whether they were right or wrong. This they cared little about; their
thoughts were upon the coming rain, which they so anxiously awaited. For
more than three hours they were tantalized by the lightning flashing and
the thunder pealing, every moment expecting the flood-gate of the
heavens to be opened; but, as before, they were doomed to
disappointment. Before the morning dawned the clouds had again
retreated; and when the sky was clear, they found by the stars that
their horses' heads were turned to the northward and eastward.

They altered their course in silence, for they were worn out and
despondent; they suffered dreadfully from thirst, and it was pitiable to
see the tongues of the poor horses hanging out of their mouths. Day
dawned, and there were no signs of the caravan. A thick vapor was rising
from every quarter, and they hoped that when it cleared up they would be
more fortunate; but no, there was the same monotonous landscape, the
same carpet of flowers without perfume. The sun was now three hours
high, and the heat was intense; their tongues clove to the roofs of
their mouths, while still they went on over flowery meads; but neither
forest nor pool, nor any trees which might denote the bed of the river,
caught their earnest gaze.

"This is dreadful," said Alexander, at last, speaking with difficulty.

"We are lost, that is certain," said the Major; "but we must trust in
God."

"Yes, we may now say, Lord help us, or we perish," replied Alexander.

At this moment, little Omrah, who had been behind, rode up to them, and
offered them one of the Hottentots' pipes, which he had lighted saying,
"Smoke,--not feel so bad." Alexander took it, and after a few whiffs
found that it had the effect or producing a little saliva, and he handed
it to the Major, who did the same, and felt immediate relief.

They continued to walk their horses in a southerly direction; but the
heat was now so great, that it became almost insufferable, and at last
the horses stood still. They dismounted and drove their horses slowly
before them over the glowing plain; and now the mirage deluded and
tantalized them in the strangest manner. At one time Alexander pointed
with delight (for he could not speak) to what he imagined to be the
wagons; they pushed on, and found that it was a solitary quagga,
magnified thus by the mirage. Sometimes they thought that they saw lakes
of water in the distance, and hastened on to them; and then they fanc