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.
Directions for Reading.—Always take breath before beginning to read a sentence. If the sentence is a long one, choose such places for breathing as will not injure the sense.