332 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



to protect us from any wind that might arise in the 

 night, we settled down to cook and eat our last desert 

 dinner, and to rejoice over the news that when there 

 would be sufficient light we should be able to see Souakim. 

 A dreadful blow then occurred to our happiness and to 

 our prospect of dinner on Ibrahim telling us that the 

 new water-skin which was slung from Ranfurly's saddle 

 had been burst by a blow in the darkness, and was quite 

 empty. Collecting then the remnant of the other skins, 

 it only amounted to a pint and a half. With a portion 

 of this Ranfurly was able to have a cup of chocolate 

 and some arrowroot, and myself some of the latter, 

 whilst our men had to content themselves with the 

 prospect of arriving early in the morning at Souakim. 

 A cup of bread and milk was then placed by Ranfurly's 

 side for the night, and he soon fell into a sound sleep. 

 He finds one great comfort in an excellent pillow belong- 

 ing to Vivian, and it is his constant companion by night 

 and by day. The stores have lasted very well, for 

 though Ranfurly has always had some light food five or 

 six times in the twenty-four hours there still remains a 

 little which would be quickly consumed now but for the 

 want of water, and for the same reason the gazelle is 

 left unroasted. 



May 8. The desert journey is over, Souakim is 

 reached, and our long-desired goal is won, and not an 

 hour too soon ; for beyond a cup of chocolate for 



