Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-01-05
looked like points of FURNISHED silver

most trying one, during which we full
realized what desert travelling may become
We bad exhausted our last drop Of waite
the night before, and we awoke with
thirst that seemed then unbearable, bu
bsfors the day was over we learned that OF
morning thirst was but trifiing affair
Everything wss intensified on that day; tn
sun seemed fercsr, the heat greater, til
desert drier, and the sky more defiant; i
fact, we seemed to be jonrneying deepe
and deeper into furnace whose fires fol
babe further approach, and when W
halted for the MONDAY rest both man an
beast were utterly exhausted.
No one who has not crossed desert ca
possibly imagine the fearful condition (
which want of water reduces him; tn
food ia swallowed with difficulty and th
system is faint with fever, while the know
edge of its absence does but heighten tn
craving of the body for its cool refresh
ment. After cur rest we set out again
and the time slipped by in silence. Later
looking up, saw something, and turne
and said to Meadows:
"Thank God there is water ahead. See
there is lake few miles of"
ga lakew exclaimed Moritz. "Don'
you know what that is?'
"Whst is it ii not lake ?' demande
Meadows.
"A mirags-and nothing else, said tn
elder M0ri!z
ga mirage ~ l cried. "Why, cal
see the water; there are the reflections o
tie trees and the deer drinking"
"You'll see whst'll become of your lake
Mynheer, and your trees and your deer, a
we 60" he replied with short laugh
mo yon1l see 10 water until we're on
of tbs Karroo and at Verbeck's farm"
Far away overhead in the brazen SIX,
was single vulture that made one dizz.
to look at. An hour later the stumbling
horses suddenly pricked up their ears ant
the leaders neighed.
There is water" said MoIiiz, in an IN
dertone of surprise. 'You may deceive 6
man, but you can't deceive horse."
True enough, in short time we came
up to q nearly dried pool Of filthy water
little more than mud, as thick as porridgt
and as brown as chocolate, toward which
the horses rushed with new energy. Il
was cruel act, but we pulled up sudden
" and Adoloh and his brother leapsd tC
the ground and held them back, while
Meadows and I ran forward and scooped
up the liquid and strained it through 6
handkerchief until we had collected
large kettleful. Then we outspanned and
let the horses 90, and stood and watched
them as they eagerly licked up the muddy
compound. One may ask how it was this
little pool ehould be in the road-tracks o.
the desert, where, as far as we know, NJ
rain had fallen. u cannot tell; l only
know that it was there, and that it saved
our lives. A fire was made and the kettle
set on it; we knew We bad the water and
could wait. 1. was boiled to free it from
impurities and germs il might contain
and then, when properly heated, we agair
strained it through handkerchief, after
ward pouring it all into porus pitcher
we had with us, and encasing that AGAR
with strip of wet flannel, We placed the
pitcher in the sun. where the evaporation
of the steaming flannel cooled the water
inside to q delicious freshness, though il
could not improve the flavor.
We drank large cupful each-it WA
the color of polished mahogany-and pu
the rest into the wagon, shaking our thirs
as we drove on. Just before the sun set, s
globe of crimson fire in an empty, culver
ing sky, we saw before us, touched by his
last beams, distant fringe of trees, and
we knew we were nearing our Journeys
end, for Verbeck's farm lay behind thai
distant foliage. Our last meal was eaten
on the desert, our last rest taken till the
moon was up, and then on again We
Cracked" through silent world.
At midnight of that same day we walk
ed our weary horses up to the farm gate
and were met by the hospitable Farmer
Verheck and his family, heralded by thu
troop of dogs that are invariably to b'
found hanging about the Dutch farm
houses. Oar journey acrcss the Karrot
wss accomplished, and we had reached thu
farm of Mooifontein Beautiful Water.
Behind the white-walled house and shaded
trees ran small river, to which we leo
the tired horses before taking them to the
barn; and later, over sn impromptu sup
per, we told Verbeck the latest news from
the civilized world, and slept that night
with grateful sense Of perils overcome
far into the morning light of the following
day.