The pilot cried, "The camels smell water and grass. An oasis is near!"

Before long they could see palm trees, with their spreading leaves
waving in the soft breeze.

Joyfully they rested during the day. The camels drank freely from the
cool spring. The men filled the great leather bottles with fresh water.
In the evening, refreshed and happy, the men continued the journey.

So they traveled night after night, resting during the heat of the day.
At last, one morning the pilot said, "We shall soon reach the end of our
journey."

The men were very glad to hear this, for they were weary, and the camels
needed rest.

After supper that night Abdul said, "Throw away the firewood and most of
the water. It will lighten the burden of the camels. By to-morrow we
shall reach the city."

When the caravan started that evening, the pilot led the way as usual,
but after a while, weary with many nights of watching, he fell asleep.

All night long the caravan traveled. At daybreak the pilot awoke and
looked at the last star, fading in the morning light.

"Halt!" he called. "The camels must have turned while I slept. We are at
the place from which we started yesterday."

There was no water to drink. There was no firewood to cook the food. The