e ears in the deadly quicksands.
Then the whole of our party would halt and, amid broad laughter and much
ridicule, the unfortunate one would be dragged forth from a certain and
terrible doom.

But the path was not straight. Heedless of the chatter and excitement
behind him Omar walked on before, his staff raised on a level with his
eye, counting aloud each step he took, measuring the distance, until when
he had taken a thousand paces he suddenly stopped, examined the ground
well, and then turning at exact right angles, took bearings by another
mound that I had noticed far in the distant haze.

Again and again we faced always at exact angles after pacing a thousand
steps, so that our path became a zig-zag one, long and toilsome, with
many halts, yet without rest and without seeing anything beyond the
wondrous expanse of burning sky and the loose sand that swallowed all
things dead or living.

Everything thrown upon it sank and disappeared almost as quickly as iron
cast into water.

CHAPTER XIV.

FOES.

WHEN we had been several hours upon our hot, tedious journey there arose
a quarrel out of a practical joke played by one native upon the man
walking before him. Quick, hasty words led to blows being exchanged.

Both men were walking immediately in front of me, and I did my best to
quell the disturbance, but either they did not understand me or affected
ignorance of my words, for suddenly one of them raising his spear leapt
forward upon the other. The man attacked sprang aside and in so doing
left the narrow path, at that spot not more than twelve inches in width,
followed by the would-be assassin.

Next second they sank into the sand, and although loud cries of horror
escaped them, both disappeared into the terrible gulf ere a hand could be
outstretched to save them. Hearing their cries I leant forward, but
before I could grasp either of them the fine sand had closed over their
heads like the waters of the sea, leaving a deep round depression in the
surface. They had disappeared for ever.

The instant death of the two combatants before my gaze caused me to
shudder, and I confess that from that moment I kept my eyes rivetted upon
the strange narrow path by which we were crossing the impassable barrier.

Through three whole days we continued along the Way of the Thousand
Steps, resting at night and journeying while the light lasted. To halt
was even more perilous than to progress, for when we encamped we