Hoffmann's Fairy Tales - Illustrated Edition of World Children's Literature

Author: Hauff
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-05-01
Features: "Illustrated Classics of World Children's Literature" collects the essence of world children's literature creation, including outstanding novels, fairy tales, fables, and poems from various eras and countries, representing the highest achievements of world children's literature to a relatively comprehensive extent. The modern and contemporary sections of this series primarily feature well-known classic works, while the contemporary section includes bestsellers that have won various awards. All works are accompanied by exquisite illustrations, most of which retain their original charm, allowing readers to fully appreciate the style of the original texts. This book is one of the "Illustrated Classics of World Children's Literature," titled "Tales of Hauff."
Once, a large caravan was traveling across the desert. On this boundless, featureless plain, where nothing could be seen but sand and sky, the distant sound of camel bells and the clear, rolling hooves of horses drifted over. Ahead, a thick mist signaled that the caravan was near. Sometimes the wind would part the mist, revealing glistening weapons and colorful clothing, dazzlingly bright. This was how the caravan appeared before a man. He rode a horse toward them from the side. The horse was magnificent, an Arab breed, its back covered with a tiger skin, its saddle adorned with small silver bells, and a beautiful heron feather fluttered from its head. The rider was imposing, and his attire matched his splendid mount: a white turban embroidered with brilliant gold flowers on his head, an outer garment and wide trousers as fiery red as flames, a scimitar hanging at his waist with a jewel-encrusted hilt. He wrapped the turban all the way up to his face. His face, with his bushy eyebrows and dark eyes shining beneath them, and his long beard hanging below hisbeak nose, gave him a fierce appearance. When he was about fifty paces from the caravan's vanguard, he spurred his horse forward and quickly reached the front of the caravan in no time.
It was extraordinary for a single person to ride alone through the desert. Fearing an attack, the caravan guards quickly aimed their spears at him. "What are you doing?" the knight shouted when he saw them preparing to fight. "Do you think I would dare to rob your caravan all by myself?" The guards felt embarrassed and quickly turned their weapons. The captain of the guards rode up to the stranger and asked him what he was doing there. "Who is the master of the caravan?" the knight asked. "The caravan doesn't belong to anyone in particular," the captain replied. "It belongs to several merchants who are returning from Mecca. Because there are often bandits harassing travelers, we are escorting them through this desert." "Then please take me to meet these merchants," the stranger requested. "Not right now," the captain said. "Because we must keep moving and cannot stop, and the merchants will still need at least another quarter-hour to arrive. If you're willing to go with me, I can take you to meet them when we stop for lunch and rest."
The stranger said nothing. He took a long cigarette pipe tightly tied to his saddle and began smoking deeply, while riding alongside the captain. The captain didn't know how to regard the stranger and didn't dare to ask his name directly, though he tried to engage him in conversation. However, the stranger would simply nod and say "Hmm, hmm!" in response to opening remarks like "Your pipe is quite nice" or "Your black horse has excellent stamina."
Finally, they arrived at the place where they would stop for lunch. The captain sent his soldiers out to keep watch while he stayed behind with the stranger to greet the caravan. Thirty camels laden with goods, led by armed guides, passed by. Then came five merchants, riding on beautiful horses. This was their caravan. Most of them were elderly and appeared dignified, except for one who seemed much younger and was more lively and cheerful. At the rear of the caravan was a large group of camels and pack horses.