other,"
said Halliday. "Its back is long enough to let us all ride on it: you,
Boxall, on the top of the hump, as the post of honour; Ben, astern; and
Charlie and I in front."

I could not help laughing at Halliday's proposal; Boxall did likewise.

"We must catch the beast first, then get it to lie down while we are
mounting. And then, should we ever get on its back, seeing that it has
no halter, it would certainly carry us--not where we wished to go, but
to the tents of its masters; who would probably knock us on the head,
or, if mercifully disposed, make slaves of us," observed Boxall.

"Then I vote we don't interfere with Mr Camel," said Halliday. "But
perhaps, if we were to follow its footsteps, it might lead us to where
we could get some fresh water; or, should it go back to its owners, we
might have time to reconnoitre them at a distance, and judge whether it
would be prudent to trust ourselves in their power."

"A very good idea," said Boxall. "If, however, we are to trace its
steps, we must wait till daylight; for as it probably walks much faster
than we can, we should very likely lose sight of it, and get bewildered
among the sand-hills."

We were watching the camel as it came towards us, when, either seeing us
or scenting us, it stopped short, poking out its head, as if wondering
what curious creatures we could be. Then turning round, it stalked
leisurely away, and was lost in the gloom.

"I hope it won't go and tell its masters--unless they happen to be
well-disposed individuals," said Halliday. "I trust that they may prove
friendly; and the camel, perhaps, has come to guide us to them."

"It seems to me that daylight is breaking," I remarked.

"We shall soon know all about the matter, then; only I do wish we could
get something to eat," said Halliday.

"So do I; but there is no use talking about it," I observed.

"I am not much afraid of starving," said Boxall. "We may hope to find
oysters, or some other shell-fish, in the lagoon. I am more anxious
about water; but even that we may possibly find by digging in the sand."

Ben, overcome with fatigue, still slept on, undisturbed by our voices.
I agreed with Boxall that he required rest even more than we did, and we
therefore determined not to arouse him till daylight.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

BEN'S DREAM--AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY--A SEARCH FOR WATER--FRIENDS OR
FOES?--BOXALL'S INGENIOUS MODE OF OBTAINING A LIGHT--OUR COMPANION
SPIRITED AWAY.