ing the clapping of hands, and the cries of
"Yalla." On the southwest the horizon, previously whitish, darkened.
The heat continued and the sun scorched the heads of the riders. The
vultures soared very high evidently, for their shadows grew smaller and
smaller, and they finally vanished entirely.

It became sultry.

The Arabs yelled at the camels until their throats became parched,
after which they were silent and a funereal quiet ensued, interrupted
only by the groaning of the animals.

Two very small foxes* [* An animal smaller than our foxes, called
"fennec."] with big ears stole by the caravan, running in an opposite
direction.

The same Bedouin, who had previously conversed with Idris, spoke out
again in a strange and as if not his own voice:

"This will not be a usual wind. Evil charms are pursuing us. The snake
is to blame for all--"

"I know," answered Idris.

"Look! the air quivers. That does not happen in winter."

In fact the heated air began to quiver, and in consequence of an
illusion of the eyes it seemed to the riders that the sands quivered.
The Bedouin took his sweaty cowl from his head and said:

"The heart of the desert beats with terror."

And at this the other Bedouin, riding in the lead as a guide of the
camels, turned around and began to shout:

"He is already coming!--He is coming!"

And in truth the wind came up. In the distance appeared as it were dark
clouds which in their eyes grew higher and higher and approached the
caravan. The nearest waves of air all around became agitated and sudden
gusts of wind began to spin the sand. Here and there funnels were
formed as if someone had drilled the surface of the desert with a cane.
At places rose swift whirlpools resembling pillars, thin at the bottom
and outspread on top like plumes of feathers. All this lasted but the
twinkling of an eye. The cloud which the camel-guide first espied came
flying towards them with an inconceivable velocity. It struck the
people and beasts like the wing of a gigantic bird. In one moment the
eyes and mouths of the riders were filled with sand. Clouds of dust hid
the sky, hid the sun, and the earth became dusky. The men began to lose
sight of one another and even the nearest camel appeared indistinctly
as if in a fog. Not the rustle--for on the desert there are no
trees--but the roar of the whirlwind drowned the calls of the guide and
the bellowing of the animals. In the atmosphere could be smelt an odor