nsider that his fate
might probably be ours before long; for how could we hope, without the
help of his judgment and thoughtfulness, to make our way over some
hundred miles of desert? Had we known, indeed, one tenth part of the
difficulties to be encountered, we should have said that it was
impossible.

"We are not going to let Mr Boxall be carried off by that black chap
without trying to get him back, I hope," exclaimed Ben at length.

"Certainly not," I said.

"Of course not," exclaimed Halliday. "We must follow him till we get
near the Arab camp, and then try and let him know that we are near at
hand to help him to escape."

It struck me that this proposition was very good in theory, but unlikely
to succeed in practice. I did not say so, however, as I was unwilling
to damp the ardour of my companions, or to show any want of interest in
our friend.

"If we are to overtake him, we must set forth at once," I observed. "It
will be difficult enough to trace him in the daytime, and impossible in
the darkness; and that fleet camel may have passed over many miles of
ground before night sets in."

Halliday, I should have said, had a small compass attached to his
watch-chain. It was a trifling little thing, and of scarcely any use at
sea; but, placed on the ground, it would enable us to take the bearings
of an object with tolerable accuracy. He at once put it down, and we
marked the direction the Arab had taken; it was almost due south-east.

"Shall we make sail, sir?" asked Ben, who was eager to be off.

"Yes," I said. "You, Ben, lead, and keep straight ahead for the
northern end of the most distant sand-hill in sight; while Mr Halliday
and I will keep twelve paces apart, and twelve paces behind you. We
shall thus form a triangle, and if we see you turning we will put you
straight again. I think in that way we shall be able to keep a direct
course."

"I understand, sir," said Ben.

Having measured our distances, we set off. We were already on the edge
of the level desert, so that we had no impediments to interfere with our
march. Had I been more sanguine of success, I should have gone on with
better spirits; but with the slight hopes I entertained of overtaking
Boxall, and suffering in common with my companions from excessive
thirst, my spirits flagged, and I could with difficulty drag on my weary
feet over the hot sand. But having reached the point for which we had
been steering, we brought up; and a