Walking became ever more difficult, because the respites under the blistering heat of midday did not augment anyone’s strength. Djantemir sent out thirty horses and twenty jigits to help the shepherds pick up the exhausted sheep and carry them on the unloaded horses.
Just before dawn they reached the first wells full of spring water. The people drank greedily and could not have their fill, after which they watered and fed the animals.
By the time the sun started to beat down on the desert the people were fast asleep after the trying night march. Nobody knew how long they had been sleeping when a piercing whistle made them jump to their feet. Bleary-eyed, nobody could understand what had happened. A dry yellow mist hung in the air, shielding off the sun. Clouds of dust rose from the cre
