“Crazy, yes, Dad,” Jack laughed merrily, “crazy with joy. Now do hurry along. Frank’s got word for you, and someone for you to talk with over the radio who’ll give you your best hour for many a day. No, I’m all right, really. Just go on to the grove.” Seeing that Jack was really serious, despite his exuberance, Mr. Hampton wonderingly continued. When Jack arrived later he found his father seated at the phone. “He’s talking to Amrath now,” said Frank. “Hear him, speaking French.” Drawing Jack to a sufficient distance so that their conversation would not disturb Mr. Hampton, Frank explained. Only a short time before, Roy Stone had arrived at the oasis where, as Frank had earlier told Jack, he was hospitably received by Amrath who had recovered his strength in a considerable measure. Learning he was an American, Amrath had spoken of the other Americans who recently stayed at the oasis. Then, as Stone recognized Mr. Hampton’s name, the whole story, even to the kidnapping of Bob, and the setting out of the rescue party, had been related to him. At once he had gone to his airplane, which had been forced to descend because of a leak in the radiator, and had tuned up his radio and started calling for Mr. Hampton on the slim chance that he would be able to reach his old-time friends. “If he hadn’t heard from us,” added Frank, “he intended to get directions from Amrath for finding Korakum and fly south in search of us.” “Luckily, he did get us,” said Jack. “Think Frank. With an airplane we may be able to work out some plan of getting into Athensi and rescuing Bob.” “That’s just what I am thinking of,” said Frank. “And what I was thinking of all the time.” “Dad has finished talking to Amrath, I reckon,” Jack pointed out. “Let’s hear what he has to say.” They made their way to the side of Mr. Hampton who, having taken the headphones from his ears, sat with his head bowed into his hands. Jack laid a hand on his father’s shoulder, and the older man lifted a face unashamedly wet with tears. “Why—why—” began Jack, startled. His father smiled. “It’s all right, Jack,” he said. “Only I have been so worried about Bob. And this sudden discovery of Roy Stone in this part of the world, and with an airplane, seems like an answer to prayer. If there is any way of saving Bob, I begin to believe it must be by airplane, because the campaign of the revolutionists will take too long. Athensi may fall in time, but the Sacrificial Games would be held long before the city’s capitulation. And that would mean——” “I know Dad.” Jack’s hand gripped his father’s shoulder hard.