New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-08

"Mppincott.
c,.o,, ueain,s story Of his journey through the
roI,a. Nakan Desert as told in the October
.,y.rner" is n nainful one. With one faithful
<o,,orer he struggled toward the river-the hght
,or ufc IN tho heat and without water had been
TOO hard for the rest Of his caravan. men ana
animals alike:
Tho Attn Of May, at o'clock in the morning:
we continued on. but came into new peIt OF
hich sterile land, which discouraged US. Even
NJ o o'clock in the forenoon we were exhaus'ed'
and had to rest the whole day. Kasm was now
half-dead and was not able 10 dig me the usuai
sandpit At o'clock in the evening dressed
myself and called upon Kasim 70 come; ne r.
plied with effort that he could not. accoru-
incly went on alone IN the darkness, win the
compass in my hand. until l O'CLOCK III t,c
morning when | sank down by tamarlsh,
Awhile after Kasim came staggering UP. anu
we continued on until 3 o'clock in the morning.
The 9Th Of May we crept on after @ clo ch
in the afternoon. Kasim looked leailui.' iino
tongue was dry white and swollen ms Ups MeIe
blue, his checks sunken. and he SUFFERED iIoIi'
attacks OF vomiting with cramps. My nope was
still mistaken. ,, -. ~
At O'Clock we approached little oeit Oh
poplar- recovered heights, and then again low,
s,arile sand Our hone was once more quickened
as we saw on the horizon dark llne' IL was nv t
woods OF the Khotan-Dara. when ihdicateu .n VIC
proximity Of the river. we peieNe" oui a.
already in It's shady passages-that was a ue
lchtful feeling Here was a splendld sprhS-
time with leaves newly burst forth ana the song
OF birds What difference from the dead 81 81
leoce the eternal night. that threatened US
there in the desert, The day, however was
again surocatingly hot. and we sank III '"e
shade Of poplar ..
able to arise. Kasim could go on no longer
He Law stretched out on his back. his mouth
open and his eyes staring when l nade mn III.
TO come with me TO the river. which couid hot
be far away. ne replied that he couid not move
a limb and only wanted TO die.
then set out alone through the trees toward
the east. / crept through the bushes tore my
clothing. and after an hour reacned a i rev.,
plain where the trees ended as If they had peen
,v,ned off by fire. burrows and scattered tree
trunks betrayed that precisely this was khotan-
! Daria's noodbed, but not drop OF water was
TO be seen We had come at exactly tha' ',lHP
~ vcar when the bed Of the river lies dry.
! awaiting the summer floods from the noun
! tains. 49,, .,,,,.
! directly southeast resting awhile and then con-
| tinuing on for a distance creeping. IN that lel.
/ an irresistible impulse forward as II ! were le''
| by an unseen hand Presently the DARK Tree
/ line of tho other bank was distinguished Every
| thing became more distinct There stood a thicK
growth Of bushes and reeds. and faiien poplar
! lay near the food-bed. l was not twenty paces
| from the bank when water fowl flew up win
| n whirrng beat OF the wings and spiashlns
sound and the next moment stood al me cdse
| of a little pool. twenty metres long, OF iresh'
| cold, splendid water! - -,
| What 7 first thought OF before | drank the
| reader himself can bu. imagine. Then TOOK
| the empty chocolate can. h1ed IL. put ~ 10 my
! Inns and drank How that water tasted cannon
| be described. l drank. drank. drank. one can
| after another. felt how the thick BLOOD again
flowed easily through my veins; how my nannS;;
| which before were shrivelled up like pieces OF
wood. swclled: how my skin became moist and
: perspired: how my whole body received new life
| and now strength. There was cracking IN 'he
| bushes and the reeds were pushed aside. 1T
| might be a tiger but did not care. since had
| been given my life again.
| Now however my thoughts few 10 the dying
| Kasim 1t was three hours to him, and he need
| ed quick help. l accordingly filled my water
tight boots to the brm, put the straps over
| the end OF my staff. and wandered back with
! light steps in my own track.