Pagina 4 van 1116

Presently, sweetened by distance, would be heard the wild weird

song of lads and lasses, driving or rather pelting, through the

gloaming their sheep and goats; and the measured chant of the

spearsmen gravely stalking behind their charge, the camels;

mingled with bleating of the flocks and the bellowing of the

humpy herds; while the reremouse flitted overhead with his tiny

shriek, and the rave of the jackal resounded through deepening

glooms, and-most musical of music-the palm trees answered the

whispers of the night breeze with the softest tones of falling

water.