But the others had seen also and were equally as excited.
Away to their right a heavy mist had risen and was rapidly turning reddish.
“A sandstorm!” cried Fekmah in great anxiety. “A sandstorm is coming!”
CHAPTER XVII
Moments of Horror
THE explorers, particularly Tishmak, knew the danger of a sandstorm. It was not infrequent for large caravans to be completely engulfed by the heavy veil of sand, leaving only the dead bodies of the camels and their riders. The Americans remembered a tale that Fekmah had told them about a trading caravan of five hundred dromedaries coming to a tragic end in this region. Would their little caravan also perish?
“Get your goggles,” commanded Fekmah, his tone indicating that he was calm even in the face of danger.
“And be sure they fit tightly!” warned Dr. Kirshner. “Even then we’ll get some of the sand.”
The atmosphere was rapidly becoming extremely dry and hot, and at intervals a fierce wind brought minute particles of sand into the explorers’ faces.