About two o'clock, though it was in the winter season, the heat became unusual. In the sky there was not a cloudlet, but the horizon's border was disfigured.
Above the caravan hovered a few vultures whose widely outstretched wings cast moving, black shadows on the tawny sands. In the heated air could be smelt an odor like the gas exhaled from burning charcoal. The camels, not ceasing to run, began to grunt strangely. One of the Bedouins approached Idris.
"What, do you think?" asked the Sudânese.
"Wicked spirits awoke the wind slumbering on the western desert, and he rose from the sands and is rushing upon us."
Idris raised himself on the saddle, gazed into the distance, and replied:
"That is so. He is coming from the west and south but is not as furious as a Khamsin."* [* A southwest wind which blows in the spring.]
"Three years ago near Abu-Hamed he buried a whole caravan and did not sweep the sand away until last winter. Ualla! He may have enough strength to stuff the nostrils of the camels and dry up the water in the bags."
"It is necessary that we speed so that he strike us only with a wing."
"We are flying in his eyes and are not able to avoid him."
"The quicker he comes, the quicker he will pass away."
Saying this, Idris struck his camel with a courbash and his example was followed by the others. For some time could be heard the dull blows of the thick whips, resembling the clapping of hands, and the cries of "Yalla." On the southwest the horizon, previously whitish, darkened. The heat continued and the sun scorched the heads of the riders. The vultures soared very high evidently, for their shadows grew smaller and smaller, and they finally vanished entirely.
The Arabs yelled at the camels until their throats became parched, after which they were silent and a funereal quiet ensued, interrupted only by the groaning of the animals.
Two very small foxes* [* An animal smaller than our foxes, called "fennec."] with big ears stole by the caravan, running in an opposite direction.
The same Bedouin, who had previously conversed with Idris, spoke out again in a strange and as if not his own voice:
"This will not be a usual wind. Evil charms are pursuing us. The snake is to blame for all--"