THE CAMP OF DEATH 
571 
wake again — this temptation I now put from me finally 
once and for all. 
At sunset Islam Bai and Kasim both revived. I told 
them my resolve. They were both of the same mind as I 
was. Mohammed Shah still lay where he had fallen, 
Yollchi lay on his back in the shade of the tent. Both 
were delirious ; neither answered when we spoke to them, 
but kept on muttering incoherently and confusedly to them- 
•selves. After tw'ilight set in, Yollchi moved ; and as his 
senses returned, the wild animal in him awoke. He crept 
up to where I was lying, shook his fist at me, and in a dis- 
cordant, hollow, threatening voice, cried, “Water! water! 
Give us water, sir ! ” Then he began to weep, fell on his 
knees before me, and in a whining tone of entreaty begged 
me to give him a little water — ^just a few drops. What 
could I say to him ? I reminded him, that he had stolen 
half of our last supply, that he had had more than the 
rest of us, and had been the last to get a good drink ; 
consequently he ought to hold out the longest. Half 
choking with ill-suppressed sobs, he crept away. 
Was there no means of imparting moisture to our bodies 
before we left this hateful spot — even though It were only 
a moistening of the lips and throat.? We were all suffer- 
ingf Incredible agonies of thirst, the men more than I. 
O o 
My eyes chanced to fall upon the cock that still remained 
alive. He was walking about amongst the camels with all 
the gravity of his kind. Why not tap and drink his blood.? 
One of the men made an incision in the animal’s neck. 
The blood trickled out slowly, and in small quantity. It 
was not enough ; we wanted more. Yet another Innocent 
life must be sacrificed. But the men hesitated a long time 
before thev could bring themselves to slaughter our docile 
travelling- companion, the sheep, which had followed us 
through every danger with the fidelity of a dog. But I 
told them, it was to save our owm lives, which might be 
prolonged a little if we drank the sheep’s blood. 
At length Islam, with an aching heart, led the poor 
creature a little to one side, turned its head towards Mecca, 
and, whilst Kasim tied a rope round its legs, drew his knife. 
