A Passion in the Desert

During Napoleon¿s expedition in Egypt, a young soldier falls captive to Ottoman forces. Miraculously, he manages to escape, taking with him a horse and a limited assortment of supplies and weapons. On his journey through the desert, he takes refuge in a cave, where he tames and befriends a panther. A Passion in the Desert is a masterful short story by French author Honoré de Balzac.