Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-05-11
THE FOUNTAIN IN THE DESERT.

|
shimmering opal haze. Before them lay
the white line of the winding road-if it
could be called a road, this long, endless
stretch marked by the crumbling bones of
man and beast. The pilgrims left the
last hating place with its wells far be-
| mnd and carried enough water to last
them two days, at the end of which they
| hoped, to reach an oasis with its scanty
growth. Only that morning their eyes
had been Toasted by the witching sight
! OF shady, green groves, and deep blue
| lakes. Now even this mirage had van
lshed. Everything had become deadened
under the stern gaze of the merciless sun.
The travellers sWayed to and fro upon
their over tired camels and sleepily fol-
lowed their guide.
| Some one began to sing but in the
desert even a song fills the soul with sad
ness, and the singer soon grew silent.
| Quiet-only the mOnotonous crunching of
the sand made by the tread of the slender
feet of the camels and the silken cur
tains under which the tawny skinned Be
douin beauties were hidden from the
parching rays of the sun. Everything
was deadened, even the human heart! At
| least so it seemed.
A dying Arab lay close to the road by
which the caravan was passing; near him
lay his faithful horse, which had been
ridden to death, a white spot on the
golden sand; the horseman wrapped his
head in his white blunoose and laid it
upon the dead body of his friend. The
camels passed by alphabetically. Not one
of the travellers even looked to the place
where the black eyes of the man who was
perishing in the desert followed them
keenly and longingly from under the
white silk cover. The whole caravan had
already passed when an old man who was
riding in the rear of it suddenly stopped
and dismounting bent over the dying
Arab.
What ails thee?"
| Drink was all the sufferer could
utter.
| The old man gazed after the caravan.
1t wendell its way slowly into the gleam-
ing distance. None of the travellers looked
back. The old man lifted his head, and
it seemed to him as if something was
waited to him from on high and pene-
trated to his very soul. He took down
his skins of water. First he washed the
face and mouth of the sufferer, then he
| let him swallow once, twice-and the face
of the dying man became animated with
| life
Thou art of the tribe of the ON
miades ?"
Yes replied the old man.
Il saw it by the mark on thy arm. [
am of the tribe of Elllomiades; we are
deadly foes"
I'm the desert, before the face of Allah,
we are brothers Drink! l am old, thou
art young. Drink and live"
| The sufferer drank greedily. The old
man lifted him up and seated him upon
his camel
Go home" he said, "and tell your
tribesmen of the way we of the tribe of
Ommiades revenge ourselves upon our en-
cmies.''
"And thou?''
II am old and my days are numbered.
I would not be long for this world, any
way"
Let us 60 together"
impossible! The camel is too small.
1t will not be able to carry the two of
us"
| The Arab hesitated. But he was young,
| life had not lost its sweetness. lame ana
love were awaiting him. He silently pre-
pared to depart. Suddenly he stopped.
.s'Thou hast kindred, children?" he
| asked.
NO one." replied the old man.
FAREWELL"
The one left behind looked after the
departing one until he was lost IN the
differing. binding distance. He had
snoken falsely to his foe. He had chill
dren-but they were all grown and
famous warriors. They needed HIM no
| longer.
The caravan and the Arab were no
lonoer TO be seen. The sun burned-the
skv was yelled in a glittering opal haze.
The old man wrapped his head IN his
white burnoose and lay down with his
| face to the ground.
Several months passed.
The same desert. The same golden
hillocks of sand The same caravan re
| turninp. As on their previous journey
the pilgrims had. at their last hating
MACE at an oasis, taken enough water to
| last them two days, and were sWayng
sleenily on the backs of their tired-out
camels. when suddenly their guide Matted
| "What witchcraft is that?"
| ue nointed into the distance. The PHI
orims who had meanwhile gathered about
| him also stopped and were looking with
GREAT wonder at the place he had pointed
ont There. among the endless sand heaps
law green oasis Tall palms proudly
lifted their green, luxurious heads and
cool fountain dubbed up among thcket
of green bushes and shrubs The Joyful
n,,rmur of the cool streams filled the
iancuid, sinister quiet of the surrounding
desert Brightly colored. beautiful flow
ers reioiced the eyes of the weary trave
eler. and their sweet odor met hlm as II
with a friendly greeting.
Close to the living fountain lay the I'M,
nerishable body of the great-hearted ola "a
man. They lifted his body wr 4Id s -
in costly silks, and carried it to the OASIS
of his tribe. eo4o;n