Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-18

living, consuming t1ame In my inside. TO
the tortures of hunger, too, was now added
that of thirst, and in all the black riven
wilderness there was not drop of water.
Nor, what was equally disheartening, was
sign of human abode or occupation any
where to be seen. The temptation was
strong to lie down and rest, but as that
would be madness if wanted to save my
life staggered on once more, ignorant of
nv direction and in the last ebb of hope.
Weary hours passed-hours full of indie
scribable anguish of mind and body-wlth-
out bringing cheer or solace. The sun came
out, huge white hot furnace enveloped in
q pale haze of its own heat. The earth
blistered and cracked under my eyes; the
rocks were scorching; it seemed as if fire
and famine were blackening the land to-
cether. A slight wind blew, but it was
the breath Of the crater or sulphur pit let
loose to destroy.
Gasping to sufocation and drcading SUM-
stroke, I hid in deep cleft. Here I lay
awhile in shade, but very soon the sun
srnote in upon me till the walls were like
glowing iron. Crawling out, l sought an
other refuge, which in turn became an
oven, forcing me to change. And so for
the best part of that day went from place
to place among the rocks, seeking shade
and all the while getting fainter and more
parched from want of food and water
Late in the afternoon I resumed my
march in sheer desperation. But it was woe
full, heartbreaking work. bad got past the
stage of acute pain from hunger, but the
thirst was worse agony than ever. For
tunately the hot noXious wind had fallen
about noon so that breathed more freely,
but it was still the struggle of dying man.
And indeed if relief did not come quickly
I should soon cease to be in need of it.
By degrees the country grew less barren
and forbidding. Grass began to appear at
first in scanty brown patches, but gradual
ly getting greener and more plentiful. This
heartened me bit, and ere long to my in
finite Joy came upon a man herding flock
of goats in little valley that nestled among
the cliffs.
He was nightly astonished at seeing
me, and his demeanor at first was none too
friendly. But my wretched condition must
have touched him, for when came totter-
ing and rolling down the slope to where he
stood, he stepped forward to meet me with
words of plying inquiry. l saluted briefly
and appealed to him in heavens name to
let me have drink or should die. In an
instant the Christian soul was vigorously
milking his best goat. ] watched till the
pail was half full of the frothing creamy
milk; then unable to forbear l snatched it
from him and drank till choked. After
slaking myself, had some dates from his
own wallet and felt wondrously revived,
and for his charity he had as grateful
thanks as ever came from the heart of man.
When we came to talk, l told him only
such parts of my story as l thought he
could understand He was greatly amazed,
breaking out into frequent calculations at
the relation of Abram ben Aden's treach-
cry and the pillaging of the pirates.
"And what is to become of thee!" he asked
suddenly.
"Only God knows that" answered, but
if thou wilt add to thy goodness by direct
ing me to the nearest town may perhaps
find way of returning to my own coun-
try"
This he gladly did, but before he would
consent to my departure had to take some
more milk and dates Nothing loath, l
feasted a second time, the gcatherd joining
me in token Of good will. Then with cere-
monious embracings and many VOWS of
amity we parted.
Rekindled hope is the best of all cordials.
I had drunk of it and now pushed on new
man, terminated in body and in spirit. In
two hours was climbing range of hills
beyond which lay the town that happened
also to be the capital of the province; in an
hour more was on the top, and Moses be
holding the promised land could not have
gazed forward more wistfully. Pausing
for moment, my eyes shaded with my
hand, looked down upon 4 verdant plain
dotted here and there with dark palm
groves and the patriarchal flocks and herds
of Arabia Near the further side, half hid
by the clustering trees, was the town
wanted to reach. With fluttering breast
I went ON again, bounding down the slopes
almost as joyously as if were descending
the steep braes above Kilgour.