She never seemed to have a thought away from them.
The camels were at first delighted at meeting with the water, but after loading up with the refreshing liquid, they treated the water with haughty disdain, treading lazily along without a care.
Following the banks of the stream they found the grass getting greener, but shorter, and the water less deep.
After an hour’s march through the marsh grass they reached a little hillock well adapted for encampment, being perfectly dry, and the grass green and soft.
But just as the eunuch Effendi had given orders for the tents to be pitched, Max came running back to his friends, declaring that there were plenty of savages to keep them company.
Sherif el Habib, accompanied by Ibrahim and guided by Max, went to look at the savages.
Across the little stream they saw large herds of cattle, tended by naked natives.
The grass was so high that, as the cattle and natives moved about, they appeared as if they were in water.
Sherif motioned for the natives to approach, and timidly they did so.
He held up some strings of glass beads, and the untutored Africans shouted for joy.