GUIDE AT FAULT; EXHAUSTION. 269 



seven miles more, no well was to be seen, and the 

 guide announced that we had gone out of our road. 

 So he proceeded to the top of a hillock in the im- 

 mediate neitrhbourhood to obtain a view over the 

 surrounding country, and soon afterwards beckoned 

 to us to follow. On rejoining him, he assured us 

 that although we had missed the second well, a third, 

 where he purposed passing the night, was scarcely 

 four miles farther. We took the direction indi- 

 cated. In the meanwhile it was near midday and 

 the heat intolerable. A strong wind stirred the hot 

 lower atmosphere, enveloping us in sand and saline 

 dust. Our animals suffered frightfully ; especially 

 the dogs, obliged to walk over the burning sand. 

 We stopped several times to give them drink, and 

 to moisten their heads as well as our own. But the 

 supply of water now failed ! Less than a gallon 

 remained, and this we reserved for the last extremity. 

 ' How much farther is it ?' was the question we con- 

 stantly put to our guide, who invariably answered 

 that it was near, that луе should see it from the next 

 sand hill or the one after ; and so we passed on 

 upwards of seven miles without having seen a sign 

 of the promised well. In the meanwhile the unfor- 

 tunate ' Faust' lay down and moaned, giving us to 

 understand that he was quite unable to walk, I 

 then told my companion and guide to ride on, charg- 

 incf the latter to take ' Faust ' on his camel as he was 

 completely exhausted. After they had ridden a 

 mile in advance of the caravan the guide pointed 

 out the spot where he said the well should be, appa- 



