and there was row enough in the rear with the baggage
to be heard miles away. What on on earth are we to do, lad?"

"Well, we were marching nearly south. The Southern Cross was almost dead
ahead of us. We had better steer by that, and go on ahead until
morning."

The camels were at once set in motion, and for hours they plodded on.
All desire for sleep had been completely dissipated by the excitement of
the situation, and they talked in low tones as to what they were to do
if they could make out no signs of the column when day broke. They
agreed that their only plan was to keep on until they got to the river,
and that when they arrived there they would water the camels and give
them a feed, and after a rest start on foot along the bank one way or
the other until they found the column.

"There is safe to be a lot of firing," the sergeant said; "for even if
the Arabs don't discover the force in the morning before they get to the
river, they are certain to turn out to attack them as soon as they get
there. Judging by the pace we were going, and the constant halts for the
baggage to come up, there is very little chance of the column getting to
the river before daylight; and as we have nothing to delay us, I expect
we shall be there before they are."

"In one respect that will be all the better," Edgar said; "for as soon
as the natives make out the column they will be swarming all over the
country to look for stragglers, whereas if we are ahead of them we may
get through to the river without being noticed. I don't think that it
will be very long before morning breaks, and, do you know, sergeant, I
think our camels are going faster than they were."

"I think so too, lad. That looks as if we were getting near the water,
and they smell it."

Just as the first signs of daybreak were apparent in the east the
character of the country changed, and they could make out clumps of
trees, and, as the light grew brighter, cultivated ground. Ten minutes
later they both gave a shout of joy as on mounting a slight ascent the
river lay before them. A few minutes later they were on its bank. The
camels rushing down put their noses into the water; their riders slipped
from their backs regardless of the fact that the water was knee-deep,
and wading back to the shore threw themselves down by the edge, and took
long draughts of the clear water. Then throwing off their clothes they
rushed in and indulged in a bathe.

The camels, after fil