ACROSS THE DESERT WITH SHE-IB 79 



however, and though I firmly discarded it half a dozen 

 times, it always reappeared. Now Musa She-ib drank 

 from it, amazed. "But where is the fire?" he asked; 

 and, lest we should be shot as magicians, we instantly 

 entered into intricate explanations as to the making of 

 a thermos. 



We met but one traveller on that cold, dusty day. 

 "ISTow for our newspaper," said Hassanein. "It is 

 rather a late edition." But the man was devoid of news 

 save that a caravan might possibly be starting from 

 Jalo for Wadai within a week or two. As for our own 

 caravan, the Mojabras, who proposed to join us that 

 night, had made a quick journey from Jedabia, leaving 

 on the morning of the 12th, three days after She-ib. 

 They told us om- men were still buying "necessities," but 

 proposed to start next day. From that moment I think 

 we mutually decided against putting any faith in their 

 arrival. The behaviour of the two blacks had made us 

 realise the danger of being at the mercy of a dozen such 

 creatures for thirteen days, beyond reach of any human 

 aid. If the water ran short they would certainly steal 

 ours. In order to be able to over-eat they would probably 

 overload the camels. They would refuse to start early 

 or ride hard. Consequently the perils of the waterless 

 seven days, after which time the camels begin to get 

 tired, would become insuperable. We began planning 

 to leave Jalo before them, taking only Mohammed and 

 Yusuf and a couple of reliable guides. 



The last hour of the day's march is generally the 

 most cheerful, for everybody is in a hurry to reach camp, 

 and it is a curious fact that camels walk more quickly 

 and straighter to the sound of singing. Therefore the 

 blacks and She-ib's drivers used to chant wild melodies 

 of love and prowess till even my great blond beast forgot 

 his amorous gurglings and kept his nose in a bee-line for 



