"Here's where I get busy with this new dialect," Bob thought, getting out the paper of native words. A score or more Tuaregs came running up, led by the chieftain, whom Bob had saved from death previously. The people shouted sincere welcomes. Bob glanced down at the paper and found a few words for casual conversation. They were not difficult to pronounce, and the effect upon the natives was astounding. They were indeed surprised to find that this white youth could speak any of their language. But before long Bob got to the purpose. There was one word that stood out in his mind more prominently than any of the others. It was _reeskra_ (help). As best he could, the young American picked out several words and put them in sentences. He outlined briefly and simply that his father and friends were being held captives in a cave not a great distance away. If the Tuaregs would give aid, they would be rewarded. Would they help? The result of his request was instantaneous. The Tuareg men, nearly all six-footers, waved their guns in the air and commanded Bob to lead them to the cave where the whites were being guarded. A thrill of joy ran through Bob's veins, and he ordered his dromedary to move forward. At last his father and friends would be released. CHAPTER XXVI To the Rescue For a distance of several hundred yards the country remained comparatively level, although dotted with huge rocks. Then mountains loomed up before them, and they found it necessary to travel slower. Bob was followed by about fifteen Tuareg warriors, all magnificent specimens of "desert knights." Each man was armed with a rifle which, although inferior to Bob's high-velocity type, could do much damage. Bob was almost certain he could find the way without the small sketch map he had made from the top of the tall peak the night before. But he had the map in his pocket and intended to consult it if necessary. Breathlessly he led the way through the rough country and at last came to the spot where his father and friends had been captured by the Arabs. From then on, finding the way would be easy, the youth thought, for he had only to move toward an odd formation of twin peaks that loomed up above the other mountains in the distance. The cave in which those captured were probably being held was along the side of those tall double peaks. To make sure of this, Bob got out the map and scrutinized it closely. Then, satisfied that he was right, he dashed forward, the Tuaregs at his heels. The way now led up the side of a large hill. There was a break just to one side of the path, and the rescuers could look down to the foot of a deep gorge. Bob kept his dromedary as far away from the brink as possible, to do away with the grim possibility of the ground giving way from under his camel's feet.