The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-31

rernaps II was because attention was
directed to my hurt that il became all at
once so sensitive, but the smallest move
ment now caused panB that cut the
breath like stab. Besides, / was in
raging fever of thirst. A water skin dam
gled from my saddle bow, and reached for
It in hope of relief. 1t was already crack
ing and shriveling in the fhrnacelike heat,
but there was n chance that some of the
precious contents might still remain. Now
that the idea of it came 10 me my whole
being called out vehemently for mouth
full of water as the sole hope of life. Moth
Ing else could save me.
Eagerly pushing the deIted sides of the
skin apart, looked in. Ihe dazzled eyes
saw only vacant blackness. Merciful
heaven, it could not be that the skin was
empty / peered deeper and deeper. My
vision must be at fault, fot if did not see
water certainly smelled it. Thrusting In
my hand brought out handful OF mud,
the refuse of some well trampled into foul
ness by struggling, perishing men and
beasts. The skin dropped from my nerve
less fingers, and the oozy sediment came
dribbling ont. Before / knew what l was
about was sucking it for dear life, but it
stank SO poisonously that ! had to spit it
out Immediately. Yet moisture of any sort
was too precious to be wasted, so I emptied
the trickling mire upon my baking wound,
rubbing it in with my finger as smearer
rubs his tar into the divided flcege OF u
sheep. .-. -- ....-...
cannot say that the application in the
least assuaged the pain. And the disap-
pointment of finding the skin empty gave
an added poignancy to tho throbbing Of my
inhamed throat and lips. OH for single
drop, just one drop of clear, cool water TO
ease that fiery torture. Worlds upon worlds
would have given for sb much liquid as
lies on the petal of a daisy at dawn, and
worlds upon worlds could not have pur-
chased it there.
l bandaged the wound--that is to say,
bound it roughly with rag torn from my
long Arab shirt. But what mattercd ii
whether it was attended to or not? Why
defer paying debt that Is exactcd of all
men? Would it not be best TO let death
distrain at once, and have done with this
fever called liying?" Utterly worn ou,
with fatigue and fright and excitement, l
was tired of being the sport of destiny. 10
think of triumphing over her was FOOLS
thought No man had done it, No man
would or could doit. Why should | pro
long bootless strife9 The cry of the sick
heart was the cry of the ancient Celt How
evil was the lot allotted to Llywarch the
night when he was brought forth Sor-
rows without end and no deliyerance from
his burden"
No deliverance from his burdenl That
was the sentence of old; it was the sentence
still n calling struggle tragically relieved
by momcntary Illusions of hope and happi-
ness, endless humiliations, crushing defeat
and at last inevitable death Yet it was
hard to die; hard to think calmly of ones
own bones being pickle by those vultures
which were already hovering above me in
anticipation of n corpBe to feed on. l was
not yet philosopher enough for that.
Crouching on the sand, my head sank
deep between my knee in an agony OF
despair. The sun beat down as if the heav.
ems were vault of fire, and millions OF
quiyering arrows seemed to dart along my
spine. II was rapidly driving me crazy
was going mad with the consciousness ol
the calamity full upon me. Merciful God
/ was to die raving 1naninc in the burn
ing wilderness The thought thrilled fol
an instant in the brain, making me shiyei
as with sudden chill, and then came q
strange calm. Tint at least could be pre-
vented. Drawing my sword, felt its edge
thinking of Saul and his armor bearer
The blade was of Damascus steel and as
keen as razor. A moments courage and
all would be over; 80 sharp m instrument
could cause little pain, nothing to what
WAS already suffering
learned then that il man may take hi.
own life smiling turned the edge in
ward toward tho throat, glad that had
found such easy means of escape. A mo
ment's courage, kelt saying TO myself
no more; then everla4ting relief. The edgt
touched the bare skin, and | leapcd to my
feet screaming with unutterabla horror
Ne, no, could not do that; the canon o.
the Almighty was clean against sell
slaughter. Shaking like Il leaf In the gale
| fell PROSTATE OH my face and prayed foi
strength and pardon.