Sharp County record., 1890-02-13

"Now, boys" he said, socially as We
sauatted round the remains OF our meal
an hour later, "this is going 10 DC
tough transit and we've got to scratch
our best to make it. Those two nagS OF
yours have all they want to do to carry
Won and your guns. The mule is pretty
well fixed with the tent and the Kettles.
But something's got to be done Win
that four hundred pounds weight OF
dust. If you two carry it, you'll be on
foot in two days. if carry 1.-THE fact
is. | believe | shall watch my chance to
cut and run with it. The mule remains;
she can stand good deal, and | believe
she can stand that four hundred pounds.
But. not to run it too close, here's my
propositions I'll pack the tent on my
crupper-my rapacity don't extend to
tents-and that will give the mule a
chance. How does that strike you?
We talked it over, and finally agreed
that Dicks plan was prudent and eX-
pedient. After sound nights sleep
Giles and | using the bags of dust for
pillows-we arose bctimes breaNasted
and packed up our own traps, Dick being
very active in assisting. The mule took
the alteration in her load quite good
humorcdly, and Dick rugged the tent on
his saddle in such a way that, SO far
from incommoding him, it gave him
support to rest his back against. On the
route he rode in advance, followed by
Giles, who was followed by the mule,
while brought up the rear. More heat
and perspiratiOn, more WEAKNESS OF
flesh, more unquenchable, or rather,
re-proof gayety on the part of DICK.
When we halted at noon | made dis
covory.
Through all my vicissitudes | had car
ried with me a patent instantaneous
Photographic camera, not so big as an
ordinary hat-box, and capable of taking
a four by five picture, without the use OF
a stand or other cumbersome accouter-
ments | had brought hundred pro
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 or
amusing. valued the collection prod
igiously; it was the only journal l
| had, and was full Of associations; and
now, just when l was looking forward
to a speedy return to civilization, l dis
covered that my camera and plates were
missing. l had left them at our last
nights sleeping ground.
| at once announced my determine
tion to go back and get my camera.
Giles shook his big head, Dick sober
ly 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
otherwise hidden itself after the man
ner of such things. Again, l should
wear out my horse, by doubling the dis
tance we had already travelled that day;
and, finally, what was the use OF lot OF
amateur photographs, anyway? But l
still held to my purpose, and began to
strap the saddle on my devoted mus
tang.
'Well,," said Dick, at length, ..Tll tell
you what we'll do. There's a nice clump
of trees about six miles further on, and,
if you are fixed in your insanity, Giles
and will 60 forward easily, and wait
for you there. 1t will be good place
to spend the night in, and will give you
chance for a rest when you come back.
But l tell you frankly, never expect
to see you again. 1terum iterum que
monebo, but, as you please! Your
motto shall be: Died of a camera "
"Good-bye, old man; you're an idiot"
was Giles farewell. And with that /
touched my heel to the mustangs flank,
and cantered slowly off on the return
trail.
Three hours rather lcisurely travel
ing 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. | was
puzzled by this and racked my brain
for a solution. While | was debating
the question, snake glided out of
hole in the ground, and wriggled off
toward neighboring clump of bushes.
Mechanically drew my revolver and
fired at him. The bullet struck him in
the thickest part of the body. | walked
up to put him out of his pain, and
caught sight of a corner of my camera
protruding from beneath a neighboring
shrub. l picked it up, strapped it to
my belt and, after allowing my horse
half an hours rest | resaddled and re-
mounted and set out toward the west
once more. But all the while | was
thinking: "IIow did the camera get
there?" 1t was twenty PAGES, at least
from the camp. 1t 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 had discovered the
loss, and showed such concern at it, he
had held his tongue for fear of row.
That was the best explanation | could
devise; and it was not very satisfac-
tory one, after all.
rode on and on through the broiling |
n of+ornoon I was clad to have recovered !