a tuft of hair
which fell over her eyes.

"I don't know. Chamis said that in a moment he would come here and tell
us."

"How do you know it is far?"

"Because I heard Idris say that he and Gebhr would start at once with
the camels. That means that we shall go by rail and shall find the
camels at the place where our parents will be, and from there we shall
make some kind of an excursion."

The tuft of hair, owing to the continual hops, covered again not only
Nell's eyes but her whole face, her feet bounding as if they were made
of India rubber.

A quarter of an hour later, Chamis came and bowed to both.

"Khanage (young master)," he said, "we leave after three hours by the
first train."

"Where are we going?"

"To Gharak el-Sultani, and from there with the older gentlemen on
camel-back to Wadi Rayan."

Stas' heart beat with joy, but at the same time Chamis' words surprised
him. He knew that Wadi Rayan was a great valley among sandy hills
rising on the Libyan Desert on the south and southwest of Medinet,
while on the other hand Pan Tarkowski and Mr. Rawlinson announced on
their departure that they were going in a directly opposite direction,
towards the Nile.

"What has happened?" asked Stas. "Then my father and Mr. Rawlinson are
not in Benisueif but in El-Gharak?"

"It happened thus," replied Chamis.

"But they ordered us to write to them at El-Fachn."

"In a letter the senior effendi explains why they are in El-Gharak."

And for a while he searched on his person for the letter, after which
he exclaimed:

"Oh, Nabi! (prophet) I left the letter in a pouch with the camels. I
will run at once before Idris and Gebhr depart."

And he ran towards the camels. In the meantime the children, with
Dinah, began to prepare for the journey. As it looked as if the
excursion would be a long one, Dinah packed several dresses, some
linen, and warmer clothing for Nell. Stas thought of himself, and
especially did not forget about the short rifle and cartridges, hoping
that among the sand dunes of Wadi Rayan he might encounter wolves and
hyenas.

Chamis did not return until an hour later; he was covered with
perspiration and so fatigued that for a while he could not catch his
breath.

"I did not find the camels," he said. "I chased after them, but in
vain. But that does not matter as we shall find the letter and the
effendis themselves in El-Gharak. Is Dinah to go with you?"

"Why not?"

"Perhaps it would be bet