After the storm had passed, they arose to continue their journey. But
the sand had been so blown as to cover the beaten track, and thus all
trace of the road was lost.
The camel-drivers who led the way stood still, and said that they did
not know which way to turn.
No distant rock or palm-tree was to be seen, and no one could say which
was the south, towards which their faces ought to be turned.
They wandered on, now turning to the right, and now to the left; and
sometimes, when they had gone some distance in one direction, retracing
their steps and trying another.
The caravan made a halt, and it was now decided to journey towards the
setting sun, in hopes of finding once more the right track.
Night came on, however, and they had not found it, nor had they reached
any place where they could fill their water-bottles, which were empty.
Once or twice, some one of the party fancied that he saw in the distance
the top of a palm-tree; but no, it turned out to be but a little cloud
upon the horizon.
They had not yet found the old track; neither had they supplied
themselves with water to cool their parched lips.
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