s of meat to carry with us, started on again. By the
position of the stars, we now knew that the oasis must lie somewhere to
the east of us; but as between us and it there appeared to be nothing
but these eternal sand-hills stretching away for many miles, and as in
front of us toward the range the character of the desert seemed to be
changing, we thought it safer, if the word safety can be used in such
a connection, to continue to head for that range. All the remainder of
this night we marched, and, as we had no fuel wherewith to cook it, at
dawn ate some of the raw meat, which we washed down with the last drops
of our water.

Now we were out of the sand-hills, and had entered on a great pebbly
plain that lay between us and the foot of the mountains. These looked
quiet close, but in fact were still far off. Feebly and ever more feebly
we staggered on, meeting no one and finding no water, though here and
there we came across little bushes, of which we chewed the stringy and
aromatic leaves that contained some moisture, but drew up our mouths and
throats like alum.

Higgs, who was the softest of us, gave out the first, though to the
last he struggled forward with surprising pluck, even after he had been
obliged to throw away his rifle, because he could no longer carry it,
though this we did not notice at the time. When he could not support
himself upon his feet, Orme took him by one arm, and I by the other,
and helped him on, much as I have seen two elephants do by a wounded
companion of the herd.

Half-an-hour or so later my strength failed me also. Although advanced
in years, I am tough and accustomed to the desert and hardships; who
would not be who had been a slave to the Khalifa? But now I could do no
more, and halting, begged the others to go on and leave me. Orme's only
answer was to proffer me his left arm. I took it, for life is sweet
to us all, especially when one has something to live for--a desire
to fulfil as I had, though to tell the truth, even at the time I felt
ashamed of myself.

Thus, then, we proceeded awhile, resembling a sober man attempting to
lead two drunken friends out of reach of that stern policeman, Death.
Orme's strength must be wonderful; or was it his great spirit and his
tender pity for our helplessness which enabled him to endure beneath
this double burden.

Suddenly he fell down as though he had been shot, and lay there
senseless. The Professor, however, retained some portion of hi