All the remainder of that afternoon they trudged on over the Tudemait Plateau. Slightly to their surprise, they had not yet reached the region of sand that lay at the south of the plateau. Fekmah especially was very restless, saying that he could not understand why the rocky region had not been left behind shortly after the midday rest.
“It supposed to be only about a hundred and seventy kilometers [about one hundred miles] across, and we have traveled at least that far,” he said, very much perplexed.
“Perhaps we have followed the arc of a circle,” suggested Mr. Lewis. “Suppose you ask Tishmak.”
The guide was also in the dark, not being able to give an explanation.
“Well,” said Bob, “it might be well to keep going awhile longer. We’ll surely come to the sandy region before long.”
The others thought this good advice, but late that evening they were still on the plateau.
They retired that night with high hopes that the morning would bring good fortune. During the last few hours they had had an uneasy feeling that their efforts to find the region of sand were in vain.
The next day they were off early, after a hurried breakfast.
“We’ll get out of these rocks some time this morning,” predicted Mr. Lewis with a smile.