154 
DELAYS ON THE ROAD . 
[chap. IV. 
nevertheless, the case was urgent; march we must, at 
all hazards. 
My heart sank whenever we came to a deep ravine, 
or Hor; the warning cry of “ halt ” told those in the 
rear that once more the camels must be unloaded, and 
the same fatiguing operation must be repeated. For 
hours we marched : the moon was sinking; the path, 
already dark, grew darker; the animals overloaded, 
even for a good road, were tired out; and the men 
were disheartened, thirsty, and disgusted. I dismounted 
from my horse and loaded him with sacks, to relieve 
a camel that was perfectly done—but on we marched. 
Every one was silent; the men were too tired to speak; 
and through the increasing gloom we crept slowly 
forward. Suddenly another ravine, but not so deep ; 
and we trusted that the camels might cross it without 
the necessity of unloading;—down went the leading 
camel, rolling completely over with his load to the 
bottom. Now, the boy Saat was the drummer; but 
being very tired, he had come to the conclusion that 
the drum would travel quite as easily upon a camel’s 
back as upon his shoulders; he had accordingly slung 
it upon the very camel that had now performed a 
somersault and solo on the drum. The musical in¬ 
strument was picked up in the shape of a flat dish, and 
existed no longer as a drum, every note having been 
