"Yes, sir, that's it. It seems horrid now, and there he sits with that long, snaky pipe and his legs twisted in a knot, smoking away as comfortably as the old Guy Fox in the tablecloth that I shaved. He went to sleep and nodded, for I watched him, and he keeps on see-sawing and looking as if he'd tumble off; but he seems to be good friends with his camel, for it kept on balancing him and keeping him up. I wish I could go to sleep too." "Well, try," said Frank. "Try, sir? What, to wake up with a bump, and sit in the sand seeing this ridgment of legs and shadows going off in the distance? No, thank you, sir. They tell me there's lions and jackals and hyaenas out here. No, thankye, sir; I'm going to fight it out." Just then the professor checked his camel and tried to bring it alongside of the pair behind, when a struggle ensued, the quaint-looking creature refusing to obey the rein or to alter its position in the train, whining, groaning, and appealing against force being used to place it where it made up its mind there must be danger. "That's how those brutes that are carrying the luggage went on, sir," whispered Sam to Frank. "Groaning and moaning and making use of all sorts of bad language. One of 'em kep' it up just like a human being, and it was as if he was threatening to write to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for them to put a stop to our ill-using him and tying heavy things on his back and making creases with ropes on his front--I mean his underneath, sir." Just then one of the Sheikh's followers, who had seen the trouble, came from where he was walking beside the baggage camels, and led the obstinate animal to where it was required to go, and it ceased its objections. "Fine animals for displaying obstinacy, Frank," said the professor. "Yes; they'd beat donkeys of the worst type." "I daresay they would; but they have plenty of good qualities to make up for their bad ones. How do you like the riding?" "I'll tell you when I've had some more experience. At present it would not be fair." "Perhaps not," said the professor. "How do you get on, Sam?" The butler groaned. "Hullo! Is it as bad as that?" "Worse, sir, ever so much. Couldn't I have a donkey, sir? I saw some fine ones in Cairo well up to my weight." "I'm afraid not, Sam. But you'll soon get used to the animal you are riding." "Never, sir, never," said Sam. "Nonsense, man! Once you get used to the poor creatures you will think it delightful. I could go to sleep on mine, and trust it to keep ambling along." "Do what, sir?" "Ambling gently." "Then yours is a different sort, sir, to mine. Ambling's going like a lady's mare does in the Park, isn't it?" "Yes, Sam; that's quite correct, I believe."