The men and two guides felt very sorry for their companions, yet they had to keep on riding because it was necessary that they reach safety and shelter for that night. Thinking to divert their thoughts from their pain, Mr. Gilroy called attention to an unusually large crag of lava that stood up like a peak from the undulating sea of sand around it.
“Suppose you take a snapshot of that queer formation,” suggested Mr. Vernon, eager to abet his friend’s plan.
“You take it, Uncle—We have no need of pictures any more. This promises to be our last day on earth,” moaned Julie, her face drawn in pain.
They were quite near to the crag when Tally leaned forward in his saddle and held a hand to his ear in the attitude of one listening intently. Then he jumped from the horse and placed his ear flat down on the sand.
“What is it, Tally?” asked Mr. Gilroy, anxiously.
“Him blowin’ bad! Can Messer Gilloy see much wind thoo glass?” questioned the guide, hastily, pointing off to the left.
Mr. Gilroy adjusted the glasses and gazed in the direction Tally pointed. Even the suffering scouts watched his face with more anxiety than they had given to the cramps.
“I fear we are in for a sandstorm, girls. We must make for that friendly crag and cower behind its out-thrusts until the worst is over,” quickly advised Mr. Gilroy, as soon as he had satisfied himself that that was what the approaching cloud meant.
The two Indians urged their horses forward, and soon all were crouching down behind the meagre shelter offered by the ragged lava points. The horses were so placed that their bodies formed a screen for the riders, and the blankets and packs were arranged on the exposed sides of the animals to protect their skins from the stinging sand.
The sound of the wind as the storm rushed towards them, was awesome, but when the full fury of the simoon came, the sand was drifted quickly all about the horses and refugees. The wind fairly shrieked, as it tried to tear away the blankets and start a stampede of the horses, but the Indians were able to calm the poor animals’ fear.