red by Ahmed to
the muleteers, they would give him a handful of rice or bread, or a few
dried fruits which kept them from starvation.

So it went on until one night, when searching for the bridge that
crosses the Salt River, the sky became suddenly overcast, the rain fell
in torrents, and soon the river was in flood. There was nothing to be
done but to sit down and wait until the moon should rise. The fierce
wind buffeted them, the rain drenched them; they had lost their way,
and were at the mercy of wild beasts.

Once, when the wind dropped for a little, out of the darkness came a
groan. "Keep still as death, my son," said the father to Ahmed, "for it
is the Old Man of the Desert."

Now Ahmed had never before heard of the Old Man of the Desert, and
therefore knew no fear, so despite his father's warning, he got up and
went in the direction from whence came the groans. As he reached the
spot, the moon came out from behind a bank of clouds, and Ahmed saw a
poor dervish lying on the sand. He had a leopard skin thrown over his
shoulders; by his side lay a big stick studded with sharp nails, and a
basin made of the outer skin of a pumpkin in which he collected alms.

"For the sake of the Prophet," he moaned when he saw Ahmed, "give me a
drink of water." And Ahmed, filling his pitcher from the river gave him
to drink, though the water was somewhat salty.

The water revived the dervish, and he said: "I am Ali, the dervish, and
am known throughout Persia. Two months ago I left Mazandaran to go to
Meshed. But yesterday the fever seized me. This is the third attack,
and, as you know, it is always fatal.

"Stay with me, my son, in this dark hour when I shall pass through the
valley of the shadow of death. And when my soul shall have crossed the
Bridge of Death, take this little leather bag hanging round my neck,
and therein you shall find a tiny cup, cut from a crystal, which if
used rightly, shall lift thee to great power and wealth.

"Each morning when you rise, place a drop of pure water in the cup, and
look intently therein, and should any danger threaten you or those near
and dear to you, it will be made manifest. And if--" but here his
strength failed him, his head fell back, and he passed away. Ahmed
found the bag and the beautifully cut crystal, just as the dervish had
said, and returning to his father, told him all that had happened.

Ahmed did as the dervish had directed him for several mornings, but
seeing not