He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his own
position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis.
Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arrested
his attention. A young girl was fastening some article to the wrist
of a burly, villainous-looking Turk. The boy saw a glitter that
reminded him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward the
man and the girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such a
way that Rob could see nothing more.
While the couple were apparently examining the strange device, Rob
started to his feet and walked toward them. The crowd fell back at
his approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that they
did not notice him. He was still several paces away when the girl put
out her finger and touched the indicator on the dial.
To Rob's horror and consternation the big Turk began to rise slowly
into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd. But the boy
made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to it
with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upward
until they were far above the city of the desert.
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