vice is that we ought to persevere—just go on to the end. So let us onward, you may reckon upon us."
"Thanks, my worthy friends," replied the doctor with visible emotion. "I anticipated your devotion, but these encouraging words were necessary to me. Once more I thank you from my heart."
And the three friends shook hands warmly.
"Listen to me," said Ferguson. According to my calculations, we cannot be more than 300 miles from the Gulf of Guinea; the desert cannot therefore extend indefinitely, since the coast is inhabited and explored to a certain distance into the interior. If it become necessary, we must direct our course towards this coast, and it is impossible for us not to meet with some oasis or well where we can replenish our store of water. But we require wind, and without it we are kept becalmed in the air."
"Let us wait patiently," said Kennedy.
But each in his turn vainly scanned the desert. During the interminable day nothing appeared that could give birth to any hope. The last undulations of the ground disappeared as the sun was setting, and his rays stretched in long lines of fire over the immense plain. It was indeed the desert.
The travelers had not gained fifteen miles, having lost, including the previous day, 135 cubic feet of gas to keep the blow-pipe in action, and two pints of water out of eight had to be sacrificed to quench their raging thirst.
The night was quiet—too quiet. The doctor did not sleep.
CHAPTER XXV
THE UNEXPECTED BALLOON
The next day there was the same clear sky and the same calm. The "Victoria" floated at about 100 feet high, but the little drift towards the west was scarcely perceptible.
"We are in the midst of the desert," said the doctor. "Look at the expanse of sand—what a strange sight—what a singular arrangement of nature! Why should there be such luxuriant vegetation farther back, and this extreme barrenness here, and this in the same latitude, under the same rays of the sun?"
