“Now,” began Fekmah, after conversing briefly with the guide, “we must get dromedaries in group, so they not get fright and run away. Then we crouch down behind them.”
The camels were drawn up together and fastened in a circle with ropes.
“It might be wise to put up our tent, mightn’t it?” asked Mr. Lewis, but Fekmah shook his head vigorously.
“No, no,” he said. “Then we get in trap and not get out. If sand very heavy, we want to be in open.”
The dense mist was thickening and spreading, until it soon covered the whole horizon. The sky in the distance was not visible for the heavy cloud of fine particles.
The explorers got out blankets and wrapped themselves tightly. Even then, said Fekmah, the small bits of soil would get through to their skins.
They had scarcely finished preparations when the first breaker suddenly came with all force, striking the adventurers in the face and penetrating the blanket.
It was blinding, smothering, but they managed to get air and fought with a determination that was born of adventure. Crouching behind the sturdy dromedaries, they held their heads low to avoid as much of the fury of the storm as possible.
It was with great difficulty that the camels kept their positions together, but they succeeded admirably.
“Doesn’t seem right for them to have to stop the sand for us,” said Joe, shouting in order to make himself heard.