By the time they had got down two feet, the sand was soft and clammy.
"We will get to water, Zaki, if we have to stay here all day!" said Gregory.
It was hard work, and it was not until after four hours' toil that, to their delight, they found the sand wet under their feet.

They had taken it by turns to use the scoop, for the labour of making the hole large enough for them both to work at once would have been excessive.
In another hour there was half an inch of water in the hole.

Gregory took a gourd, and buried it in the soft soil until the water flowed in over the brim.
"Give me the other one down, Zaki.

I will fill that, too, and then we will both start drinking together." Five minutes later, the two took a long draught.

The scoops were then refilled and carried to the horses, who drank with an eagerness that showed how great was their thirst.