"On the horizon, sir? Why, that means out at sea, and we sha'n't be there before night." "Well, right away on the horizon of this sea of sand," said Frank cheerfully; "but I don't think we are above a mile or two away." "Oh!" groaned Sam. "Say two miles, then, and chuck in another because places are always farther away than you think. Three miles, and we're going a mile an hour. Mr Frank, sir, have you got a pencil and a bit o' paper?" "Yes, in my pocket-book. Will you have them now?" "Me, sir," said the man faintly. "I couldn't write, sir; I want you to do it for me." "A letter? Well, when we get to the tents." "No, sir, now. I sha'n't live to see no tents. There ain't much, sir; only a silver watch and chain, a bit in the Post Office Savings Bank, and my clothes, as my brother 'll be very glad to have." "Oh, I see! you want to make your will, Sam," said Frank seriously. "That's it, sir; and you'd better write it as plain as you can, sir, so as there sha'n't be no mistakes after, and I dessay I can manage to make my cross." "A will made on a camel in the desert, Sam!" said Frank seriously. "Rather a novelty in wills, eh? Better wait till after breakfast." "Breakfast, sir?" "The Sheikh says there'll be coffee." "Coffee out here, sir?" "Yes, and these people know what good coffee is." "Yes, sir; it was very good at the hotel. 'Most as good as ours at home." "And he said that he sent two camel-loads of necessaries on before us yesterday." "He did, sir?" said Sam, whose voice sounded stronger. "Yes, and look now: the tents are getting quite plain. They look peculiar, and there are camels about them, and there are green trees-- palms, I think. There must be a water-hole there, I suppose." "Yes, I can see the trees, sir--toy-shop sort o' trees." "Here's a man coming to meet us on a camel too--a man all in white." There was a pause for a few minutes, during which period the camels stepped out more freely, as they blinked and looked from under their eyelids in a supercilious way, drooping their lips and sniffing as if they smelt water. "Think there's likely to be a pen and ink yonder, sir?" "There is with the doctor's medicine chest, I know." "These camels do move about in a dreadful, wobbly way, sir, don't they?" "Yes; but I'm growing more accustomed to the motion already." "That's because you're young, sir, and not set like I am. But I was thinking that it would be rather hard to write plain, going as we are." "Very, Sam." "And there are so many troubles about wills when the lawyers get hold of 'em, and often just about a word or two." "Quite true, Sam," said Frank seriously. "You see, there's a nice bit of money I've saved up, sir--over fifty pound--and I shouldn't rest easy if it all went in law through the will being made hasty like. P'r'aps it would be better if we stopped till we got to the tents. What do you say, sir? Might be a table there for you to write on."