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Perseverance Once upon a time a certain tradesman was leading a caravan to another country to sell his goods. Along the way they came to the edge of a severe hot-sand desert. They asked about， and found that during the daytime the sun heats up the fine sand until its as hot as charcoal， so no one can walk on itnot even bullocks or camels! So the caravan leader hired a desert guide， one who could follow the stars， so they could travel only at night when the sand cools down. They began the dangerous night-time journey across the desert. A couple nights later， after eating their evening meal， and waiting for the sand to cool， they started out again. Later that night the desert guide， who was driving the first cart saw from the stars that they were getting close to the other side of the desert. He had also overeaten， so that when he relaxed， he dozed off to sleep. Then the bullocks who， of course， couldnt tell directions by reading the stars， gradually turned to thc side and went in a big wide circle until they ended up at the same place they had started from! By then it was morning， and the people realized they were back at the same spot theyd camped at the day before. They lost heart and began to cry about their condition. Since the desert crossing was supposed to be over by now， they had no more water and were afraid they would die of thirst. They even began to blame the caravan leader and the desert guideWe can do nothing without water!， they complained. | 
