548 
THROUGH ASIA 
sand-waves. No matter which way we looked, we were 
surrounded by the same desolate, lifeless landscape. As 
the result of our deliberations we resolved to keep pushin 
on as long as the six camels were able to walk, and until 
really serious crisis confronted us. That crisis occurred 
at six o’clock that same evening, on the slope of a dune 
looking towards the north, where we made camp No. XV., 
a camp shut in on every side by “ugly” country. 
Shortly after reaching camp, we were joined by 
Mohammed Shah. He said, that even at the beginning 
of the day’s march the camels refused to move, and he 
had therefore abandoned them to their fate. One of the 
two carried a couple of empty water-tanks ; and the other 
had no load. If I had been there when they stopped, I 
should have had them shot; for the old man said, that 
at the most they could not last longer than two days. 
But he believed they might be saved, if we could find 
water before night. As it was, until then, they were 
abandoned for lost, and would have to wait in patience 
for a painful death. God grant it came speedily! 
Mohammed Shah’s report made an extremely painful 
impression upon me. I was to blame for the loss of the 
innocent lives. It was I who was answerable for every 
moment of agony, every pang of pain, which the men and 
animals of my caravan suffered. I was not present, it is 
true, when the first camels were delivered up to the power 
of the evil desert. But in imagination I saw the action 
vividly. It weighed upon my conscience like a night- 
mare, keeping me awake at night. I saw Babai lie down 
when Mohammed Shah left him. The other camel re- 
mained standing, although his legs trembled under him, 
and with expanded nostrils and shining eyes, followed the 
departing caravan with a wistful and reproachful look. 
But the caravan soon passed out of sight. Then I 
imagined him slowly turning his head tow^ards his com- 
panion, and thereafter crouching down beside him. Then 
they both stretched out their necks along the sand, half 
closed their eyes, and lay motionless, breathing heavily 
through their expanded nostrils. Their weariness in- 
pj crq 
