No one complained,
however, and the Professor especially did his best to revive their
spirits.
"We have come further than I had dared to hope, in the time," he
announced. "Fortunately, I know the exact direction we must take. Keep up
your spirits, young ladies. At any time now we may see signs of our
destination."
"Makes one sad to think of the drinks we could have had," Quest muttered.
"What's that?"
The whole party stopped short. Before them was a distant vision of white
houses, of little stunted groves of trees, the masts of ships in the
distance.
"It's Port Said!" Quest exclaimed. "What the mischief--have we turned
round? Say, Professor, has your compass got the jim-jams?"
"I don't care where it is," Lenora faltered, with tears in her eyes. "I
thought Port Said was a horrible place, but just now I believe it's
heaven."
The Professor turned towards them and shook his head.
"Can't you see?" he pointed out. "It's a mirage--a desert mirage. They are
quite common at dusk."
Lenora for a moment was hysterical, and even Laura gave a little sob.
Quest set his teeth and glanced at the Professor.
[Illustration: "WHILE WE ARE WAITING, LET'S GO IN AND BE SHOCKED!"]
[Illustration: "YOU MUST THANK HIM FOR YOUR LIVES--THE MONGARS NEVER TAKE
PRISONERS."]
"Always water near where there's a mirage, isn't there, Professor?"
"That's so," the Professor agreed. "We are coming to something, all
right."
They struggled on once more. Night came and brought with it a half
soothing, half torturing coolness.
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