noon
`` Mashallah ! '' Afterwards both Sudânese began to look with a kind of strange and , at the same time , searching and inquiring gaze at Stas who could not understand what was the matter . In the meantime Nell also dismounted from her camel , and though she was less tired than during the night , Stas spread for her a saddle-cloth in the shade on a level spot and told her to lie down , in order , as he said , that she might straighten out her little feet . The Arabs prepared their noon meal , which consisted of biscuits and dates , together with a gulp of water . The camels were not watered for they had drank during the night . The faces of Idris , Gebhr and the Bedouins were still dejected , and the stop was made in silence . Finally Idris called Stas aside , and began to question him with a countenance at once mysterious and perturbed .