El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-14
A Night In the Desert
BY sven Hedin,
The Famous Swedish Explorer.

NHAH SEVAR. the riding king,
chief of a warlike tribe in western
Baluchistan. is sitting one evening
smoking his pipe at the camp fire in
front of his black tent. which has been
pitched near tamarisk. The tale tell
er has grown silent.
From out Of the darkness Of the night
appear two men dressed in Waite with
turbans. They tie their dromedarles
and PROSTATE themselves in front OF
shqh Sevar, who bids them rise and help
themselves to tea from the big iron pot
In a moment everything is full Of life.
More men come up to the fire, all car
rying long muskets5 lances, swords ana
pOniards. Several Of them are leading
drom edaries.
Now IA men are seated around the
flaming fire. It is strangely silent in
this circle and shah Sevar's face Is stern
and inserutable. At last De asks: rs
yes" somes the answer from every
is the powderhorn full. and lead in
the bags2"
Yes"
Have the waterskins been fnled?"
Have you provisions in your pock-
ets2" .,.... .ns broad
- Il told You the day before yesterday
our goal this time is BAN. BAN is a
very populous village II We are qls-
covered too early, the disni WI De not
We must sneak up to it like the jack
ais Of the desert. The distance is 500
kiIometers. four days ride"
Shah Sevar sits for while staring
into the flames, then he asks; Are
the dschambas fresh?'
And have YOU 10 extra dromedaries
for the booty2"
YES"
He arises and all the men follow his
example. Their fierce faces are glow
ing red like copper, in the nrelignt
They are not thieves, theft Is contempt
ible; but plumber and robbery are manly
occupations and mans fame grows the
more slaves he takes.
"Sit up" the chief commands IN a low
voice. Muskets are thrown across the
shoulders and clash against the belt
with its DoWderhorn. leather pouch
with bullets, flint. steel and finder.
In the name Of Allah" shah SeVar
cries. and the little crowd tTots away
into the night. They follow wen
known trail, gained by the stars. Dawn
comes the sun rises and the shadows
Of the dromedaries fan on the firm vel
low sand in which nothing grows. Not
a word was spoken during the night
When the first 120 kilOmeters have
been covered. the chief says, we viii
stop at the hot springs"
When they reach there they will I'll
the waterskins and let the dromedaries
drink. Then they withdraw into the
hills close by and rest during the hot
hours Of the day. They never rest at
springs, where they might meet other
people
At dusk they are once more in the
saddles. They are riding faster now
than the night before and in the morn
ing they stop at a salt spring. During
the third night the dromedaries begin
to breathe more heavily and, when the
uanrH =
white foam. They are not tired, only
angry and out Of breath, but onward
they have to trOt always towards the
west, raising great clouds Of gray dust
At last they are out Of the desert and,
with furious speed, they race across the
ground that is white with alkalt. No
living being is to be seen here, not
even a lonely raven or vulture, which
might warn the Inhabitants or BAN OF
the approac ching danger. Without mo-
ment's rest they travel all day. The
riders are as silent as the desert itself;
the molly noise is the labOred breathing
Of the dromedar1es and the sound OF
their feet against the hard ground
When the sun sets. they still have 20
kilOmeters to cover
Then shah Sevar stops his drOmeda-
ries. and. as if he feared that his voice
might be heard in BAN. he whispers.
Halt" soft whistling and the an
finals bend their kneea and lay down
The men jump from their saddles and
tie the front legs OF the beasts IOgeLneE
with short ropes that they may not run
away and betray the plan. All are dead
tired and stretch themselves out on the
ground. Some Of the men slept while
excitement kept the others awake.
Four sentries keep a sharp lookout.
The town of BAN is not in sight but
the hills at the foot of which it lies
are plainly visible. II night were only
here nowi
The day has been calm and sultry.
Now comes q faint breeze from the
north and shah Sevar smiles An east
ern wind would have forced him and
his men to make detour. that the
watchful dogs Of the village might
not scent them too soon. It IS nine
o'clock. In an hour all BAN will be
asleep. The men have finished their
meal and put the remaining. dates.
cheese and bread back into their peck
cts. DO YOU want US to empty the
waterbags to tighten the dromedaries
for the attack" a man asks.
NO" replied slTah Sevar. perhaps we
shall not have time to fill them again
when we retreat"
"The hour has come" he says.