Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-03-21

- Ss-PPoAS w ke'S hAo JUN uSdluSI- Od
the route he rode in advance, followed by
Giles, who was followed by tho mule,
while 1 brought up the rear. More heat
and pcrspiration, more WEAKNESS of flesh,
more unquenchable, or rather firc-p proof
gaycty on the part of Dick. When We
halted at noon made a discovery.
| Through all my vicissitudes had car
ricd with me n patent instantaneous
photographic camera, not so :Sbig us an
ordsaary hat-boX, and capable of taking
sdnt yE five picture, without the use of
/ = sta on Sothcr cumbersome accoutre-
ples had brought II hundred pre-
Sparsss plhtes along with me, most of
(which had already been decorated with
Fsuch scraps of Western scenes as had
seemed to me most characteristic or
amusing. / valued the collection
prodigiously: it was the only journal
had, and was full of associations; and
now, just when was looking forward
to u speedy return to civilization, dis
coved that my camera and plates were
missing had left them at our last
nights sleeping ground.
Mt once announced my determination
20 go back and get my camera
Giles shook his big head Dick So
bcrly declared that it would be little
short OF madness. He pointed out that
it might have dropped off anywhere OIL
the route, and either tumbled into the
river or fallen under II sage bush, or 9th
erwisc hidden itself after the manner of
such things. Again, should wear out
my horse, by doubling the distance we
had already travelled that day; and, final
ly, what was tho use of n lot of amateur
photographs, anyway? But still held to
my purpose, and began to strap the sad
die on my devoted mustang.
"Wcll, said Dick, at length, oI'll
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 90 forward easily, and
wait for you there. 1t will be n good
place to spend the night in, and will give
you a chance for rest when you come
back. But tell you frankly, never ex.
pect to see you again"
'Good-byc, old man; you're an idiotm
was Gilcs's farewell. And with that,
touched my heel to the mustangs flank.
and cantcrcd slowly or on the return
trail.
Three hours rather lcisurcly 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. [ WIS
puzzled by this, and racllcd my brain for
Il solution. While ] was debatinr the
question, Il snake glidod ont of hole in
the ground, and wrigglcd Off toward
ncishboring c!ump of bushes. Mechanic
ally, drew my revolver and fired Mt INN.
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 cor
ncr OF my camera protruding from be-
meath neighbOring shrub. l picked it
up, strapped ii To my belt, and, after al
lowing my horse half an hours rest,
rc-saddled and rcmountcd and set out
towards the west once more. But all the
while | was thinking, GLOW did the
camera get thcre?" 1t was twenty PAGES.
Mt least from the camp 1t could not
have got there by accident. At last I
came to the conclusion that Dick must
have hidden it there for fun. and then
forgotten all about it; and when I had
discovered the loss, and showed such
concern at it, he had held his tongue for
fear OF II row. That WAS the best cxpla-
nation | could devise; and it was not n
very satisfactory one, after all.
rode on and on through the broilinr
afternoon. | was glad to have recovered
my camera, but was not in n very good
hnmor, and, being alone, my thoughts
took gloomy turn. and lost myself in
gloomy memories aud forcbolings. At
length reused myself to find that the
region | was in was strange to me. /
had certainly not passed through it with
the others. | looked nj my watch; ii
WAS four hours since had set out on nv
return. must. therefore, have already
passed our noon rcsting-placc. Bat, on
the other hand, | must be near the grove
OF trees that Dick had mentioned rs our
night halt | rode on for nearly all
other hour, aud came to fork in the
river. Which way had the others gone
searched along the bank Of the left
branch, but found no trail forded the
stream and searched OH the other side.
Half an hours labor brought me ON the
hoofmarks 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. 1t was in
comprehensive, but | had no choice but
to follow.
1t was five O'clock in the afternoon,
hut the sun was nearly three hours high.
The air was perfectly still; the sky was
OF dull hue, incliuing to coppcry at the
horizon. The white surface of the alkali
glittcred on every side, dazzling my
eyes. My horse was iaded; began to
feel grave apprchensions. Could it be
that had mistaken some other trail for
theirs! l cast my eyes on the ground.
No trail was visible. had lost it, and
was myself lost.
For moment my heart failed ME.
Then. manning myself, | bore on my left
rein, and began to ride in great circle.