hwood, we could distinguish the outline of what appeared
to be a great quadruped, of reddish hue, the aspect of which, however, as
near as we could judge, was by no means so ferocious as its voice. We
ventured to advance towards it, but as we advanced, it retreated.
Samdadchiemba, whose eyes were very sharp, and accustomed to the desert,
assured us that the creature was either a dog or a stray calf.

Our animals were, at the very least, as absorbed with the subject as
ourselves. The horse and the mule pointed their ears, and dug up the
earth with their hoofs, while the camels, with outstretched necks and
glaring eyes, did not for an instant remove their gaze from the spot
whence these wild cries issued.

In order to ascertain precisely with what creature we had to do, we
diluted a handful of meal in a wooden dish, and placing this at the
entrance of the tent, withdrew inside. Soon we saw the animal slowly
advance, then stop, then advance again. At last it came to the dish, and
with the most remarkable rapidity, lapped up the supper we had prepared
for it. We now saw that it was a dog of immense size. After having
thoroughly licked and polished the empty dish, it lay down, without
ceremony, at the entrance of the tent; and we forthwith followed its
example, glad to have found a protector in the apprehended foe.

Next morning, upon awaking, we were able to examine at leisure the dog
which, after having so alarmed us, had so unreservedly attached itself to
us. Its colour was red, its size immense; its excessive meagreness
showed that it had been wandering about homeless for some time past. A
dislocated leg, which it dragged along the ground, communicated to it a
sort of swinging motion, which added to its formidable effect. But it
was especially alarming when it sent forth its loud, fierce voice.
Whenever we heard it, we instinctively looked at the animal whence it
proceeded, to see whether it really belonged to the canine race.

We resumed our route, and the new Arsalan accompanied us, its general
position being a few paces in advance of the caravan, as though to show
us the way, with which it appeared to be tolerably familiar.

After two days' journey we reached the foot of a chain of mountains, the
summits of which were lost in the clouds. We set about ascending them,
however, courageously, for we hoped that beyond them we should find the
Yellow River. That day's journey was very painful, especially to the