ns now appear, stalking over the plain and
circling gradually around me. There is something unearthly in the
sight. They resemble creatures of a phantom world. They seem endowed
with demon life.

Two of them approach each other. There is a short, ghastly struggle
that ends in their mutual destruction. The sand is precipitated to the
earth, and the dust floats off in dun, shapeless masses.

Several have shut me within a space, and are slowly closing upon me. My
dog howls and barks. The horse cowers with affright, and shivers
between my thighs, uttering terrified expressions.

My brain reels. Strange objects appear. The fever is upon me! The
laden currents clash in their wild torsion. I am twisted around and
torn from my saddle. My eyes, mouth, and ears are filled with dust.
Sand, stones, and branches strike me spitefully in the face; and I am
flung with violence to the earth!

I lay for a moment where I had fallen, half-buried and blind. I was
neither stunned nor hurt; and I began to grope around me, for as yet I
could see nothing. My eyes were full of sand, and pained me
exceedingly. Throwing out my arms, I felt for my horse; I called him by
name. A low whimper answered me. I staggered towards the spot, and
laid my hands upon him; he was down upon his flank. I seized the
bridle, and he sprang up; but I could feel that he was shivering like an
aspen.

I stood by his head for nearly half an hour, rubbing the dust from my
eyes; and waiting until the simoom might settle away. At length the
atmosphere grew clearer, and I could see the sky; but the sand still
drifted along the ridges, and I could not distinguish the surface of the
plain. There were no signs of Gode.

I mounted and commenced riding over the plain in search of my comrade.
I had no idea of what direction he had taken.

I made a circuit of a mile or so, still calling his name as I went. I
received no reply, and could see no traces upon the ground. I rode for
an hour, galloping from ridge to ridge, but still without meeting any
signs of my comrade or the mules. I pulled up in despair. I had
shouted until I was faint and hoarse. I could search no longer.

I was thirsty, and would drink. O God! my "xuages" are broken! The
pack-mule has carried off the water-skin.

The crushed calabash still hung upon its thong; but the last drops it
had contained were trickling down the flanks of my horse. I knew that I
might be fifty miles fro