stood up when the time came, and stalked away, swaying
gently from side to side as they pad-padded silently across the soft
sand.

Suddenly the boys were startled by a most terrifying sound a little
distance away. It was a bubbling roar, such as a bullock would make if
he tried to bellow when he was drowning. They looked in the direction
it came: from, and saw a big bull camel, blowing its bladder out of its
mouth and lashing with its tail. They went over and found the animal
standing in a little paddock fenced with strong stakes. The boys had
never seen such a tremendous camel before. Its body and fore legs were
thick and heavy, but its hind legs were trim and shapely, and reminded
them of the hind-quarters of a greyhound. Its neck was broad and flat,
and looked very strong, while its head, with the bloodshot eyes and the
horrid red bladder hanging from the mouth, was not nice to see. It
stood there with its fore feet fastened together by a chain, its hind
ones spread wide apart, twitching its tail about, and roaring with a
rumbling gurgle, either in rage or challenge. It was a sight to strike
terror into anybody's heart.

Presently two Afghans came up and began to talk in English. "Ah!" said
one, a little man, dressed in the blouse and baggy pantaloons of his
native country, his face looking very cruel. "Ah! That's old Abul, is
it? I've not seen him for ten years. He used to try and play tricks
with me, did Abul, but I taught him his lessons; didn't I, Abul? I
taught him not to play with _me_." He laughed at the remembrance of
the cruelties he had practised on that camel ten years ago.

"He's a good camel," replied the other man. "He belongs to me. He's a
very good camel. He doesn't want to be beaten. He works well. I can
do anything I like with him." He began to climb over the fence, but
the first speaker stopped him.

"What are you going to do?" he asked excitedly. "You must not go in
there. He is a bad camel, I tell you. Abul is not safe. I know him.
I was his master ten years ago."

"I'm only going to take off his hobbles," said the other man.

"Well, do not go in like that. I used to throw a rope and tie him up
before I went near him. He is a bad camel, I tell you. But _I_ taught
him his lessons." He laughed again, and Sax shuddered as he looked at
the man's cruel face.

But the present owner was not afraid. He had been kind to Abul. He
went up to the great grey beast and s