r travelers
passing along this road, and swoop down upon them."

"How long shall we be reaching Petra?"

"It is three days' fair traveling; but as the beasts are fresh, by
journeying well on to sundown we could accomplish it in two days.
After that we can travel at our ease; the villages lie but a few miles
apart."

"Let us push on, then, by all means," said Jethro. "We can stay a day
at Petra to rest the beasts, but let us get through this desolate and
dangerous country as soon as we can."

The girls had been greatly amused at first at the appearance of the
strange animal that was carrying them; but they soon found that the
swinging action was extremely fatiguing, and they would have gladly
got down and walked.

Jethro, however, said that this could not be, for the pace of the
animal, deliberate though it seemed, was yet too great for them to
keep up with on foot, and it was needful for the first two days to
push on at full speed.

The sun blazed with tremendous force, and was reflected from the black
rock of the hills and the white sand lying between the stones that
everywhere strewed the plain along which they were traveling, and the
heat was terrible. After traveling for three hours they halted for an
hour, and Jethro managed, with the poles that had been brought to form
the framework of tents, and some cloths, to fasten an awning over the
baskets in which the girls were riding. The camels had lain down as
soon as they halted, and the girls stepped into the baskets before
they arose. They gave a simultaneous cry as the animal rose. They had
prepared for him to rise on his fore legs, and when his hind quarter
suddenly rose in the air they were almost thrown from their baskets.

"I don't like this creature a bit," Mysa said as they moved on. "Who
would suppose that he was going to get up the wrong way first?
Besides, why does he keep on grumbling? I am sure that Ruth and I
cannot be such a very heavy load for such a great beast. I believe he
would have bit us as we got in if the driver had not jerked the rope
at its head. It must be much nicer to sit on a horse. I am sure that
looks easy enough."

"It is not so easy as it looks, Mysa," Chebron replied; "besides, you
know women never do ride horses."

"They do in our country," Amuba said. "When we get there, Mysa, I will
teach you how to sit on them."

"Ah! it is a long way off, Amuba," Mysa replied; "and I believe this
creature has made up his mind to sh