n, I am going to post you here at the edge of the cliff," said Dick
Oakwood. "Stay hidden among the rocks, or some sniper will take a shot
at you."

"Don't worry, Dick, I'll keep out of sight," said Dan.

"And if you see any sign of attack in the Arab camp, let out a yell of
alarm."

"You're telling _me_? Nobody will have to ask me to do that little
thing."

"The rest of us are going to be busy getting ready for the night
attack," Dick explained. "We have to assemble the two tribes, select
the best men for the battle and see to it that they have plenty of
arrows and other weapons."

"Okay. You've given me a soft job," said Dan. "I can play sentinel
all day. Now if I only had a big bunch of dates to eat and a good book
to read--" he added laughing.

"Say, you'd make a great soldier," cried Dick. "You're the sort of
soldier that goes to the guard house for the duration of the war."

"Go on. I was just kidding!"

"Well, big boy, this is serious. Here, I'll lend you the binoculars
and you keep your eyes on the Arabs down there. If they start to climb
the cliffs, we will roll big rocks on them and give them something to
remember us by."

But the Arabs seemed satisfied to take things easy for a while.

Dan took the binoculars and after a brief survey of the Arab camp,
began to search the horizon in all directions.

"I was just thinking," he explained, "that this would be a great time
for my dad to make his appearance in the cabin plane."

"No such luck, Dan! Don't even think of it. I made your father
promise to leave the tribes to me without interference."

"I'm hoping he may shorten the time of even forget that he made such a
promise," said Dan. "Gee! Wouldn't it be great to see that big plane
come sailing toward us?"

"With white men and guns to chase off those Arab slavers!" Dick added.
"Yes, it would be fine, Dan. But don't expect it. Your father and
mine are busy on the Pomegranate Oasis. They don't dream that we are
in danger."

"That's right! Wouldn't it be wonderful if people could send word by
their thoughts. A kind of human radio."

"There is something like that," said Dick Oakwood. "It is called
telepathy, but not much is known about it. People who have the gift
can send or receive messages sent by another person's mind."

"Aw go on. Quit kidding!"

"I'm not kidding. Lots of Hindu mystics in India have the gift."

"Well if I had it, I would send a hurry-up call to Ray