about nine o'clock
said Frank , smiling . `` Why , sir ? Well , because it wo n't be safe . '' It was about nine o'clock , the moon past the full , rising , richly golden of hue , in the east , and the air moist and fragrant with the cloying scent of the orange trees , when with a strange feeling of unreality about the whole proceeding , the little English party passed the groups of visitors smoking and chatting in the garden , or listening to the strains of a very excellent band . It almost seemed to the doctor that he ought to go and occupy the seat he had found so pleasant on the previous night ; but the professor was by his side talking earnestly of the peculiarities of a night ride in the desert , and Frank was close behind with Sam . In another minute they were in an open court , where , looking mysterious and strange , were a group of about a dozen camels and their leaders , in front of whom stood the figure of the Sheikh , his white robes and turban looking thoroughly in keeping with the strangely formed animals , four of which were keeping up a peculiar , querulous , discontented whining grunt , and turning their heads from side to side in their disgust at being laden with portmanteaus and bags , while their fellows had been allowed to go scot-free . And now all seemed more unreal than ever ; and anything less like a start upon so dangerous an expedition it would have been impossible to imagine .