Tahara: Among African Tribes Part 12

"Then you will see some fun."

d.i.c.k explained to Raal, who was keen to learn the new sport, the principles of taming and riding unbroken horses and the Taharan chief was eager to begin.

With a deep bow he begged d.i.c.k to accept an Arab gun he had captured and declared that when his tribe had learned to ride the wild horses, they would all set out to find the Arabs and raid them in turn.

Suddenly they were interrupted. Queen Vanga came to them, weeping and tearing her hair.

"Cimbula is gone!" she cried. "Where is Cimbula?"

Dan laughed.

"Your boy-friend was taken by the Arabs," he said. "You'll never see him again."

"I hope not," said d.i.c.k.

"The Arabs will put him on the chain gang," chuckled Dan.

"Never!" cried the old queen when Dan's remark was explained to her.

"Cimbula works strong magic. If he is taken by the Arabs, Cimbula will become their chief."

"There may be something in that," said Dan. "The witch-doctor is clever enough to get out of any kind of a sc.r.a.pe."

Vanga began weeping afresh.

"Why the water-works now?" asked Dan.

Raal questioned her and his face grew red with fury.

"Veena has been stolen," he cried. "The girl with Cimbula was the Princess Veena."

Dan felt his heart stand still. The pretty little maiden, a prisoner of the Arabs! She was fond of him and while he did not love her, he resolved that she must be rescued.

"Let me have a horse," cried Raal. "I will catch up with the Arabs and bring her back."

He was beside himself with fury. "Tahara, O Mighty King, use all your magic to save the girl I love."

d.i.c.k grasped his hand and promised: "I will help you!"

"Now, let us start now."

"We will all go!" cried Dan Carter.

"Yes! All, all!" echoed the warriors. Tahara and Gorols alike were excited by the news. The capture of Cimbula and his followers was not so bad, for everybody dreaded the witch-doctor and his disciples were hated.

But Veena was a favorite of all.

"We will take the captured horses!" urged Raal, "and overtake the raiders."

"Those are bold words," said d.i.c.k, "but they are not the words of wisdom. Stop and think. Ten men at the most against a hundred! What chance would you have?"

"We will risk it," Raal stormed.

"And lose all chance of rescuing Veena? No. We must prepare for a long journey first--and at the end a hard battle."

"How long must we wait?"

"Until our warriors have tamed wild horses and learned to ride them.

Also we must carry food and water bags for a long trail across the desert."

Raal was in despair.

"And until then, we will know nothing of the maiden. I would rather set out alone than that."

At his words, all fell silent, thinking gloomy thoughts. Finally d.i.c.k said:

"Here is a way out. Kulki can ride better than any of the tribesmen, and has ventured farther on the desert than the rest."

"That is true!" cried Kulki. "Let me go out and rescue the maiden."

"Not so fast. Take three of your men who can stay on horseback. Carry water and food and follow the trail of the raiders. Can you try?"

"We will do that, O Master!"

"Do not try to fight the Arabs, that would only put them on their guard. But find out where they are taking the captives and bring us word. Will you?"

"Gladly, O Master."

"By the time you return," added d.i.c.k Oakwood, "I will have our warriors trained to ride the wild horses and to shoot arrows while they ride, yes and to throw spears from the saddle."

"Tahara, hal!"

"Then we will set out and punish the raiders!"

"Tahara Rax! The axe! The axe!"

With shouts of vengeance, the tribesmen accepted d.i.c.k's plan. Even Raal, anxious as he was to set out at once, saw the wisdom of the plan.

"But _I_ would go with Kulki. Now!" he begged.

"If you did, what would happen? You would try to fight the Arabs then and there. All would be lost."

Raal agreed.

"Let me work day and night getting ready for the rescue!" he exclaimed.

"Then I will not grieve."

"We will begin now," d.i.c.k answered.

"You will be chief horse-breaker," Dan a.s.sured Raal. "In a week you'll be a regular Arizona bronco-buster."