ack upon the camp, would probably
have killed them all, had inspired his masters with some slight
gratitude. The sailor, therefore, was permitted to ride, when they saw
that otherwise they would have to leave him behind to die upon the
desert.

During the last two days of the eight, our adventurers noticed something
in the appearance of the country over which they were moving, that
inspired them with hope. The face of the landscape became more uneven;
while here and there stunted bushes and weeds were seen, as if
struggling between life and death.

The kafila had arrived on the northern border of the great Saara; and a
few days more would bring them to green fields, shady groves, and
streams of sparkling water.

Something resembling the latter was soon after discovered. At the close
of the eighth day they reached the bed of what appeared to be a river
recently dried up. Although there was no current, they found some pools
of stagnant water; and beside one of these the _douar_ was established.

On a hill to the north were growing some green shrubs, to which the
camels were driven; and upon these they immediately commenced browsing.
Not only the leaves, but the twigs and branches, were rapidly twisted
off by the long prehensile lips of the animals, and as greedily
devoured.

It was twilight as the camp had been fairly pitched; and just then two
men were seen coming towards them leading a camel. They were making for
the pools of water, for the purpose of filling some goatskins which were
carried on their camel. They appeared both surprised and annoyed to
find the pools in possession of strangers.

Seeing they could not escape observation, the men came boldly forward
and commenced filling their goatskins. While thus engaged they told the
Arab sheik that they belonged to a caravan near at hand that was
journeying southward; and they should continue their journey early the
next morning.

After the departure of the two men the Arabs held a consultation.

"They have told us a lie," remarked the old sheik; "they are not on a
journey, or they would have halted here by the water. By the beard of
our Prophet, they have spoken falsely!"

With this opinion his followers agreed; and it was suggested that the
two men they had seen were of some party encamped by the seashore, and
undoubtedly amusing themselves with a wreck, or gathering wealth in some
other unusual way.

Here was an opportunity not to be lost; and t