tsman,
declared that it was his and we did not think it worth while to
contradict him.

On we toiled, and, just beyond the ridge, walked straight into the
lioness, sitting up like a great dog, so injured that she could do
nothing but snarl hideously and paw at the air.

"Now it is my turn, old lady," ejaculated Higgs, and straightway
missed her clean from a distance of five yards. A second shot was more
successful, and she rolled over, dead.

"Come on," said the exultant Professor, "and we'll skin her. She sat on
me, and I mean to sit on her for many a day."

So we began the job, although I, who had large experience of this
desert, and did not like the appearance of the weather, wished to leave
the beast where it lay and get back to the oasis. It proved long, for
I was the only one of us who had any practical knowledge of flaying
animals, and in that heat extremely unpleasant.

At length it was done, and, having doubled the hide over a rifle for two
of us to carry in turns, we refreshed ourselves from the water-bottles
(I even caught the Professor washing the blood off his face and hands
with some of the precious fluid). Then we started for the oasis, only to
discover, though we were all sure that we knew the way, that not one
of us had a slightest idea of its real direction. In the hurry of our
departure we had forgotten to bring a compass, and the sun, that would
have been our guide in ordinary circumstances, and to which we always
trusted in the open desert, was hidden by the curious haze that has been
described.

So, sensibly enough, we determined to return to the sand crest where we
had killed the lioness, and then trace our own footprints backward. This
seemed simple enough, for there, within half-a-mile, rose the identical
ridge.

We reached it, grumbling, for the lion-skin was heavy, only to discover
that it was a totally different ridge. Now, after reflection and
argument, we saw our exact mistake, and made for what was obviously the
real ridge--with the same result.

We were lost in the desert!

CHAPTER IV

THE DEATH WIND

"The fact is," said Higgs presently, speaking with the air of an oracle,
"the fact is that all these accursed sand-hills are as like each other
as mummy beads on the same necklace, and therefore it is very difficult
to know them apart. Give me that water-bottle, Adams; I am as dry as a
lime-kiln."

"No," I said shortly; "you may be drier before the end."

"What do you