The record-union., 1892-04-30

son cynlcalIy; IF we get out OF this you IL
learn, l expect, just about how little value
she set on your care for her."
You've been unlucky," said the
younger man gently. There are women
who-but there, don't suppose Well
come through. Anyhow it's time we
started"
"Well-well, keep your faith and I'll
Keep mine. Perhaps here and there there
may be woman worth caring about, but
they're few and far between"
Don't you want TO say anything?"
asked Helm.
"Who? 1? No. Who is there to care
a straw whether / leave my carcass to
the crows or not? There's only tue boy,
ana he's too young to understand. But,
L say, you might have mentioned the
name OF the station,' and taking the
stick from Helms hand, he walked out
on the salt and wrote:
Please let them know at 'YerlO,'"
and signed his name, James Ander-
son."
There's my last will and testament"
he said. Come on now.'
Helm went up to the horses.
Its no CO." he said. ''My poor old
beggar's DONE"
Il expected it, old chap. Well have to
loot 1t; mines only a shade better than
yours. Clearly We'll have to leave yours
behind. Mine can carry the pack a little
farther, but l really don't think he can
carry me-"
1t was still very hot, but the shadows
OF the lockwood trees had grown longer
and there was just a promise of the COM
ing night in the air They must walk,
for they had only the one horse now, and
IL dld not seem likely he could hold out
long. The other had lain down to die,
ana whether this one could crawl on un-
DER their slender pack was aquestion An
derson asked himself more than once
mat he could carry either of them was
out OF the question. They put blanket
or two on his back, their pistols and the
empty water-bags, and then it seemed
cruelty to force the poor beast to move,
OUT necessity knows no law, and they
started slowly on their hopeless journey
round the saltpan, Anderson leading the
way, Helm following with the horse. SO
slowly they went, and their only hope
lay IN speed. Helm looked back little
sadly at the dying horse, which had made
an efort to rise as II III mute protest
against being left.
Poor old beggar," he said. ''Would
not 1t be kinder to put him out of his
misery?''
"Oh, give him chance for his life,"
SAID Anderson. 'a've known horses to
recover in the most wonderful way.
After he's had a spell he may find water
iCi AAAiiloOIls Ahy nO" we IL give ulI1 ING
chance"
1t was blessed relief when the sun
sank beneath the horizon: the night was
still and hot, but the wind dropped at
sundown, and the men found it easier TO
walk in the dark. The crows had fol-
lowed them as long as it was day, but
they, too, left as soon as the darkness
1ell. They were unaccustomed to walk
ing, and it would have been hard work
under the most favorable circumstances;
as 1t was, it was cruel. They did not talk
much, for what had they to say? An
hour or two and the moon rose, full
moon, red and fiery; and as she rose
slowly 10 the zenith, silyering as she rose,
the plain grew light as day. Every little
stick and stone, every little grass blade,
was clearly outlined; the low ridge which
they were leaving behind, the ridge where
they had found their worst fears realized,
loomed large behind them, while the salt
pan to their lett stretched away, one great
lake or glittering white, which it seemed
To HeIm they could never round.
How long, Anderson" he asked, ''be-
fore we can hope to reach the other side?"
Not before morning, man. l don't see
we can do 1t before morning."
Then they plOdded on little farther,
neither liking TO be the first to give in,
though their mouths We're parched and
burning thirst was consuming them. But
still they walked steadily on till more
than half the night was gone. AT last
Helm flung himself down on the ground.
Il must rest" he said, ''if die for it,
and Anderson sat down quietly beside
him.
Then sleep, merciful sleep, came to
them in their WEAKNESS, and they slept
till the first faint streaks of dawn began
to appear in the eastern sky 1t was q
dreary, hopeless waking. The salt lake
was behind them now, and all around
was the plain, bare, hard earth in some
places, patches of grass in others, not a
living thing visible; even the crows had
gone, and though the foul birds had filled
Helm with shrinking horror, their alb
sence was still more terrible, for did it
not show that they were plunging farther
into the desert, farther and farther from
the water without which they could not
live out another day? The sun rose
higher and higher till the full force of his
rays seemed more than they could bear,
and yet the nearest shade was miles
away, a line of trees or scrub dim on the
horizon.
Neither mentioned the significance of
the absence of the crows, though both
were thinking of it, but at last Helm
said:
''The trees-let's go for the trees. This
is past bearing"
But Anderson shook his head.
They're clean out of the way, man.
he said sadly. "Try to hold out little
longer. The old horse is keeping up
wonderfully; I never thought he'd hold
out so long,"
He's very nearly at his last gasp"
said Helm, and they relapsed into silence
again.
on, and on, and on. The thirst was so
bad now they could hardly speak to one
another. Still they pushed on under the
burning rays of the almost vertical sun;
every step it seemed must be their last.
Was it really only last night they discoy-
cred they were loSt-only last night?
Another mile, and another. and the heat
grew unbearable, and Helm, without q
word, turned to the left and made for the
trees. Anderson paused for a moment
and then followed him, though to him it
was giving up the struggle If they
turned out of the path which led to the
only water they knew OF, turned into this
painless wilderness, what possible chance
was there for them? And vet how could
they stand this terrible heat any longer?
II tell you l shall go mad" moaned
Helm. Il didn't think | was a coward,
but 1 can't stand this. Old chap, don't let
me go mad shoot me if you see Pm going
mad"
Mad" said the other bravely; mon
sense, man, you're all right. You'll
feel better presently when you've had
spell"
The line of trees resolved itself on
closer inspection into close-growing
gidya scrub, and long before they reached
it the crows had again made their appear
ance. A little flock kept them company,
waiting on in front, rushing up behind as
if perchance they might be late, wheel
ing round on either side.
There must be water there" said
Helm eagerly. Look at the crows
again"
Don't build on it, old chap" said the
other. The scrub is too thick for US to
find it.'
But Helm was not to be dissuaded, and
he wasted his anernias in fraIltiL. snarlh