ed the other end of the
rope to our three camels, which with might and main we urged away from
the bank.

Faster and faster came down the sand from above; but we pulled and
pulled, while the sheikh's camel struggled, trampling the sand down with
its fore feet; and in a few seconds we had hauled him out from the midst
of the sand, and once more safe among his followers--who rode up to
congratulate him, and to compliment us on the service we had rendered.

"You have done well, O young Nazarene," he exclaimed, turning to me;
"and from henceforth know me as your friend. Though I cannot grant you
your liberty--which in this place would be of no use, as you would
certainly be murdered were you to attempt to cross the desert alone--
yet, on my return to the north, I will venture as near the settled
districts as I can, that you may have an opportunity of reaching your
countrymen."

I thanked the sheikh in proper terms, assuring him of the satisfaction
my companions and I felt at having rescued him from the dangerous
position in which he had been placed.

Quickly recovering himself, and being quite indifferent to the quantity
of sand clinging to his garments, he rode along in search of a more
practicable opening. This at length was found; and as the valley was
much broader, and the sand slanted more gradually on either side, there
appeared a fair prospect of our being able to pass through. The whole
caravan then entered the defile between the sand-hills; but we were
fully three hours travelling between those prodigious masses of sand.
Sand was below our feet, sand in front and behind, sand on each side. A
sudden blast would inevitably cover us with it for many feet. It was
nervous work. Fatalism alone could have induced men, fully alive to the
danger they were incurring, to venture into such a position. To add to
our danger, the loaded camels frequently fell down, and we were
compelled to take off their burdens to enable them to rise.

At length, overcome with fatigue, the whole caravan emerged from the
defile on firm ground, where we encamped,--but without a drop of water
to quench our burning thirst. The only liquid that we could procure,
and that in very small quantities, was milk from the camels and goats.

We at length reached a pool of brackish water, which somewhat restored
us. Further on we passed over a region of salt. Here the ground, as we
advanced over it, gave way under our feet, producing a cracklin