such as coal smoke gives. The camels stood still and, turning away from
the wind, they stretched their long necks downward so that their
nostrils almost touched the sand.

The Sudanese, however, did not wish to allow a stop, as caravans which
halt during a hurricane are often buried in sand. At such times it is
best to speed with the whirlwind, but Idris and Gebhr could not do
this, for in thus doing they would return to Fayum from where they
expected a pursuit. So when the first gale passed they again drove the
camels.

A momentary stillness ensued but the ruddy dusk dissipated very slowly
for the sun could not pierce through the clouds of dust suspended in
the air. The thicker and heavier particles of sand began to fall. Sand
filled all the cracks and punctures in the saddles and clung to the
folds of the clothes. The people with each breath inhaled dust which
irritated their lungs and grated their teeth.

Besides, the whirlwind might break out again and hide the whole world.
It occurred to Stas that if at the time of such darkness he was with
Nell on the same camel, he might turn around and escape with the wind
northward. Who knows whether they would be observed amidst the dusk and
confusion of the elements, and, if they succeeded in reaching any
village on Bahr Yusuf near the Nile, Idris and Gebhr would not dare to
pursue them for they would at once fall into the hands of the local
"police."

Stas, weighing all this, jostled Idris' shoulder and said:

"Give me the gourd with water."

Idris did not refuse for howsoever much that morning they had turned
into the interior of the desert and quite far from the river, they had
enough of water, and the camels drank copiously during the time of
their night stop. Besides this, as a man acquainted with the desert, he
knew that after a hurricane, rain usually follows and the dried-up
"khors" change temporarily into streams.

Stas in reality was thirsty, so he took a good drink, after which, not
returning the gourd, he again jostled Idris' arm.

"Halt the caravan."

"Why?" asked the Sudanese.

"Because I want to sit on the camel with the little 'bint' and give her
water."

"Dinah has a bigger gourd than mine."

"But she is greedy and surely has emptied it. A great deal of sand must
have fallen into her saddle which you made like a basket. Dinah will be
helpless."

"The wind will break out after a while and will refill it."

"That is the more reason why she