"If you wish. All of those who prefer may go the rest of the way by train. It is a short journey, but we thought you would like it."
"Like it? No train for us! Hurrah for the hunch backs!" came the answering clamor.
Few chose the train, it is needless to say. All was excitement, everybody trying to talk at once, and to this the Bedouins added their chatter in Arabic, interspersed here and there with an English word. The camels, catching something of the excitement of the moment, lumbered to their feet. The boys glanced at the great height of the beasts rather apprehensively.
"Where are the ladders?" demanded a voice.
"Ladders?"
"Yes; it will take a ladder or a flying machine to get aboard those ships. I don't know whether I want to take the chance or not," said Hickey.
"Line up here, boys," commanded Dan. "All ready, Mr. Bedouin."
The camel drivers uttered short, sharp commands to their animals, whereupon the beasts got down on their knees.
"All aboard!" called Dan. "No Jacob's ladders here; you will have to climb."
The boys piled on, so many getting aboard the first one that the beast was unable to rise. It toppled over sideways, spilling all the passengers overboard into the sand.