The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

q btduu OF OI1eT cumbersome aCCOuIre-
ments. had brought hundred pre-
pared plates along with me, most OF
which had already been decorated with
such scraps of Western scenes as had
seemed to me most characteristic OF
amusing. l valued the collection
prodigiously; it was the only journal l
had, and was full of associations; and
now, just when I was looking forward
to speedy return to civilization, dis
coyed that my camera and plates were
missing. had left them at our last
nights sleeping-ground
1 at once announced my determination
to go back and get my camera.
Giles shook his big head. Dick So
berly declared that it would be little
short of madness. He pointed out that
it might have dropped off anywhere on
the route, and either tumbled into the
river or fallen under sage bush, or 9th
erwise hidden itself after the manner of
such things. again, I should wear out
my horse, by doubling the distance we
had already Travelled that day; and, final
ly, what was tho use of lot of amateur
photographs, anyway But still held to
my purpose, and began to strap the sad
die on my devoted mustang.
''Well, " said Dick, at length, "I'H
tell you what Wen do. There's 4 nice
clump of trees about six miles further on,
and, if you are fixed in your insanity,
Giles and will 90 forward easily, and
wait for you there It will be a good
IeHce to spend the night in, and will give
you chance for rest when you come
back. But tell you frankly, never ex-
pect to see you again"
Goodbye, old man; you're an idiot! !"
was Giles's farewell. And with that,
touched my heel to the mustangs flank,
and cantered slowly off on the return
trail.
Three hours rather leisurely travelling
brought me to the site of our camp.
Nothing was to be seen there of the
camera. As all the baggage had been
kept together in one place, it ought to
have been Immediately visible. l was
puzzled by this, and racked my brain for
solution. While 1 was debating the
question, snake glided out of a hole in
the ground, and wriggled off toward a
neighboring clump of bushes. Mechanic
ally, drew my revolver and fired at HIM.
The bullet struck him in the thickest part
of the body. l walked up to put him
out of his pain, and caught sight of a cor
ner of my camera protruding from be-
meath neighboring shrub. I picked it
up, strapped it to my belt, and, after al
lowing my horse half an hours rest, l
re-saddled and remounted and set out
towards the west once more. But all the
while I WAS thinking, GLOW did the
camera get there?" 1t was twenty PAGES,
at least from the camp. It could not
have got there by accident. At last
came to the conclusion that Dick must
have hidden it there for fun, and then
forgotten all about it; and when I had
the loss, and showed such
at it, he had held his tongue for
fear of row. That was the best expla-
nation l could devise; and it was not
very satisfactory one, after all.
Irode on and on through the broiling
afternoon. l was glad to have recovered
my camera, but I was not in very good
humor, and, being alone, my thoughts
took a gloomy turn, and lost myself in
gloomy memories and forebodings. At
length I reused myself to find that the
region I was in was strange to me.
had certainly not passed through it with
the Others 1 looked at my watch; it
was four hours since had set out on my
return. | must, therefore, have already
passed our noon resting place. But, on
the other hand, l must be near the grove
Of trees that Dick had mentioned as our
night halt I rode on for nearly an
other hour, and came to fork in the
river Which way had the others gomez
I searched along the bank of the left
branch, but found no trail Iforded the
stream and searched on the other side
Half an hours labor brought me on the
hoof-marks of the two mustangs and the
mule. To my surprise, after proceeding
along the bank for mile or two, they
turned off to the right, and disappeared
toward the northwest, right across the
great alkali desert of Yuma. It was in
but l had no choice but
to follow.