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


where every step forward was half step
backward
To the horsemen the first sensation of a
desert ride is as If he were poised on springs
of ineffable delicacy, which swayed gently
on the slightest pressure. Much of this
luxurious ease is due TO the yielding track,
but something also to the springy motion
81 the Arab horse. To the saddle nothing
whatever is due, since it is merely pieces OF
the hardest wood roughly nailed and bound
with thongs OF rawhide. On an English
horse and a macadamized road il would re-
duce a trooper TO hclplessness in an hour:
and indeed with all the suppeness and
softness of the true Kohlan Arab saddlery
is apt 20 pain the inexperienced. The Arabs
themselves are aware of no discomfort be-
cause they are as hard as the wood they
bestride.
On the first night we marched steadily
till set of moon, then halted for food and
rest. / could not half admire the quick
ness with which the fires were lighted with
withered grasses and shrubs, and the good
humored alacrity OF the cooks in preparing
the meal. To he sure it did not call for any
elaborate exercise Of art, for the rati,ns
consisted OF nothing daintier than coarse
-four, salt and dried dates with some pack
ages of coffee. The cooks took two or three
handfuls Of -four apiece, poured water on it
from skin and kneaded it into a dirty
dough with dirty hands. IL would be pro-
fame in an Arab cook TO have clean hands,
and so he keeps them religiously filthy,
thus giving those who eat his preparations
the benefit of many unsuspected ingredi-
ents.
The dough, which was wet perhaps half
cakes, which were laid on the glowing en-
bers and covered with hot ashes They were
left thus till converted into a sodden, soapy
paste, then taken out and eaten as hot as
they could be swallowed. | nibbled the
edge of one, but finding my teeth stick in
IL / ate handful of dates, took drink of
water, and then wrapping my burnoose close
about me threw myself on the ground and
slept the sweet sleep OF the weary.
1t seemed had not lain five minutes
when the kettledrums were beating the
reveille. The gray dawn was only begin
ming to glimmer, but already the camel
men were quarreling with their grunting
beasts and our bakers were busy with the
glutinous compound they called bread. We
hastily swallowed some mouthfuis of it
straight OF the burning Goals, with few
dates and a drinl of musty water apiece,
and were off again
For awhile the air was delciously cool
and refreshing, and the glories of the open
ing day In the lone wilderness as the sun
broke through his curtain Of white mist
were such as a man beholds with awe and
remembers with reverence. But the blaz-
ing orb soon turned the dewy freshness TO
a sweltering, blistering heat that was try
ing TO the nerves and temper Of men toll
ing through shifting sands and conical tu-
null Of volcanic Stag. Yet no man COM
planned, only rs we mopped our streaming
faces the conversation Jagged, and here and
there man gave a low involuntary moan.
Save such intermittent noises and the
dreary, monotonous sift, sift, sift, of ami
mails feet in the sand there was not
sound. When the sun mounts in his might,
desert travellers are apt 10 fall silent.
Toward noon, when we had almost
reached the point Of utter dissolution, we
gained the crest Of a low ridge, whence
looking TO the northwest we saw what
evoked cry Of gladness from nearly every
throat in the company. IL was an oasis,
tiny spot Of green with clump of trees in
the midst, shining like an emerald in a
broad dIab setting. We knew there was "A
well there, and Tabal, with the privilege Of
a guide, suggested we should halt aud re-
plenish our water skins. But Abou kuram
answered curtly that we were not yet in
need Of water that the time for rest had
not come, and that i'm forced marches men
hadto think more Of speed than of comfort.
There was a general look Of disappoint-
ment az this speech. which urged Tabal 20
appeal again and TO advance reasons for
stopping.
when I desire thy counsel. I will tell
thee" returned Abou Kuram shortly
Look thou TO the way and leave the rest
to me. And methinks thou hadst better
mend thy pace"
After this no man burst speak, and keen
as was the disappointment there was no
murmurng-only the men sat n little more
grimly and prodded little more yiciously