Kulki and his chosen three began preparations for the trail at once.
That same day they set out, mounted on Arab horses and carrying water and food. Kulki refused a gun. The "stick that spoke like thunder"
was a magic he did not understand.
As for Raal and his Taharans, they wasted no time but set to work rounding up all the small wild horses that they could find among the hills, while Dan and d.i.c.k showed the others how to build a corral for the animals.
CHAPTER VII
THE WAR TRAIL
"Throw your rope over that wicked little beast!" exclaimed d.i.c.k Oakwood.
"Okay, d.i.c.k," answered Dan. His quivering lariat sailed through the air and the loop settled neatly about the neck of one of the small wild horses in the enclosure, bringing it to the ground.
Quick as a flash, d.i.c.k was on its back, much to the delight of the savage tribe who had never witnessed such feats of bravery.
"Tahara, hal!" they cried.
For days there had been great excitement in the land of the Taharans.
After the raid of the Arabs and the possibility that the tribe might have to make a return attack to recover the princess, Veena, d.i.c.k and his chum, Dan Carter, had been breaking the wild horses and teaching the natives to handle them.
They were apt pupils and one after another were mastering the art of horseback riding.
Now as d.i.c.k after a fierce struggle brought the horse down to a gentle gallop, he dismounted and handed the reins to Raal. At that moment Kurt interrupted with a cry. He ran to d.i.c.k with terror in his face.
"O Master, look through your magic gla.s.ses and see who is coming. Is it a new danger that threatens us?" Then aside he murmured, "Tahara is great. He will protect us!"
d.i.c.k beckoned to Kurul to whom he had trusted his binoculars, and the warrior pa.s.sed over the gla.s.ses as if he were glad to get rid of them.
The savages were still not certain that these strange eyes were innocent of the spell of black magic.
d.i.c.k put them to his eyes and saw a strange figure approaching from the desert. It staggered and fell to the ground, then rose wearily and struggled on.
"It seems to be an old man, bent double with age," said d.i.c.k. "He is very weary. Run Kurt, and help him! And you, Kurul, lend a hand. It is good to help the old and feeble."
But suddenly Dan who had taken the gla.s.ses, gave a cry. His face grew pale. Turning to d.i.c.k he said in a low voice.
"Kulki! It is Kulki!"
"Kulki!" repeated d.i.c.k. "It can"t be. What has happened?"
The two boys hastened after Kurt and Kurul and had no difficulty in overtaking them, for the savages were afraid and went warily, invoking Tahara to protect them at every step.
d.i.c.k was the first to reach the Gorol warrior, who limped and staggered and when he realized that his friends had come to help him he sank to the sand at d.i.c.k"s feet.
"Master forgive! I could not!" he moaned.
d.i.c.k raised the Gorol to his feet but he was trembling so violently that he had to be half carried back to the village where, a word at a time between his pleas for forgiveness, d.i.c.k got his story.
Kulki and his two Taharan companions had found the Arab camp. Suli was there and Abdul. And the wicked Cimbula!
"But Veena! Where is Veena?" demanded Raal, his heavy face white with anxiety, His large hands were clenched as he stood menacingly above the Gorol. "Where is Veena and where are the two warriors who went with you?"
"The warriors are dead," replied Kulki.
"But where is Veena?" asked d.i.c.k. His voice was stern as he tried to hide the emotion he felt.
"Forgive O Master, I could not bring her back. The Arabs have imprisoned her. They tortured me through long hours, hitting me with heavy thongs and burned me with hot embers, then they sent me home to tell you. I have travelled all day and all night to bring help." The Gorol youth looked at Raal imploringly, then continued, "Veena, the little white princess will not be killed and we have still time to save her if we go at once. That is what Cimbula said to me and he understands the language and the ways of the Arabs."
"What do you mean, Kulki?" demanded d.i.c.k anxiously.
"Suli and Abdul protect her, for they are anxious to sell her for a big price."
Cries arose from the listeners, for most of the tribe had gathered to hear what Kulki had to tell. The women shrieked and moaned, rocking themselves back and forth, and tearing their hair.
d.i.c.k raised his hand for silence.
"Be quiet my friends," he said calmly. "Kulki says we still have time to save her." Then he turned to the Gorol, "Are you sure? Tell us all you know!"
"Cimbula tell me all they said," went on Kulki. "Suli and Abdul are waiting for the arrival of Chief Mobogoma who wants the white princess for his bride. He is willing to give in exchange a hundred of his best slaves."
"Ah-woe! Ah-woe!" moaned the tribesmen.
"Suli and Abdul agreed to this, but the man-demon who flies on the back of the bird-demon appeared and said that was not enough. He demanded much ivory as well."
"Slythe! That was Jess Slythe!" exclaimed d.i.c.k Oakwood with indignation. "I might have known that he was somewhere around and had a hand in my affairs."
"There will be delay while they quarrel with words," continued Kulki with a groan.
A slave appeared with food and drink for the returned warrior. He gulped it hungrily. d.i.c.k questioned him further about the Arabs.
A shiver pa.s.sed over the body of the Gorol, his eyes looked wild.
"They tortured me and sent me back to say that Veena would be returned for two hundred Taharan slaves."
"Tahara have mercy! O Master, save us!" moaned the tribesmen. "What are we to do?"
"Send us, O Master," came the cry from many throats. "Let us be sacrificed, but bring back the little princess Veena."
d.i.c.k looked at Dan in astonishment. He had not expected to find such a spirit of chivalry among this savage tribe.
"Say, they"re pretty good sports, I"ll tell the world!" cried Dan.
"Who would have believed it? And we want to civilize them! That"s a joke!"
Raal was standing impatiently frowning, waiting for d.i.c.k to give some word of command.
"What are we going to do, Master?" he asked.