The next morning the explorers were barely up when Joe happened to notice something crawling toward him as he sat near the tent. He was up in a moment, looking about fearfully. "A scorpion!" he cried excitedly. CHAPTER XVI Steady Aim The creature that was slowly moving toward Joe was as large as his hand, with long, powerful legs that were doubled ready to spring. And Joe well knew what that spring would mean. The youth viewed the hideous scorpion with a terrible awe, fearing to move lest it become angered and charge. What was he to do? He knew he could not get up in time, for his terrible enemy would be upon him. Yet if he should remain sitting, he would surely feel the hairy mass upon him in a very few seconds. Slowly Joe reached into his holster for his pistol. He was a poor shot with such a weapon, but the chance had to be taken. Still there was a possibility that he might kill the huge spider by throwing the gun at it. With a sudden movement the youth drew out the automatic and carefully but hurriedly threw it with all his strength. Then his heart sank as he saw the gun whiz past the scorpion and roll across the hard ground. The sudden movement angered the creature still more, and it crouched as if to charge. Suddenly, as a last resort, Joe sprang to his feet and dodged to one side, just as the scorpion left the ground. As the result the charge was unsuccessful, the huge spider alighting several feet to the youth's left. The next moment Joe was in the tent, looking about nervously. He picked up his rifle and dashed back outside. The scorpion was slowly crawling toward the entrance to the tent when Joe took careful aim and fired. His aim was true. The small bullet caught the creature squarely, shattering it into pulp, which flew in several directions. After watching the remains of the scorpion for a moment, Joe turned about, to find Dr. Kirshner and Bob standing beside him with small rifles. "That was a wonderful shot, Joe," praised the archæologist. "Bob and I happened to have our rifles and would have taken a shot at the scorpion if you had missed." "So you saw, did you? Well, I don't mind saying that I was frightened stiff for a few minutes. Thought sure I was a goner." He was forced to tell of the entire experience, and in the end his listeners looked grave. "A very narrow escape," said Dr. Kirshner, who, along with the naturalists and Fekmah, had listened breathlessly. "Scorpions are terrible adversaries," said Mr. Holton soberly. "The fluid they inject is extremely poisonous! From now on we'll have to watch more closely." After breakfast the explorers continued on the dromedaries. They were to reach another stretch of sand dunes late that afternoon, Tishmak told them. "Sand hills will seem good after these endless miles in the Tudemait Plateau," remarked Joe. "But there won't be any shade, and there is a little here from the rocks."