"No! Something worse is coming. Do not awaken the young ladies just yet. Come out I will show you a great sight."
Hippy sprang up and followed the guide. Hi paused by the embers of the camp fire long enough to stamp them out.
"So they do not blow about and set our equipment on fire," he explained.
"Where's the sight?" demanded the lieutenant.
"Look yonder!" directed Hi, pointing toward the western horizon.
The mist had disappeared from the sky like magic and the stars once more shone out with all their former brilliancy. Off to the westward, however, there were no stars to be seen. In their place, stretched clear across the horizon, lay a cloud, black as ink.
"Watch the upper edge of the cloud," said the guide in a low tone.
"It is rolling like the surf," exclaimed Hippy.
"Yes, and in that cloud are tons upon tons of sand that the cloud is carrying along with it. We'll lose a stretch of our desert here in a few moments."
"Is there nothing that we can do to protect ourselves, Hi?"