e've travelled a few miles, we may
come upon a different sort of country. We can keep along the coast.
Why shouldn't we find shell-fish enough to keep us alive. See; yonder's
a dark place down upon the beach. I shouldn't wonder if there's some
there?"

The glances of all were instantly directed towards the beach, excepting
those of Sailor Bill. His were fixed on a different object; and an
exclamation that escaped him, as well as a movement that accompanied it,
arrested the attention of his companions, causing them to turn their
eyes upon him.

"Shell-fish be blow'd!" cried Bill; "here's something far better for
breakfast than cowld oysters. Look!"

The sailor, as he spoke, pointed to an oval-shaped object, something
larger than a cocoa-nut, appearing between the hind legs of the maherry.

"It's a shemale!" added he, "and's had a calf not long ago. Look at the
`udder', and them tits. They're swelled wi' milk. There'll be enough
for the whole of us I warrant yez."

As if to make sure of what he said, the sailor dropped down upon his
knees by the hindquarters of the prostrate camel; and, taking one of the
teats in his mouth, commenced drawing forth the lacteal fluid which the
udder contained.

The animal made no resistance. It might have wondered at the curious
"calf" that had thus attached himself to his teats; but only at the
oddness of his colour and costume; for no doubt it had often before been
similarly served by its African owner.

"Fust rate!" cried Bill, desisting for a moment to take breath. "Ayqual
to the richest crame; if we'd only a bite av bred to go along wi' it, or
some av your Scotch porritch, Master Colin. But I forgets. My brave
youngsters," continued he, rising up and standing to one side. "Yez be
all hungrier than I am. Go it, wan after another; there'll be enough
for yez all."

Thus invited, and impelled by their hungry cravings, the three, one
after another, knelt down as the sailor had done; and drank copiously
from that sweet "fountain of the desert."

Taking it in turns, they continued "sucking", until each had swallowed
about a pint and a half of the nutritious fluid; when, the udder of the
camel becoming dry, told that her supply of milk was, for the time,
exhausted.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE SAILOR AMONG THE SHELL-FISH.

It was no longer a question of slaying the camel. That would be killing
the goose that gave the golden eggs. Though they were still very hungr