urried to the spot. The ground sloped down to where Percy was
standing, looking into a deep basin or hollow. The bottom was moist.
They both jumped down, digging away with their hands. Though the sand
was wet, no actual water could they see. They somewhat allayed their
burning thirst by putting the moist sand to their mouths. The
appearance of the moisture encouraged them to hope that they might get
to good water at last. Still they dug and dug with the same result as
before. At length Denis stopped.

"The sand is getting drier instead of moister, and I am very much afraid
that this is merely a hole once full of rain, which being low down and
sheltered has not been dried up by the sun."

Percy agreed with him, and all they could do was to suck some of the
still moist sand, and to place it on the back of their necks, which gave
them temporary relief. It was very evident that all their labour had
been in vain.

"It cannot be helped," cried Denis. "Forward is the word, and on we
must go. Perhaps before long we shall find another hole with water at
the bottom, or some more roots, though unless some baboons help us, I
don't know how we shall discover them."

"I wish that we could feel a little more certain we are going in the
right direction," observed Percy. "If the sun would but come out, I
should be more happy in my mind on that score."

The clouds, however, hung as thickly as before from the sky. Had they
sent down their contents, the wanderers would have been relieved from
the burning thirst from which they were again suffering.

Although there was no sun, the air was hot and oppressive, and they
began to feel much fatigued from their long tramp. Still they felt that
it would be folly to halt while they had strength left to go on. So
they pushed forward mile after mile. Denis declared that he was certain
they were going in a north-westerly direction, from the appearance of
the bark on the trees, which on that side was dry and perfectly free
from moisture, while on the other, whence the rain generally came, here
and there a few fungi and a little moss could occasionally be
discovered. Percy did not like to express doubt about the correctness
of his friend's opinion, but he was not convinced that he was right.

Another night was approaching. Percy, less inured to fatigue than his
companion, felt that unless he could obtain water and rest, he could
scarcely hope to live through it. Still he struggl