"I rather like the peculiar taste," smiled Tad Butler.
"Good as a tonic," spoke up Walter.
Thus encouraged Stacy tried it again, at first nibbling gingerly at the bacon, then attacking it boldly. Even the Professor, after a time, appeared to forget the bitterness of the food, passing his plate for more.
Tom Parry smiled indulgently.
"You'll all like it after a while," he nodded.
"I'm sure I'll have to take back some sage brush with me to flavor my food after we leave the desert," scoffed Ned.
Supper finished the dishes were cleared away, after which the party threw themselves down beside the camp-fire in keen enjoyment of the hour. The evening was delightfully cool, with not a trace of the baking heat of the day.
"Doesn't seem possible that there could be such a change in the temperature in so short a time," marveled the Professor.
"It is the mood of the desert," answered the guide.
"What time do we start in the morning?" interrupted Tad, approaching them at that moment.