But the desert was
inexorable in its limitations. Great speed means great exhaustion, and
consequently greater demand for water. Nevertheless, they risked the
chance of a dry spell at the journey's end, and, finally, despite
Irene's protests against being left behind, Royson and Abdullah, with
six of the _Aphrodite's_ men, and Abdur Kad'r, at the head of thirty
picked Arabs, went on at a spanking pace. They were now on the actual
caravan path, having reached it by a cross-country line. According to
the sheikh's calculations, they were ten miles from the Well of Moses
at four o'clock, and sunset would take place at half-past six. The road
was a bad one, and their camels were beginning to lag, but they counted
on reaching the ancient camping-ground about half past five. Abdullah
was the first to discover recent signs of a large _kafila_ having
passed that way. He it was, too, who raised a warning hand when they
emerged from a wide valley and crossed a plateau, which, roughly
speaking, was three miles from the well.
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