“If it just wasn’t for this terrible wind!” muttered Mr. Holton, when there had come a slight lull.
“Yes,” agreed Fekmah. “Then it not be so hard to stand it.”
He had scarcely finished when another gust of hot sand struck them cruelly, making their faces sting anew.
Suddenly Tishmak noticed that they were nearly engulfed in a heavy pile of sand. With a quick motion he drew himself out and drove the dromedaries to another spot.
For a brief moment the explorers were exposed to the full violence of the storm. Then they again took places behind the newly located camels.
“Not taking any chances on being covered up, are you?” said Dr. Kirshner to Tishmak.
The latter did not understand the words, but he caught the meaning and smiled.
How long the terrific onslaught of sand lasted, no one knew. They had lost all sense of time, and the heavy atmosphere completely hid the sun.
It was only gradually that the terrible storm subsided, and then the air was exceedingly hot and dry, promising to remain that way for some time. Slowly the cloud of sand about them grew thin, until it finally cleared away completely. Now only an occasional hot wind annoyed them, but it was scarcely anything compared to the previous bombardment of sand.
“No more of anything like that for me!” muttered Bob, as he worked his feet loose from the high pile that strove to bury him alive.