ore they reached the first cataract, and this thought
gave him hope. In the meantime he wanted above all things to sleep; so
he promised himself that he would tie himself with some kind of rope to
the saddle, and, as he would not have to hold Nell, he could take a nap
for a few hours.

The night already became paler and the jackals ceased their whining
amid the passes. The caravan was to start immediately, but the
Sudanese, observing the dawn, went to a rock, a few paces away, and
there, conformably with the precepts of the Koran, began their morning
ablutions, using, however, sand instead of water, which they desired to
save. Afterwards resounded voices, saying the "soubhg," or morning
prayer. Amidst the deep silence plainly could be heard their words: "In
the name of the compassionate and merciful God. Glory to the Lord, the
sovereign of the world, compassionate and merciful on the day of
judgment. Thee we worship and profess. Thee we implore for aid. Lead us
over the road of those to whom thou dost not spare benefactions and
grace and not over the paths of sinners who have incurred Thy wrath and
who err. Amen."

And Stas, hearing these voices, raised his eyes upwards and in that
distant region, amidst tawny, gloomy sands, began the prayer:

"We fly to Thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God."

VIII

The night faded. The men already had the saddles on the camels, when
suddenly they observed a desert wolf, which, with tail curled beneath
it, rushed across the pass, about a hundred paces from the caravan, and
reaching the opposite table-land, dashed ahead showing signs of fright
as if it fled before some enemy. On the Egyptian deserts there are no
wild animals before which wolves could feel any fear and for that
reason this sight greatly alarmed the Sudanese Arabs. What could this
be? Was the pursuing party already approaching? One of the Bedouins
quickly climbed on a rock, but he had barely glanced when he slipped
down yet more quickly.

"By the prophet!" he exclaimed, confused and frightened, "a lion is
rushing towards us and is already close by!"

And then from beyond the rocks came a bass "wow" after which Stas and
Nell shouted together:

"Saba! Saba!"

As in the Arabian language this means a lion, the Bedouins became
frightened yet more, but Chamis burst out laughing and said:

"I know that lion."

Saying this he whistled drawlingly and in a moment the gigantic mastiff
dashed among the camels. Seeing