The Desert Valley

The story opens with a pack-horse navigating a sandy ridge, eager to reach a nearby water-hole. As it trots forward, the load becomes unbalanced, causing bundles to drop. A weary, irritable man struggles to keep up, revealing his exhaustion and discomfort through his peeling skin and blistered face. His efforts to control the horse highlight the challenges of their journey, setting a tone of hardship and determination in a rugged landscape. The scene captures the tension between man and beast amidst the harshness of their environment.