n began to quiver; from under her closed
eyelashes big tears gushed and she wept in earnest.

However, as she was ashamed of her tears and expected a rebuke for them
from Stas, a little from shame and a little from fear she hid her head
on his bosom, wetting his clothes copiously.

But he at once consoled her.

"Nell, don't be a fountain. You saw that they took away from some Arab
a rifle and a she-camel. Do you know what that means? It means that the
desert is full of soldiers. Once these wretches succeeded in trapping a
sentinel, but the next time they themselves will get caught. A large
number of steamboats are plying over the Nile also--Why, of course,
Nell, we will return. We will return, and in a steamer to boot. Don't
be afraid."

And he would have comforted her further in this manner, were not his
attention attracted by a strange sound coming from the outside, from
the sand-drifts, which the hurricane blew onto the bottom of the
ravine. It was something resembling the thin, metallic notes of a reed
pipe. Stas broke off the conversation and began to listen. After a
while these very thin and mournful sounds came from many sides
simultaneously. Through the boy's mind the thought flashed that these
might be Arabian guards surrounding the ravine and summoning aid with
whistles. His heart began to beat. He glanced once and again at the
Sudanese, hoping that he would behold consternation on their faces; but
no! Idris, Gebhr and the two Bedouins calmly chewed biscuits, only
Chamis appeared a little surprised. The sounds continued. After a while
Idris rose and looked out of the cavern; returning, he stopped near the
children, and said:

"The sands are beginning to sing."

Stas' curiosity was so aroused that he forgot that he had determined
not to speak to Idris any more and asked:

"Sands? What does it mean?"

"It happens thus, and means that for a long time there will be no rain.
But the heat will not distress us, since as far as Assuan we will ride
only during the night."

And no more could be learned from him. Stas and Nell listened long to
these peculiar sounds which continued until the sun descended in the
west, after which night fell and the caravan started on its further
journey.

XIII

In the daytime they hid in places concealed and difficult of access,
amid rocks and chasms, and during the night they hurried, without
respite, until they passed the First Cataract. When finally the
Bedouins dis