This donkey-boy, whose name was Selim, was also stronger, slenderer, and better looking than the other donkey-boys.

He was fifteen years old.

His shy, gentle eyes shone from behind a magnificent veil of long black lashes; his brown face was a pure clear-cut oval.

He tramped barefoot through the desert with a step which made one think of those dances of warriors of which the Bible speaks.

His every movement was graceful; his young animal-like gaiety was charming.