ong the raised
bank, looking like gigantic spiders against the illuminated sky, and
there comes faintly to us the distant bark of a jackal.

When we come on deck again after dinner we find the air quite mild; we
are only going at the rate of six miles an hour, which is the
speed-limit.

Somewhere across the desert where we are passing to-night have passed
also the feet of many mighty ones of history. Abraham crossed it with
Sarah, his beautiful wife, Joseph was carried down a captive over the
caravan track of that day. Later on his brothers twice journeyed, driven
by famine, and lastly came old Jacob also. Many times, as we know, did
the armies of the Pharaohs start out in all the panoply of war and
return victorious bringing captives in chains. Across the wilderness
somewhere Moses led forth the children of Israel, and, most wonderful
remembrance of all, Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, brought down to
Egypt his wife and her infant son to escape the wrath and jealousy of
Herod. Hardly any strip of land we could name has so many associations
interesting to all the world.

Why do you start and catch hold of my arm to draw my attention? That is
only a Lascar, one of the sailors, a picturesque fellow, isn't he?
Didn't you notice them when we came on board? The P. & O. ships carry a
crew of Lascars to work under the white quartermasters; they are dark
brown men with shining eyes and gleaming teeth, who dress in bright blue
with red belts and caps; they love a bit of finery and stick it on
wherever they can. They come from the coasts of India and usually sign
on for three years under one of their own headmen called a _serang_; you
can always pick him out by the silver chain of office which he wears
round his neck, Lord-Mayor fashion. I saw him just now, a little man
rather like a monkey. He is a very important personage, for all the
orders are given through him, and he receives the pay for his men and is
responsible for their good behaviour. Woe be to the man who is
insubordinate! Not only will he be punished now, but his whole village
will hear about it, and he will be disgraced and find it difficult to
get work thereafter.

[Illustration: A LASCAR.]

The moon is covered with clouds to-night, which is a pity, but the
brilliant reflectors the ship carries in her bows throw the light well
ahead on to both banks.

Hullo! We're coming to something; there is another ship tied up waiting
for us to pass. No, it is true I