Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-10

sand; the ascent began again. and ho
fell stupidity down. with some iudistinct
fancy oil staying there until nothing was
lott of him but his blcnched and dry
bones baked, dusty bones.
But when his face touched the hot bis
tering sand he got NJ again aud trod on,
Don Fralo no longer feared pursuit
by tho Indians. He bad heard them
speak Of this desert as the fearful Death
Laud." from which they knew he would
never escape at this hot season Of the
year. Then he resolved 60 lie down and
bear his pains as n valiant man might
till night should come and he could then
follow one OF the stars. There was a
large rock not far away. and he hobbled
70 Il aud lay down IN les shadow, trying
TO be sensible and stcady-hearted.
As he lay there, with his battered old
hat drawn down over his face, the still.
ness came terribly on him at times. lie
fancied he could hear distant voices call.
ing him; then he imagined some foe was
creeping up on the other side Of the
rock
AZ last he could bear Il no longer, but
rose and struggled on He soon ran
against one Of the large stones and fcll,
stunned, MS he had fallen several timca
before. Still he would not give up. When
he had recovered he wiped his heavy
eyes with the back Of his hand and felt
his way along through that rocky mage.
Night came aud the pale moon shed ita
sllYery rays down upon him and seemed
70 refresh him. SO he went on. rafting
his tongue against the roof Of his mouth,
and wondering TO himself why he did
not tau down where he was and die;
even that was better than the fate tho
Comanches had had In store for him.
30 through the long. dry hours he
travelled on, and at last shuilod out
wrhere the stones stood In groups only.
The moon sped on her course. and the
ground undeffOOt seemed damn and ne
treshing Then the stones ceased alto
gether and o series of low ridges appear
ed in the distance. When he reached
them IL was morning again. He could
no longer walk erect and ON his hands
aud knees he crawled 20 their summit.
Then he turned in q dazed way and
glanced behind. The sight of the fearful
| maze OF desert Wilderness through which
he had 50 wonderfully come, filled him
with terror and with a supreme effort he
rose 20 his feet and fled from IT, down
and on, only to fall again like a child.
linen for awhile his tortured frame
could carry him no longer and he Inv
there, muttering almost inaudibly. of the
streams and lakes ana Fountains pntii
the scorching sun came down ON his bare
heaG with It's hot rays. Still he Law there
unable 10 think, though strange 10 say.
/ not raving mad
re nhally crnWlcd on a little further
and then his dim eyes received "a tnonnn.
| iary. coolness, and he saw plant grow
| ing IN the damp earth. lie seized h and
/ chewed the dusty leaves. They he rtised
/ ms Owes 10 thank God for H. ana no Mis-
| J9ytnl surprise lac beheld a little stream
OF pure running water only a few rods
| away.
The welcome sight so imbued him with
strength that hc rose hastily To his feet
ana rushed towards II. The Door ,yoatel
| creature raised his bouy. cracked hnnds
| ana gurgled with triumph He bnJ
cheated the terrible desert of IA violin
ana escaped Il horrible death at the hands
| OF the Comanches
AS he threw himself down bv the brinI,
OF the sparkling stream TO drink. IA hugc
I9tuesnakc lying coiled within N foot III
ms tnce, suddenly drew bnck H. hend
ana struck out at the starved aud thirsty
man. hitting him squarply In tho face.
rage filled him. lie sliced Tho
poisonous reptile. and with an effort tore
us writing body into fragments Tben
ne drank again, and. as the poison
worried rs way 10 his heart. he sweet.
ehed the last moments OF his life bv
cooling his parched tongue with M
S9ol hquid. Then n stupor came oyer
INN and he slept with his DESTROYER M
faluesnake, The sleep of death ON IN,
Drink OF the little stream.
such was Don Fralo's escape from the
hostile Comanches.