The atmosphere was rapidly becoming extremely dry and hot, and at intervals a fierce wind brought minute particles of sand into the explorers' faces. "Now," began Fekmah, after conversing briefly with the guide, "we must get dromedaries in group, so they not get fright and run away. Then we crouch down behind them." The camels were drawn up together and fastened in a circle with ropes. "It might be wise to put up our tent, mightn't it?" asked Mr. Lewis, but Fekmah shook his head vigorously. "No, no," he said. "Then we get in trap and not get out. If sand very heavy, we want to be in open." The dense mist was thickening and spreading, until it soon covered the whole horizon. The sky in the distance was not visible for the heavy cloud of fine particles. The explorers got out blankets and wrapped themselves tightly. Even then, said Fekmah, the small bits of soil would get through to their skins. They had scarcely finished preparations when the first breaker suddenly came with all force, striking the adventurers in the face and penetrating the blanket. It was blinding, smothering, but they managed to get air and fought with a determination that was born of adventure. Crouching behind the sturdy dromedaries, they held their heads low to avoid as much of the fury of the storm as possible. It was with great difficulty that the camels kept their positions together, but they succeeded admirably. "Doesn't seem right for them to have to stop the sand for us," said Joe, shouting in order to make himself heard. "It's a shame," Bob shouted back. "But they can probably stand it better than we can." Slowly they found themselves enveloped in a heavy opaque atmosphere, so dense as to seem almost as a wall. The thought of being completely covered up was constantly in their minds, bringing about almost a feeling of despair. The burning wind was constantly lashing them in the face, until it seemed that they could stand it no longer. Indeed, if their heavy goggles had not been of unbreakable glass, the furious particles of sand would have smashed them in the explorers' eyes. Even as it was, some of the sand found its way in. "This is terrible!" moaned Joe. "Awful--simply----" He stopped suddenly, as his mouth became filled with sand. Another gust of wind had come, bringing with it an enormous quantity of the burning sand. The explorers' eyes were smarting, their lips were cracked and bleeding. They felt that they would smother. Nothing could have been worse, it seemed. They could hear the dromedaries snorting with fear and irritation. What if the brutes could not stand? Conversation was now impossible, for they dared not open their mouths for fear of swallowing some of the stinging sand. Even when they breathed, the fine particles filtered through the net that hung over their faces.