The caravan was resting, the camels were peacefully lying down; the palms stood all around in a complete circle; all the party were at dinner.

But he was drinking water from a spring which flowed gurgling close by.

And it was so cool, it was wonderful, wonderful, blue, cold water running among the parti-coloured stones and over the clean sand which glistened here and there like gold....

Suddenly he heard a clock strike.

He started, roused himself, raised his head, looked out of the window, and seeing how late it was, suddenly jumped up wide awake as though someone had pulled him off the sofa.