahara is a dangerous place for explorers.”
They waited several minutes for any more rifle shots from the Arabs, but none came. Finally Mr. Holton mounted his dromedary.
“Let’s get on our way,” he suggested. “I don’t think there’s any danger now. The Arabs have retreated to a distance beyond their tents, and I believe they’ll stay there awhile.”
Tishmak was helped on his camel. Then, when the others had also mounted, they rode off.
They were now rapidly leaving the region of low sand dunes behind. Rocks of all sizes and shapes became more numerous, and vegetation was more abundant. There were, however, stretches of coarse sand plains, which were now and then dotted with boulders.
Suddenly, as they ascended a long low hill, Bob and Joe cried out in delight and pointed to something a half-mile or so away.
“A lake!” exclaimed Joe happily. “A lake of water!”