"I say, hold it," Donaldson chuckled sourly. "First of all, I've come to join up. I thought as far back as that time we co-operated in quelling the riots in Mopti that you ought to do this--proclaim yourself El Hassan. When I heard you'd taken the step, I came to join up." "Oh, great," Cliff said. "What took you so long? We hardly get here, to our ultra-secret hideout, than here you are." Isobel came with the coffee and handed it around, silently. Then she, too, settled to the rug which covered the sand of the floor. Rex Donaldson turned to Cliff and there was a wrinkle of amusement in the older man's eyes. "I took so long, because I needed the time to recruit a few other chaps I knew would stand with us." Crawford rapped, "That's who you just radioed?" "Of course, old boy. I'd hardly bring the opposition down on us, would I?" "Where are they?" "In a couple of hovercraft, similar to your own, possibly twenty kilometers to the southwest." "You still haven't told us how you found us?" The little man shrugged. "After tendering my resignation to Sir Winton, I considered the possibilities, which narrowed down very quickly when I heard the Arab Legion had taken Tamanrasset." "Why?" Isobel said. Donaldson shot a glance at her. "Because, my dear, unless El Hassan is able to retake Tamanrasset, his movement has come a cropper." He turned his eyes back to Crawford, who was nervously running his hand through his hair. "I knew you had done considerable work in this area, so your whereabouts became obvious seeing that Tamanrasset is in Tuareg country. It was simply a matter of finding what Tuareg encampment was your base, and since your quickest manner of gathering support would be to swing the Amenokal to your banner, I headed for his usual encampment this time of year." Cliff looked at Homer Crawford. "If Rex found us so easily, so will anybody else." Isobel put in. "Not necessarily. Mr. Donaldson has information that most of El Hassan's opponents wouldn't." * * * * * Homer came to his feet unhappily and began pacing. "No, Isobel. Ostrander, for instance, has all the dope Rex has and is just as capable of working it through to a conclusion. It takes no great insight to realize El Hassan has to either put up or shut up when it comes to Tamanrasset. That's possibly why some of the other elements interested in North Africa have so far refrained from action against the Arab Union. They want to see what El Hassan is going to do--find out just what he has on the ball." Rex Donaldson looked at him interestedly, "And? What are your plans?" Homer Crawford's face worked. "My plans right at present are to stay alive, and you finding me so easily isn't heartening. However, it brings to mind some other problems which need solving, too." The rest of them fell silent, looking at him. His usual casual humor had dropped away, and his personality gripped them. He stopped his pacing, and frowned down at them.