The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-06

with their rIding sticks. As we passed,
many man turned with yearning eyes to
the verdurous spot, thinking perhaps he
should be dead ere another came in sight.
III the forenoon had been hot, the after
noon had an atmosphere of living fire. Yet
we toiled on, dissolving and open mouthed,
and wondering how long we could stand
the burning lances Of the sun.
/ speak of the rank and file. AS for bou
Kuram, he seemed TO be oblivious of heat or
thirst or fatigue. How | envied himl
While my mouth was cracking he was evi-
IDENTIFY as cool aud moist as ripe pear.
Koor Ali, VINO rode beside me, must have
noticed the painful twitohing Of my lips,
for looking in my face with an expression
of concern lac asked If was thirsty
"As dry as a baked brick" / croaked
Koor Ais son, Ahmed, lad about my
own age, rode beside US, and on hearing my
raven voice burst into fit of laughter.
"What art thou laughing at, Ahmedi"
demanded Abou Kuram, turning slightly
in his saddle. Ahmed pointed to me.
THE stranger croaketh with thirst" he
said, "ere we are half way over the desert"
tried 10 explain but failed; my mouth
was as a rusty machine that had not moved
for a century.
"Giye him thy water skin, Koor Ali,n
said Abou Kuram, "lest be faint. 1t were
i'll to die in the DESERT" he added, smiling
at me.
The water was dingy and beginning to
smell badly, but just then a staguant pool
would have been sweet, and l took huge
gulp. Taking another, | held it in my
mouth for minute, then squirted it out,
sending it, as if by pure accident. over the
sprightly Ahmed.
by my faith, like not TO be spat on by
an infidel," he cried, grasping his spear as
If to have at me.
The laugh was now on my side, though
perceived the danger of indulging in it,
"'Twas but an accident" l said apollo
getically. yet it Is good and will cool
thee"
tried to propitiate him by handing him
his fathers water skin to drink, but he dis
dainfully declined.
NAY. 1 am not a babe like thee" be
said. 'Thou shouldst have brought thy
mother with thee" and he tossed his head
as if he were safe from the weakness of
thirst in desert land.
Three mortal hours OF painting toll aud
dripping sweat had yet to pass ere Abou
Kuram ordered halt, and then it was but
to dismount, swallow mouthful Of dry
dates and foul lukewarm water and scram-
BILE into the saddle again. Through the
broling afternoon we stewed and gasped
and pushed on, fainting, never drawing rein
till sundown. when we stopped for pray
ers and the evening meal. had scarcely
eaten when was asleep Oh the sand, and
my eyes appeared 20 have just closed when
those abominable drums were beating the
order TO mount and march again. Words
cannot tell how sore and tired | was or
how longed to lie down and be at peace
The feeling was as If some one had pound
ed me limp and nature was slowly stiflcn-
ing up again with the joints all out of
place and every muscle and ligament
stretched beyond endurance But as the
Arabs said nothing of fatigue Iwould have
cut my tongue out rather than complain.
Five days we painted on through scorch-
ing sands under flaming sky, and five
nights the bright Arabian moon lighted US
OH our trackless, hurrying march. BY the
third day man and beast were showing de
cided signs of exhaustion. Camels fell and
were left TO die, sometimes with their bur
dens on them. The horses Jagged with low
heads and protruding tongues, and men
dropped suddenly from their saddles with
strange sterterous noises and lay "a sense
less as logs Two went raving mad, one OF
them succeeding i'm killing another and
himself ere his comrades could overpower
him. Hollow graves, which the jackals
and hyenas could reopen with scratch of
the paw, were scooped out for the desd and
their camels given to others.
Continued Tomorrow