342 THE EMPTY QUARTER

greater than mine. If I could do without that, they surely
could; and the moment was rapidly approaching when I
could no longer keep awake in the saddle, while the camels,
driven on by Zayid as if the fiend himself was behind them
and responding nobly to the heel, were almost at the end of
their powers of endurance. Furthermore there was not
the slightest hope of fodder even if we came to fuel.

About 9 p.m. I sounded Salim and Humaid and was not
less surprised than pleased to find them in agreement with
my view, that it was useless seeking fuel in that darkness
without any idea whatever of its whereabouts or distance.
Like that we might go on all night without success, and our
last state would be worse than our first. Let us rest the night
and sleep, I said, for even the hungry camels will be better
to-morrow for a rest now. Yes, added Abu Ja'sha, and the
camels are dead, but Zayid drives on as you see. Look you,
I said, I can go on no more without sleep. If any of you
know of fuel within five minutes or ten, let him lead on.
Otherwise I will halt here and you may do as you will. So,
with considerable relief I thought, the cry went up that
Shaikh 'Abdullah was weary and would halt. Back from the
front came sounds of voluble cursing and Zayid reined up to
protest at the folly of halting. It is but folly, I rejoined very
curtly as I tapped Na'riya to her knees, it is but folly to
march on blindly you know not whither. I march no more,
and here I sleep. You are the Amir and can please yourself.
There may be fuel near or far, within five minutes or five
hours. Seek it out as you please and I will come to you when
you have found it. I can follow your tracks in the daylight
to-morrow, but I can sit on a camel no more.

So with a muttered curse Zayid yielded, and the unfor-
tunate camels came to rest at 9.15 p.m. after a forced and
furious march that had begun soon after midnight. Out
of the 21 hours they had actually marched 18 allowing
for the occasional short halts we had enjoyed, and the
distance we had covered in the time was about 70 miles.
The wretched animals just stretched out their necks on the
cool sand and remained motionless, while we unloaded the
gear and spread our beds on the desert for a well-earned rest.