The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-22
Write" for The PROGRESSIVE Farmor.7
FOR COMRADES and COUNTRY.
A Tale Of Adventure in Ari-
zona's Deserts.
BY d POE.

SAS "06OA w 1lO AOSbk4d sd
but until then Maj. Nelson, the COM
mander, had not felt the need Of asking
for reinforcements.
1t was early in the '70's. To obtain
reinforcements some one would have
TO go to another fort, and the nearest
one was forty miles distant. There
we're no railroads in that section.
Twenty miles of the way lay through
country occupied by the discontinued
Indians; twenty more through a des.
ert of scorching sand. Soperilous was
the expedition considered that Mai.
Nelson did not attempt to compel any
one to go. Instead, he called for vol
unJeers, and two young soldiers re
sponded. These two were private
James Waite, a handsome young SOL
der of thirty, and his firm friend,
Lieut.. Tom Franklin.
Well did they know the dangers of
this undertaking; we'll did they know
that death by thirst or fortunes more
terrible than death were probable Incl
dents of the journey. But, with their
usual heroism, they left their COM
rades and started on the perilous er-
rand.
Greater misfortunes than they had
anticipated befell them. Big Wolf,
their Indian guide, on the pretence of
avoiding cannons and hostile redskins,
treacherously led them far from the
true trail. Fortunately, his perfidy
became too apparent for the entire NC
cess of his schemes and they discharged
him before going fifteen miles. Then,
instead of returning to the fort and
getting another guide, they resolved
to continue the journey. The country
was new to them, but delay might
mean death, not to them only, but to
numbers of brave men at the fort.
But Big Wolf was thirsty for re-
venge. In spite of their constant
efforts to conceal their trail, he, with
five companions, came upon them
that night. In the struggle, Franklin
was killed. Waite's horse, too, was
wounded, but quick thinking.and quick
acting saved Waite. Sunrise, however,
found him almost in despair. No yes
tige of human habitation was in sight.
In every direction, as far as the ~
could reach, lay only the gray rocks
and the desert peaks for which Arizona
is noted, with here and there a dust
covered cactus bush-the only sign of
vegetation. Waite was alone, without
friend or horse, with little food and no
water in a dreary expanse Of naked
rocks and desert sand.
He did not know how far toward the
south the desert extended, but he knew
it did not reach far toward the west.
With his gun, he could, by going west,
find plenty Of game. But the fort
| to which I'm sent is to the south of me.
and in tt al direction I'll Co." he said
firmly. MY officers have trusted me,
and for my comrades and my country
I'll try it,"
And onward he went; but the sand
was like a bed of fire; his thirst seemed
almost Unsuitable, and as the morning
wore on he nearly tainted from the
heat. About noon his strength failed
completely. He stumbled into the
shade Of a great boulder, but there was
no moisture in the air and it was but lit
tie better there than in the sunshine.
Towards night it grew 9ooler and Waite
gradually recovered consciousness.
Realizing the great responsibility that
rested upon him, Waite struggled to
his feet and started again. A little
later a faint roaring sound arrested his
attention. He gazed around, but saw
nothing. In a fever OF suspense, he
listened intently. Again and again he
heard it. 1t seemed that only in that
mysterious silence which marks a des-
ert country, could it have been heard,
80 nearly inaudible was the sound.
"Waterl water" cried Waite, I'm.
able to suppress his joy. In a canyon,
though" he added. But the thought
encouraged him. He might get water,
and, besides, his destination, the fort,
was situated two miles from some
point of the canyon. Perhaps he could
find it before another day passed.
Past the dusty cactus plants Waite
ran in the direction from which the
sound came. AS he did so, a great
assure in the earth appeared just be-
fore him. 1t was the canyon, and at
it's bottom was the cataract, kept by
the walls in eternal darkness. Disap-
pointed, Waite walked farther up the
Stroapo and found that tho oopvon Urow