The Press., 1896-07-30

<1 g<Ie$sl s@Issss;1 He felt hts feet slipping from under htT1. could upon his insecure footing, he call ed to his companion with cheering words. Easton had "kept his head" ill the midst of his peril and was now using both brain and muscle to extricate him self. But he was also mindful of Dicks danger and began untying the lariat from his waist so that he could cast it off if he saw that it was drawing Dick into the slide.
 Dick Aaw the movement and guessed it's intent.
 "Don't do that. Easton," he cried. ''For heavens sake, give yourself every chance"
 "There's no use both going" returned the other, with a grim look down the mountain side.
 ''If you throw the rope off, I swear I will jump into the slide with you," cried Dick again in an agony of fear lest his companion should sacrifice him. self for his sake "I am not in any dan ger. can hold on" "
 Even as he spoke, he felt his feet slip ping from under him upon the treacher OuS ice.
 The burro train had kept on along tho path after their leaders, and the foremost one had now come so close that Dick felt it's warm breath behind him. He turned. and flung one arm about the beasts neck and threw his weight upon it. The little animal braced itself and stood firm as a rock. Dick felt as though the earth had suddenly grown solid beneath him, and shouted with renewed courage to Easton. The latter began again to pull himself up hand over hand upon the rope, and soon stood safely beside Dick. "That was a narrow squeak" he said | looking back. "You have saved my life" "
 "No," disclaimed Dick. i've both owe our lives to this little fellow here. !" He patted the burro affectionately upon the head as he spoke. It was not in the nature of either man to mako much of such an incident. Yet it served to cement their friendship still closer and to give each renewed assurance that he could depend upon the other i'll any hour of need fact which they were to have ample oppor- tunity to test in the time yet to come.
 On through tho day they kept up the weary struggle. None but the old iron tiersman could have kept tho trail, and at times even he was almost at loss to know where their course lay, But be- fore night they had made the last of the passes and stood looking down upon the plain which reached endlessly from the farther base of the mountain.
 Easton stretched out his hand toward | it.
 "The Indians named it right when they called it the Evil Place, Dick. It is evil enough, as many a poor fellow has found and as his bleaching bones will tell us.
 Itwas again night when they came to | the edge of the desert. Instead of camp | ing, they made but a brief rest and push ed on. Until daybreak they kept up a steady, silent march. Then. when the sun came up, big and rcd, from out the eastern edge of that ocean Of sand, they unslung the panniers, picketed the bur ros, made a nasty breakfast and then lay | down to rest.
 Dick went to sleep, with the cool airs of the morning still blowing across the plain. Three hours later he awoko with start At first he thought some huge burning glass had been focused upon him. His hands and face were blistered. | The sand was as hot as though it were molten lead.
 Dick sat up and looked about him. As far as the eye could reach was the un- broken level of sand-level except where the wind had swept it into hollows and ridges From horizon to horizon was nothing to break the monotony except the polished silver white dome of the mountain behind them and the scant tufts of cactus and sage brush in the | brown waste.
 The burros were browsing at little distance, and rod away sat Easton, his knees drawn up, his head down upon his hands between them, and his whole at titude expressing almost lifeless dejec- tion. Dick got up and went toward him, the sand burning his feet at every step.
 When Easton raised his face, Dick w suddenly gone insane. His face was deadly pale, his eyes were bloodshot and sunken.
 In answer to Dicks exclamation he pointed, without looking thither, to where they had stood the water jars. When unloading in the early morning they had placed these carefully, sur rounding them with the other freight While the two men slept one of the pack animals had strayed among the goods and upset and broken the water jars. Dick took it all in at glance.
 "There is not drop left. "
 For answer Easton shook his head si- lently.
 "And there is none to be had until we are across the desertP'
 Easton extended his arms and pointed to the east and the west.
 "It is a days journey either way, " he said.
 "It is useless to go back" said Dick
 ''It is useless to go either way"
 "But you would not stay here to die like dog?"
 ''It will be just as well. "
 Easton lolled out his tongue and be- gan to lick his lips for moisture. The mere action was horribly suggestive to Dick. He had not felt thirst before, but now he was suddenly conscious that his own mouth and throat were parched and burning.
 Neither man was afraid of death, and the presence of any foe or danger that | they could combat would have fought