"Steady, lads!" exclaimed Reeves. The man spoke as if lost in thought. "It may be that—— Ah!"
Even as he spoke, the hill upon which the city stood appeared to be riven asunder. The walls and turrets oscillated as if shaken by an earthquake; then, as if wiped out by a titanic hand, the vision vanished, leaving only the trackless desert shimmering in the rays of the powerful sun.
"A mirage!" exclaimed the three simultaneously; then dismay once more overtook them, as they saw only the pitiless waste in front of them.
"Surely there must be a real town over there!" exclaimed Gerald at length, pointing in the direction of the vanished scene.
"Of that I have no doubt," replied Reeves. "A mirage is the reflection of a real object, but that object may be ten miles away, or it may be a hundred—or more. That sort of thing has often lured men to death."
The lads did not reply. Hugh was looking steadily at a point on the distant horizon.
"What's up, Rags?" asked Gerald.
"I believe I can see palm trees. There—more to your right. You are pointing straight at the place."
"So do I," assented Gerald, with no uncertain voice; then, as an afterthought, he added: "I hope it isn't a mirage as well!"
"What did you say?" asked Reeves, who was standing a short distance away.