over the
feeling that he is at sea. How are you two getting on?"

"Better, I suppose," said the doctor, "for I have not thought so much of
the motion lately. I suppose I'm getting used to it."

"And you, Frank?"

"I had forgotten it too till you spoke. But I am utterly tired out.
How long will it be before we get to the tents?"

"Oh, hours yet," said the professor cheerfully.

"What!" cried the doctor and Frank in a breath.

"Not till well on in the morning," said the professor; and then, as his
companions turned to gaze at one another in dismay, "but we're going to
halt soon, to rest the camels and--ourselves."

CHAPTER NINE.

THE HAKIM BEGINS.

The professor had hardly finished speaking when something dark loomed up
through the silvery gloom, and the camels began making a peculiar,
complaining sound, while they slightly increased their pace and soon
after stopped short, craning their necks and muttering and grumbling
peevishly.

A water-hole had been reached, where the beasts were refreshed, after
they had been relieved of their living burdens--those which were loaded
with the travellers' baggage having to be content with a good drink and
then folding their legs to crouch in the sand and rest.

"Yes, it's all very well, Mr Frank," said Sam, "but I don't believe
that thing which carries me is half so tired as I am. Oh my!
See-sawing as I've been backwards and forwards all these hours, till my
spinal just across the loins feels as if it had got a big hinge made in
it and it wanted oiling."

"Lie flat down upon your back and rest it."

"But won't the grass be damp, sir?"

"Grass?" said Frank, smiling. "Where are you going to find it?"

"I forgot, sir," said the man wearily. "No grass; all sand. That comes
of being used to riding in a Christian country."

"That's right," said the professor, joining them, for Frank had set Sam
the example and was lying flat on the soft sand. "I've just been
telling the Hakim to do so. Don't sit down to rest out here; lie flat
whenever you get a chance. It does wonders. Are you thirsty, Frank?"

"Oh no," was the reply.

"That comes of travelling by night. If we had come this distance under
the burning sun we should have been parched."

"Better move, hadn't we?" said Frank, a minute or two later, as he
glanced significantly towards Sam.

"I think we had," replied the professor, laughing. "I thought it was
one of the camels."

The sound that came