A SLICE OF LUCK 



luck. I had noticed a good many doves flying over- 

 head in the same direction as we were going, and now 

 I saw several sitting on a bush a few hundred yards to 

 the right. Leaving my men and my mule I walked 

 in their direction, full of excitement, and sure enough 

 I found a -small pool of very muddy water, perhaps 

 3 yards broad, hidden under some bushes. I was 

 immensely thankful, and my men delighted beyond 

 words at this unexpected find. Having put my orderly 

 on guard, I sat down to wait for my caravan to arrive. 

 Presently the sun turned blood-red as it neared the 

 horizon, and then soon sank from view behind the 

 stunted thorn trees that stretched away interminably 

 towards the west, whilst almost simultaneously the 

 full moon rose in the east, a deep copper-coloured 

 disc. I lay back luxuriously in the sand and dozed 

 for a time until I heard in the distance the faint sound 

 of bells and the snapping of branches as the camels 

 made their way through the bush. The men began 

 calling and whistling, and presently I saw the long 

 line of camels, looking very strange now in the moon- 

 light with their huge loads swaying and creaking as 

 they walked, led by their native syces. The news 

 that there was water immediately revived everyone, 

 and they sang and joked as they unloaded the camels. 

 I served out dates, instead of rice, for their evening 

 meal, and these were soon eaten. Within an hour, 

 silence reigned once more, and I turned in after a 

 good look round to see that all was well. 



Much refreshed, I woke next morning at 2.30 and 

 we were soon off. The bush was again appallingly 

 dense and our progress slow. When the sun rose it 

 revealed the same apparently limitless expanse of low 

 wait-a-bit thorn ; there is but little charm in the dull 



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