After the train trip it felt good to stretch out on the comfortable beds. Despite their youth, Bob and Joe were very tired. "We must wake up at dawn tomorrow," Bob reminded his chum. "We'll have to get our stuff together early." Notwithstanding this, the youths' deep slumber made it necessary for their elders to awaken them. They felt rather sheepish as they arose and noticed that the sun was well up in the sky. "Guess we haven't developed our mental alarm clocks yet," grinned Joe, slipping hurriedly into his clothes. "Now, boys," said Mr. Holton, opening the door of their room, "we're going out to find a guide and camels. You had better come along, so you can practise riding. It isn't easy to get used to a dromedary's trot. First, though, go and get your breakfast." When the meal was finished, they joined the men in the hotel lobby. Fekmah, as the best-informed concerning the Sahara, acted as the leader. "The man in charge of hotel told me of worthy man who will be our guide on the expedition," he said. "He lives at edge of town, not far away." "Fine! Then we'll go there at once." Mr. Lewis walked over to the door, followed by the others. The fellow lived in a small, low structure of clay, and although not pleasing to the eye, it probably lessened the intense heat of the fierce desert sun. Fekmah knocked at the door. A moment later a tall Arab greeted them, his face thin but not indicating that he was possessed of a weak constitution. "Are you Tishmak?" Fekmah asked. The Arab nodded. Fekmah then conversed rapidly in the native tongue, and although the Americans could not catch the meaning of most of the words, they gathered that their friend was succeeding in employing the man to act as a guide. A moment later he confirmed their suspicions. "He will go," Fekmah said delightedly. "And his price is right." He then proceeded to introduce the Americans as best he could in his own language, for the guide could not speak English. "Now," began Dr. Kirshner, "what about the camels? Can this fellow, Tishmak, get them? How many will we need? Ask him, Fekmah. I'm afraid I can't get along very well with his mixed dialect." Their friend put the question before the guide, and he at once gave them an answer. "He says he can get them," Fekmah translated. "And how many we will need depends on our own taste. But he makes suggest that we use twenty. That is seven for us to ride and thirteen to carry food and other things." "All right," said Dr. Kirshner. "Have him lead us to them now, so that we can practise riding." Fekmah again turned to the man, who a moment later nodded and motioned for them to follow him. Ten minutes later, after having wound through many narrow streets, the explorers found themselves in a large open field at the edge of the town. About them were grazing a hundred or more camels. "Here we are," declared Fekmah, his eyes on the idle beasts.