ood-natured face with a luxuriant grey beard. His dark eyes
were smiling.

"Why he looks exactly like Santa Claus," exclaimed Dan, "Merry
Christmas, old scout!"

The old man ignored this remark from Dan. His head suddenly
disappeared and a few minutes later the Hindu had dropped from the tree
and was walking toward them.

"Now perhaps Dan Sahib will believe that I am human," he said extending
his hand, English fashion.

His body was short and fat and naked except for a loin cloth of saffron
colored cotton. His complexion was darker than that of most white men
and his eyes were smiling and friendly yet there was a shadow of a
sneer in them, a look of craftiness that made Dick and Dan determine to
be on their guard.

The boys shook the Hindu's hand, after which the Mahatma turned to the
chief of the Kungoras and ordered him to bring fresh water and fruit
for the visitors and to prepare a feast. The black savages hurried
away with grinning faces, well pleased to show Mahatma's friends the
hospitality of their village.

Sikandar drew Dick and Dan aside and squatting cross-legged on the
ground, invited the guests to do the same. In his hand he carried
something that was wrapped in a black cloth.

During a pause in the conversation Dan suddenly blurted out: "Say, I'd
like to know how you can tell about our trek across the desert, and our
names and all that. Who told you?"

The Mahatma smiled mysteriously. "There are many things revealed to
wise men that are kept from others," he said very slowly. "Long before
you arrived in the jungle I saw you."

The Mahatma closed his eyes for a second then opened them and stared at
Dan. He seemed to be looking straight through him. Then he continued
in a hollow-sounding voice: "I saw riders, many of them on strange
small horses, the like of which I have never seen until today. And the
riders urged their horses forward for they saw ahead of them an oasis
where they were to rest and drink." Suddenly the Mahatma turned to
Dick. "Is that true, Dick Sahib?" he asked.

"Yes, it is true." Dick replied simply.

"Then suddenly the riders all slumped in their saddles and looked tired
and ill, for the oasis had disappeared leaving only sandy waste in all
directions. Is that true, Dan Sahib?"

"Jiminy crickets, you've got it straight all right, but _how_ did you
see all that?"

"And where you are going and what you will do, I also know. There is a
young girl, a prince