ll-fish he had collected, and which were found to be a species of
mussel.

They were not only edible, but delicious, at least they seemed so to
those who were called upon to swallow them.

This seasonable supply did a great deal towards allaying the appetites
of all; and even Terence now declared himself contented to remain
concealed until night should afford them an opportunity of escape from
the monotony of their situation.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

KEEPING UNDER COVER.

From the spot, where the camel still lay couched in his "entetherment",
the sea was not visible to one lying along the ground. It was only by
standing erect and looking over a spur of the sand-ridge that the beach
could be seen, and the ocean beyond it.

There would be no danger, therefore, of their being discovered, by any
one coming along the strand, provided they kept in a crouching attitude
behind the ridge, which, sharply crested, like a snow-wreath, formed a
sort of parapet in front of them. They might have been easily seen from
the summit of any of the dunes to the rear; but there was not much
likelihood of any one approaching them in that direction. The country
inward appeared to be a labyrinth of sand-hills, with no opening that
would indicate a passage for either man or beast. The camel, in all
probability, had taken to the gorge, guided by its instincts, there to
seek shelter from the sandstorm. The fact of its carrying a saddle
showed that its owner must have been upon the march at the time it
escaped from him. Had our adventurers been better acquainted with
Saaran customs, they would have concluded that this had been the case;
for they would have known that, on the approach of a _shumu_, the
forecasts of which are well-known, the Bedouins at once and in all haste
break up their encampment and put themselves and their whole personal
property in motion. Otherwise, they would be in danger of getting
smoored under the settling sand-drift.

Following the counsels of the sailor, whose desert knowledge appeared as
extensive as if it, and not the sea, had been his habitual home, our
adventurers crouched down in such a way as not to be seen by any one
passing along the beach.

Scarcely had they placed themselves in this humble attitude when Old
Bill, who had been keeping watch all the while, with only the upper half
of his head elevated above the combing of the sand-wreath, announced, by
a low exclamation, that something was in sight