the Professor.

"A caravan!" he exclaimed. "I can see the camels, and horses!"

The Professor almost snatched the glasses.

"It is quite true," he agreed. "It is a caravan crossing at right angles
to our direction. Come! They will see us before long."

Lenora began to sob and Laura to laugh. Both were struggling with a
tendency towards hysterics. The Professor and Quest marched grimly side by
side. With every step they took the caravan became more distinct.
Presently three or four horsemen detached themselves from the main body
and came galloping towards them. The eyes of the little party glistened as
they saw that the foremost had a water-bottle slung around his neck. He
came dashing up, waving his arms.

"You lost, people?" he asked. "Want water?"

They almost snatched the bottle from him. It was like pouring life into
their veins. They all, at the Professor's instigation, drank sparingly.
Quest, with a great sigh of relief, lit a cigar.

"Some adventure, this!" he declared.

The Professor, who had been talking to the men in their own language,
turned back towards the two girls.

"It is a caravan," he explained, "of peaceful merchants on their way to
Jaffa. They are halting for us, and we shall be able, without a doubt, to