Ali got out the trappings for the camel, and looked to the water-bottles
to see that they did not leak. His mother did all that was needed to
make him quite ready to join the next caravan that started.
Ali was delighted to think that he was to go to his father, and that at
last the day was come when, he too was to be a camel-driver, and to take
a journey with the dear old camel which he was so fond of.
He had long wanted to ride on its back across the desert, and to lie
down by its side to rest at night. He had no fear.
The camel, of which Ali was so fond, had been bought by his father with
the savings of many a year's hard work, and formed the sole riches of
the family.
Hassan was looked upon as quite a rich man by the other camel-drivers,
and Ali, besides having a great love for the animal, was proud of his
father being a camel owner.
Though it was a great creature by the side of the young boy, it would
obey the voice of Ali, and come and go at his bidding, and lie down and
rise up just as he wished. Hassan called his camel by an Arabian word,
which meant "Meek-eye."
At last, there was a caravan about to start for Suez which Ali could
join.
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