ever, that to satisfy the latter appetite it
would not be necessary for them to kill the camel. Upon the top of its
hump was a small flat pad or saddle--firmly held in its place by a
strong leathern band passing under the animal's belly. This proved to
be a "maherry," or riding camel--one of those swift creatures used by
the Arabs in their long rapid journeys across the deserts; and which are
common among the tribes inhabiting the Saara.

It was not this saddle that gratified the eyes of our adventurers, but a
bag, tightly strapped to it, and resting behind the hump of the maherry.
This bag was of goat's-skin; and upon examination was found to be
nearly half full of water. It was in fact the "Gerba", or waterskin,
belonging to whoever had been the owner of the animal--an article of
camel equipment more essential than the saddle itself.

The four castaways, suffering the torture of thirst, made no scruple
about appropriating the contents of the bag; and, in the shortest
possible time, it was stripped from the back of the maherry, its stopper
taken out, and the precious fluid extracted from it by all four, in
greedy succession, until its light weight, and collapsed side declared
it to be empty.

Their thirst being thus opportunely assuaged, a council was next held as
to what they should do to appease the other appetite.

Should they kill the camel?

It appeared to be their only chance; and the impetuous Terence had
already unsheathed his midshipman's dirk--with the design of burying it
in the body of the animal.

Colin, however, more prudent in council, cried to him to hold his hand;
at least until they should give the subject a more thorough
consideration.

On this suggestion they proceed to debate the point between them. They
were of different opinions, and equally divided. Two, Terence and Harry
Blunt, were for immediately killing the maherry and making their
breakfast upon its flesh; while the sailor joined Colin in voting that
it should be reprieved.

"Let us first make use of the animal to help carry us somewhere," argued
the young Scotchman. "We can go without food a day longer. Then, if we
find nothing, we can butcher this beast."

"But what's to be found in such a country as this?" inquired Harry
Blount. "Look around you! There's nothing green but the sea itself.
There isn't anything eatable within sight--not so much as would make a
dinner for a dormouse!"

"Perhaps," rejoined Colin, "when w