magic. The children of every people in the world listen to these stories with wide, wondering eyes. Perhaps, too, that is why the desert people love the many-colored, gaily-patterned rugs. Spread on the sand they look like flower beds.
As soon as the moon is up, the herders take down the big tent. The water is dwindling in the spring, the grass is almost gone. The family must move to a better pasture. They must go at night, when it is cool. Everything is packed on the kneeling camels. Skin bags are filled with water and bread and dates, for the journey. One by one the animals take a last drink at the spring. The camels fill the little water pockets in their stomachs, to last for several days.
Saladin, the proud bearer of his long-bearded, white-turbaned master, leads the procession. Then come the women and children on the riding dromedaries. The freight camels follow with their drivers; the brown herders and dogs drive the sheep and goats. The moon is a silver crescent in the dark blue sky. The stars are little high, white lamps. The padded feet of the camels make no sound. Camels are called ships of the desert. They swing and rock like ships across the sea of sand.
The procession grows smaller and dimmer in the distance. Now it goes over a great ridge of drifted sand and disappears. Mehemet and Zaidee are gone. But you will never forget this vast plain of white sand under the dark blue sky. It lies there so wide and silent and lonely, under the silver light of the moon and stars. See Camel, Arabia, Arabian Stories in article on Literature, "What is a Mirage?" in Wonder Items, and "The Ship of the Desert" in Wild Animals.
