Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/365

 During the approaching night we must watch with redoubled vigilance, and light fires."

"In this heat!" cried Joe. "However, if necessary, it must be done. But it is a great pity to burn this pretty wood, which has been so welcome to us!"

"We will take great care not to set it on fire," said the doctor, "so that other people may find in it a refuge in the midst of the desert."

"It shall be taken care of. But, sir, do you think this oasis is known to exist?

"Certainly. It is a halting-place for the caravans which frequent the center of Africa, and their visit might not be acceptable to you, Joe."

"Are those horrible Nyam-Nyams here then?"

"Without doubt that is the general name of all these people; and under the same climate the same race have like customs."

"Pooh!" said Joe; "after all, it is very natural. If savages possessed the tastes of gentlemen where would be the difference? For example, look at these brave people who would not have to be asked to swallow the beefsteak of the Scotchman—or even the Scot himself."

With this rational remark, Joe proceeded to get the wood piles ready for the night, making them as small as possible. These precautions were happily unnecessary, and each one in turn enjoyed a good night's rest.

Next day the weather was unchanged—it remained obstinately fine. The balloon would be motionless until a breeze arose to move it. The doctor began to feel uneasy once more. If the journey became thus extended the provisions would not hold out. After having survived the want of water, were they to be reduced to die of hunger?

But he felt reassured when he perceived a decided fall of the mercury in the barometer; there were evident symptoms of a change. He determined, therefore, to prepare for departure and profit by the very first opportunity. The supply tank and the water tank were both filled.

Ferguson then set about the re-establishment of the equilibrium of the balloon, and Joe was obliged to sacrifice a quantity of the precious mineral he possessed. With renewed health, ambition reasserted itself. He made more excuses than before ere he obeyed his master, but the latter