All at once his companions saw the geographer reel in the saddle, and fall to the ground like a log. Was it giddiness, or sunstroke, caused by the heat?
They hastened to him.
"Paganel! Paganel! what is the matter?" cried Lord Glenarvan.
"The matter is, my dear friend," replied Paganel, extricating himself from the stirrups, "that I no longer have a horse."
"What! your horse——?"
"Is dead, stricken like Mulready's."
At once Glenarvan, Captain Mangles, and Wilson examined the animal. Paganel was right. His horse had been suddenly stricken dead.
"This is singular," said the captain.
"Very singular indeed," muttered the major.
Glenarvan could not restrain a feeling of uneasiness at this strange occurrence. It was impossible for them to retrace their steps in this desert; while, if an epidemic were to seize all the horses, it would be very difficult to continue the journey.