"'I believe you,' she said, and she once more held out her hand, which, carried away by an irresistible impulse, I raised to my lips. "Périères came up at this moment, and then I remembered Miss Poles, who might be hurt at my not having enquired after her. I went to her, and found her sitting, leaning against a rock, with Delange on his knees before her, binding up her foot. "'Are you hurt?' I asked, concernedly. "'A sprain,' she replied, and, holding out her foot, she added, with a smile, 'according to my sin am I judged.' "The storm had passed away, and the sky was as clear and tranquil as it was in the early morn. A glorious sun, which now we blessed, dried our sodden garments. We commenced the descent, step by step, picking our way cautiously, like people who are not quite sure whether they are alive or not. Miss Poles also retarded our progress, in spite of all her efforts to keep up with us and cause us no inconvenience. "But the Doctor expressly forbade her walking a single step, and so she was compelled to allow herself to be carried in turn by Ali and the Bedouin, Périères and myself. "At the foot of the mountain we found the camels, which, by a happy thought, we had ordered. Miss Poles was hoisted, notwithstanding her resistance, on to the back of one of these animals. We mounted the others, and, two hours afterwards, we reached our camp. "Our three Nubians were asleep, as is their wont, and Joseph was revelling with his donkey on the plain." CHAPTER XXXVI. "This morning, at daybreak, we commenced our preparations for departure, for, come what may, we must make up the time we have lost. "Miss Poles is better already, but, nevertheless, we begged her to make use of a camel. As she has but one idea, that of recommencing as soon as possible her gymnastic exercises, she yielded to our entreaties. "Her long, thin figure, perched perpendicularly on the camel's back, lofty enough by nature, produces the drollest possible effect. But we seize upon the particular weakness of Miss Beatrice, her _amour-propre_, and assure her that her appearance on the gigantic steed is at once full of majesty and grace, and that the camel becomes her admirably. "The sick horse is also improving, and, as for Joseph's donkey, he spent such a day of luxurious idleness yesterday that his hard-working propensities are again in full swing. Out of pity for the poor beast, weighed down by that lump of vanity, his rider, I have decided that he shall be ridden only a part of the way.