and keeps people from
wanting to eat. He's taken plenty of care of the people out yonder, but
I should have liked to see him provide a little more for us."

"Don't be alarmed. I daresay we shall find plenty."

"From what the people here tell me about the desert, sir, I don't think
we shall; but there, I'm not going to grumble, sir. An hour's time,
eh?"

"Yes, in less now. Then the Sheikh will be here with the camels."

"To take us right away into the desert, sir. Do you think he's safe?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well, I hope he is, sir; but if he means mischief and plays any games
when he's got us right away from the police, I just hope he won't ask me
to shave his head again."

"Why?" said Frank, smiling.

"Why, sir? Well, because it won't be safe."

It was about nine o'clock, the moon past the full, rising, richly golden
of hue, in the east, and the air moist and fragrant with the cloying
scent of the orange trees, when with a strange feeling of unreality
about the whole proceeding, the little English party passed the groups
of visitors smoking and chatting in the garden, or listening to the
strains of a very excellent band. It almost seemed to the doctor that
he ought to go and occupy the seat he had found so pleasant on the
previous night; but the professor was by his side talking earnestly of
the peculiarities of a night ride in the desert, and Frank was close
behind with Sam.

In another minute they were in an open court, where, looking mysterious
and strange, were a group of about a dozen camels and their leaders, in
front of whom stood the figure of the Sheikh, his white robes and turban
looking thoroughly in keeping with the strangely formed animals, four of
which were keeping up a peculiar, querulous, discontented whining grunt,
and turning their heads from side to side in their disgust at being
laden with portmanteaus and bags, while their fellows had been allowed
to go scot-free.

And now all seemed more unreal than ever; and anything less like a start
upon so dangerous an expedition it would have been impossible to
imagine.

"Ready, Ibrahim?" said the professor.

"Yes, Excellency," replied the Sheikh; "it is past the time, and the
camels are loaded."

Frank looked round the court, where a couple of servants were standing
beneath an arcade, while the moon was just peering over the house in a
one-eyed fashion as if watching what was going on; but no one came from
within to see the night