The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-06
ATHIRST IN THE DESERT.
(Continued from Sixth Page. )

NSOHlluueu 1iUlu SlALA EdSE.J for myself I am tired. want to go to sleep. Go, if you like; but shake hands first.'
 Then the two clasped hands, and the younger man said:
 You were right and I was wrong. was crazy to speak as I did. It is for you to forgive. Now listen. Rest a while if you like, but try not to go to sleep. If you do you will never waken. As soon as you have little strength get upon your feet and come down to the canon. I am going back to camp. If get there alive I will send the boy after you with one of the mules and water. Then we will go home. Good bye again.
 Robinson turned away and without once looking back, began to retrace those weary steps. In his path, a hun dred yards from where he started a dewinder-deadliest reptile of the des- ert-swung before him with its peculiar gliding motion Robinson kicked the thing aside, regardless of its fangs Further on a rattler of different spe- cies crossed his path and coiled itself with mouth alert and buzzing tail
 
 awkwardly away from him on either hand but whether they were tarantu- las, their proportions magnified by the moonlight, or only Pigments of his i'm agination, he did not pause to consider He was indifferent, in the face of a greater danger, to these repulsive, creeping things, the ordinary, everyday foes of the prospector,
 l.. again. He knew that there was to be fight against time and against the rapid ebbing away of his life forces His body was an hour glass now. It's sands were the latent springs of vitality with in him--all the reserve forces, the com bined resources of flesh, blood and will spurred by despair. For one moment, rallying every atom of vitality, he al- most rejolced in the unequal contest against the silent, destructive forces of nature. The breath of the night was cool upon his brow. The shadows of the moonlight were weird and beauti- full, and as he approached again the mouth of the canon he lifted up his voice and sang, in an unnatural thin, piping falsetto, which frightened him: Come, oh, come with me, the tapster is
 waiting;
 Come, oh, come with me, the bottles
 rotating;
 Come. oh, come with me, cold water is
 free,
 And we will indulge in a cup of iced
 tea.
 Then he closed his lips tightly over his teeth. Would his strength hold out? Or would he fall after a little and be unable to rise again?
 He did not try to sing again, but af- ter a little, and to his great surprise, and to his annoyance as we'll, delicious music came to his ears. There were the soft ripping notes of flutes, like the flowing of water. Tren he heard the shrill tremo1o of violins and the clear call of bugles, with the loud tenor and the mellow alto of horns. Then they were all mingled in a grand or chestral burst that swelled louder and louder and died softly away. Robinson was perplexed. He was out in the open now and trying to shape his course by the stars. That delicious, throbbing music was confusing to his senses, and he could not divine it's source Assur- edly there was no living thing near him except the deadly and uncouth vermin of the desert. Yet what was that won derful vision just before him He sank upon his knees and gazed in rapture.
 The marble court of a palace, and in it's midst a pool of 1impid waters, with broad steps of stone leading into them The palace was roo1ess, but it's gleam- ing walls were supported by stately columns elaborately sculptured. The moonlight threw abroad the shadows of these and was reflected from the shining surface of the water, evidently bathing place for fairies, fountain for nymphs. And now there came into view beautiful milk-white forms, with round, swelling breasts and long waving hair, and arms outstretched in invita- tion, dancing to music from some source unseen, the swift notes of pipe and reed, and twanging string. There were score or more. They descended into the waters and their white shoul- ders gleamed in the moonlight as they stretched out their Willowy, swinging arms and floated with 1anguid grace upon the crystal tide. Through the mouths of sculptured dragons streams of water constantly replenished the fountain, and their suggestive gurgle drove Robinson frantic with desire. He rose to his feet and ran. Then fell again. The vision had disappeared like