[Chapter XIX.]
A CAMEL JOURNEY.—THE ISLAND OF PHILÆ, AND THE FIRST CATARACT OF THE NILE.
Frank and Fred were destined to enjoy a novelty in the way of travelling. They were to make their excursion to the island of Philæ on the backs of camels.
It is about five miles from Assouan to Philæ, and the road is chiefly through the rocky desert, or along the equally rocky bank of the river. The travellers had the choice of camels or donkeys for the journey, and the two youths unhesitatingly decided in favor of the former.
"You can ride almost any time on a donkey," said Fred, "but it isn't every day you can have a camel."
"I quite agree with you," Frank replied. "We'll have a jolly ride of it, and have a good story to tell when we get home."
The boys went out before breakfast and found, close to the landing-place, a group of camels waiting for the proposed excursion. They were all lying or kneeling on the ground, and the boys walked around them with the air of having been familiar with camels all their lives. Finally they selected two, and at the suggestion of the drivers Frank proceeded to mount his new beast of burden, just to try his qualities.
"I began," said Frank, afterward, in telling the story to the Doctor—"I began by patting the camel on the head, and saying 'good fellow! good fellow!' He returned my kindness by trying to bite me, and if I had not jumped quickly to one side he would have had a good nip at my arm. The driver then stood by his head, and I proceeded to take my seat in the saddle, which resembled a wood-sawyer's 'horse' with a blanket thrown across it.