er until he was among the fighting men. At the last rock where
he took refuge, a Taharan archer was already hidden, driving his arrows
to the mark every time an Arab rider came within range.

Dan saw it was Kurt, one of Dick's most trusted henchmen, and with a
word of encouragement, the boy took up his position on the other side
of the big rock.

"Let 'em have it!" said Dan.

"Let 'em have it!" Kurt repeated and both marksmen let fly at a
Bedouin, mounted on a splendid gray horse that came charging toward the
rock.

The arrows whizzed through the air, but the rider was on guard and
dropped from his saddle, hanging to the side of his horse and protected
by its body.

Then before the archers could shoot again he was right beside the rock
and slashing out with his curving sword, struck at Kurt with a blow
that laid open the tribesman's shoulder.

Dan was ready with his second arrow by that time and let drive a dart
that caught the Arab in the throat and dropped him to the ground. The
horse galloped on, while Kurt and Dan ran back toward the cliffs, for
now other Arabs were close by and their position was too hot to keep.

"_Allah il allah!_" shouted the raiders, galloping to head off the
fugitives.

"Slay the dogs of unbelievers!"

Their howls of fury rose shrill and high amid the rattling of rifle
shots, the whinnying of horses and the war cry of the tribesmen,
"Tahara, hal! Tahara!"

Dan was racing for life, when he saw that Kurt was lagging. Loss of
blood from the gash on his shoulder had weakened the Taharan warrior
and it seemed as if he might fall from exhaustion, so Dan forgot his
own danger to help Kurt escape.

The Arab pursuers saw that the two enemies were having a hard time to
get away and let out yells of triumph.

"Allah! Down with the unbelievers!"

A couple of horsemen sped toward the fugitives and their rifles sent
the echoes flying back from the cliffs, though the bullets missed their
mark and sent puffs of dust from the ground to either side.

"Run, Kurt! Run for your life!" gasped Dan Carter.

"Leave me! I grow weak, but I can die like a man," answered Kurt,
brave to the last.

"You're not going to die!" said Dan. "Here, put your weight on my
shoulder. I'll help you!"

Their situation was desperate. Behind them came the two Arabs, tugging
at their scimiters to release them from the scabbards and eager to cut
the fugitives to bits.

Before them raced the riderless horse