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ing, overflowing torrent. A few minutes sooner and car and all would have been swept away.

"Luckily that is the last oued," said Ali.

We all got in and started off again. The chauffeur put on speed, and we bumped furiously over the holes in the road. Then the other tire went. We stopped and all got out and then all got in again.

"Ma kanch chambre à air," said the chauffeur. ("No more innner tubes.")

In a few minutes the original tire went again, and we all got out again and all got back. We crawled along on the rims. Suddenly I became aware that my feet were getting very cold and wet. I could not understand. I asked Madani, but he had reached a state when he no longer seemed to care. He was telling his beads.

I moved my legs about and suddenly, to my astonishment, discovered that my feet were hanging in space. I peered down and perceived water and mud splashing all round me, and realized that the bottom of the car had fallen out. Visions of the pantomime gentleman whose carriage loses its floor and who is obliged to run between the wheels, sprang before me. And I saw myself and Madani being precipitated on to the road and having to run wildly back to Chellala, unable to make the chauffeur hear our cries of distress.

However, this catastrophe did not take place, for the simple reason that the car suddenly stopped of its own accord. We all got out again. No one seemed to dare to ask what the matter was.

"Ma kanch petrol," said the chauffeur calmly.

"No more petrol!" exclaimed the bash agha nervously. It was the first time during the whole of the proceedings that he had shown any emotion.

"Ma kanch," repeated the driver.

No one spoke. I heard Madani murmuring