"Whew! the smoke"s getting thick in here. We"ve got to stop the burning or we"ll suffocate," warned Tad. "Wish I had an ax. I"d make short work of the old door."
They then began working with a grim determination, Stacy ceasing his joking. At last a tiny ray of light showed through the heavy door.
"Hurrah!" shouted Tad. "I see daylight."
"Then give me some bread. I"m hungry."
"Not yet. We"re not out of our prison," laughed Tad. "Keep cutting.
It will take all of an hour to make an opening large enough for me to get my hand through----"
"I got my finger through," cried Stacy triumphantly. "Ouch!" he yelled as a club of some sort was brought against the door on the outside with terrific force, bruising the end of the lad"s finger.
"The hermit is out there waiting for us!" gasped Tad, with sinking heart.
CHAPTER XXIII
LOST IN THE DESERT MAZE
A rifle shot sounded from the camp of the Pony Rider Boys. At regular intervals shot followed shot.
It was the warning signal agreed upon to notify the others that water had been found. Ned Rector had ridden into camp with the joyful tidings that he had discovered a water tank about three miles to the eastward. Immediately Walter sprang for his rifle, and running to the top of the little hill began shooting into the air. Ned, in the meantime, not waiting for the return of the others, had fetched the water-bags from the burros, and started off at a rapid pace to bring back water for the stock. His canteen he left for Professor Zepplin and Walter.
"It"s horrible stuff, but it is water," breathed the Professor as he swallowed the brown alkali fluid. "If ever I get a drink of real water again, I know I shall be able to appreciate it."
In the meantime Walter"s rifle was booming its warning over the desert maze.
Two hours later, Tom Parry, hot, dusty and well-nigh spent, rode into camp with the steam rising from his pony in a thin, vaporous cloud.
"Have you found it?" he called hoa.r.s.ely.
"Yes; Ned"s found a water hole," the Professor informed him.
"Give me a drink, quick. The alkali"s cutting furrows in my throat,"
he begged. "Never got such a hold of me before."
The Professor pressed his canteen to the guide"s lips, and Parry drank eagerly. A few moments later he pulled himself together sharply.
"I"m going to take the stock out to the water hole," he announced, starting the burros off across the desert. "I"ll water the stallions when I return."
"You had better let me attend to that," protested the Professor.
"You"re in no shape to go out in the sun again."
"That"s all right, Professor. But tell me how I am going to get out of the sun?" begged Parry, with a grim smile.
"The tent----"
"Hotter than the sun. No, I guess I can stand it if those boys are able to. By the way, have you seen anything of the other two?"
"I"ll ascertain if Walter has discovered them yet."
Walter"s straining eyes had failed to make out Tad and Stacy, however, so the Professor bade him continue firing his rifle. This was a pleasant occupation for Walter, for, like his companions, next to a pony he loved a gun.
Ned had returned with the water-bags, and Parry had finished watering the stock. It was now near sunset.
"No signs yet?" questioned the guide, joining Walter on the knoll.
"Not a thing."
"That doesn"t seem right. Stop your firing and come get some supper.
We must eat and put ourselves in shape or we"ll be good for nothing.
Did those boys take any food with them?"
"I think I saw Tad stowing something in his pockets before he started.
I"m sure I did," spoke up Ned Rector.
"There"s a lad who knows his business," approved Parry, moving toward the camp with Walter.
"Why have you discontinued the shooting?" demanded the Professor in surprise.
"To eat. Half an hour"s intermission will make little difference. If the lads are on their way, we"ll be able to call them in before it gets dark. If not, then I shall go out to look for them. They"re all right. I think you need feel no concern over them."
"Must have gone a long way," spoke up Ned.
"Yes, they undoubtedly followed orders."
"And perhaps exceeded them," added the Professor.
It was a real supper that they sat down to that evening, with hot coffee, fried bacon and other good things, and the party would have been a jolly one had Tad and Stacy been on hand to partic.i.p.ate in it.
Walter hurried through his meal, then took his position on the hill once more, where he renewed his signaling with the rifle.
All at once he uttered a shout, following it with a quick volley of six shots, thus emptying his magazine.
"Do you see them!" called Parry, hastening over to the knoll, and joining Walter.
"I think I see a cloud of dust approaching over the desert," he made reply.
"Where?"
Walter pointed with his rifle.
"Yes, that"s the boys, I guess. Nothing but a broncho could kick up the alkali like that. I"ll go back and have their supper ready. You keep on shooting. The light is growing fainter and they won"t be able to find their way in otherwise."
"Is it the boys?" called the Professor, as they saw Parry hastening toward them.
"I think so. Put the coffee on, Master Ned. They"ll want to boil the alkali out of their systems as soon as they get here."