Dan, with the boatswain's mate, had arranged a surprise for their shipmates, a new experience for every man of the party.
Headed by the Battleship Boys and the boatswain's mate, the bluejackets walked away from the station for a short distance. Suddenly they came to an open space of sand. There, lounging about, was a large group of Bedouins, clad in long, flowing robes, wearing turbans and armed with long, stout sticks. Beyond the Bedouins, their many-jointed legs folded under them, lay a herd of camels with half-closed eyes and disdainfully curling lips.
"See that hump!" yelled the jackies the moment they set eyes on the ungainly beasts. "There are some bumps for you."
"See them feed the babies," cried a chorus of voices.
Several camel owners were squatting in front of their animals stuffing little balls of grass down the throats of the beasts, while the latter chewed lazily.
"Where's the ships?" demanded Hickey, looking about him expectantly.
"There they are," answered Dan, with glowing face. "That is the surprise we have in store for you."
"What, camels?"
"Yes. Otherwise known as 'ships of the desert.'"
"Are—are we to ride those things?'