Tramp, tramp, tramp, went Meek-eye over the soft sand. The night was
cool and refreshing, and Ali felt stronger and braver with every tramp.
The stars were shining brightly, and they were his only guides.

He knew the star which was always in the north, and the one which was in
the west after the sun had gone down. He must keep that star to the
right, and he would be sure to be going towards the south.

He journeyed on till day began to dawn. The sun came up on the edge of
the desert, and rose higher and higher. Ali felt faint, weary, and
thirsty, and could scarcely hold himself on to Meek-eye. When he thought
of his father and mother, he took courage again, and bore up bravely.

The sun was now at its height. Ali fancied he saw a palm-tree in the
distance. It seemed as if Meek-eye saw it also, for he raised his head
and quickened his step.

It was not long before Ali found himself at one of those pleasant green
islands which are found throughout the desert, and are called oases.

He threw himself from the camel's back, and hunted out the pool of water
that he knew he should find in the midst of the reeds and long grass
which grew there.

He dipped in his water-bottle and drank, while Meek-eye, lying down,
stretched out his long neck, and greedily sucked up great draughts of
the cool water.

How sweet was the sleep which crept over them as they lay down in the
shade of the great palm-tree, now that they had quenched their thirst!

Refreshed and rested, Ali was able to satisfy his hunger on some ripe
dates from the palm-tree, while Meek-eye began to feed upon the grass
and leaves around.

Ali noticed, while eating his dates, that other travelers had been there
recently: as the grass at the side of the pool was trampled down. This
greatly cheered him. He quickly followed in their track, still going in
a southerly direction.

He kept the setting sun to his right, and when it had gone down, he
noticed the bright star that had guided him before.

He traveled on, tired and faint with hunger for many a mile, till at
last he saw, a long way off, the fires of a caravan which had halted for
the night.

Ali soon came up to them. He got down, from Meek-eye, and leading him by
the bridle, came towards a group of camel-drivers, who were sitting in a
circle.

He told them his story, and asked permission to join the party, and
begged a little rice, for which he was ready to pay with the piece of
money that his mother ha