高中三年级英语(人教版)全一册 Unit 6 Reading

　　For many weeks we had been accustomed to seeing horses and oxen suffering from heat, thirst, and starvation. Now things got worse. For miles both sides of the road were lined with dead animals and abandoned wagons. Lying around them were Chains, guns, tools, bedding, clothing, and many other articles. The owners had left everything -- and hurried on to save themselves. In anxiety of reaching a place of safety, no one stopped to look or help. In fact, the situation was so desperate that, in most cases, no one could help another. Each could only try to save himself and his animals. We called it Death Valley.

　　I was so weak and tired that I got onto my knees and started moving across the sands on all fours. A young man in our group suggested that I stay behind with the children, and wait for help. I knew what was in his mind. So I got up and said "No, I won't give up." I knew that giving up meant a shallow grave in the sand.

　　At three o'clock on the morning of Christmas Day we reached the edge of the desert. The animals almost ran. They must have smelt the water. Not long after this, we reached a running stream. Farmers who saw us stared at us. They could hardly believe what they saw: people who looked like walking skeletons. When we saw the valley with fat cattle and horses, we thought we had reached the promised land! Our days of hardship had come to an end.