like quails."

"We have knives," observed Gebhr.

"Try it, but remember that you have a throat which the dog will pull to
pieces before you stab him."

"Then what is to be done?"

Chamis shrugged his shoulder.

"Why do you want to kill the dog? If you should afterwards bury him in
the sand, the hyenas will dig him out; the pursuers will find his bones
and will know that we did not cross the Nile but made off in this
direction. Let him follow us. As often as the Bedouins go for water and
we hide in the passes, you may be sure that the dog will stay with the
children. Allah! It is better that he came now, for otherwise he would
lead the pursuing party on our tracks as far as Berber. You do not need
to feed him, for if our leavings are not sufficient it will not be
difficult for him to get a hyena or jackal. Leave him in peace, I tell
you, and do not lose any time in idle talk."

"Perhaps you are right," said Idris.

"If I am right, then I will give him water, so that he shall not run to
the Nile and show himself in the villages."

In this manner was decided the fate of Saba who, having somewhat rested
himself and eaten his fill, in the twinkling of an eye lapped up a bowl
of water and started with renewed strength after the caravan.

They now rode on high, level ground, on which the wind wrinkled the
sand and from which could be seen on both sides the immense expanse of
the desert. Heaven assumed the tint of a pearl shell. Light little
clouds gathered in the east and changed like opals, after which they
suddenly became dyed with gold. One ray darted, afterwards another, and
the sun--as is usual in southern countries, in which there are scarcely
any twilight and dawn--did not ascend, but burst from behind the clouds
like a pillar of fire and flooded the horizon with a bright light. It
enlivened heaven, it enlivened the earth, and the immeasurable sandy
expanse was unveiled to the eyes of men.

"We must hasten," said Idris, "for here we can be seen from a distance."

Accordingly the rested and satiated camels sped on with the celerity of
gazelles. Saba remained behind, but there was no fear that he would get
lost and not appear at the first short halt for refreshments. The
dromedary on which Idris rode with Stas ran close to the one on which
Nell was mounted, so that the children could easily converse with each
other. The seat which the Sudanese had made appeared splendid and the
little girl really looked like