The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29

never wear out I never saw a man that
ever saw a mule die"
At this time camp was ten miles from
water, upon a dry plain carrying no veg
citation but sparse sagebrush and grease
wood. Water was hauled In tank wagons,
and the old horse, not getting all he need
ed in camp, had learned to follow the
teams to the spring
One morning, after the gang had break
tasted and gone to work on the grade
and the tank-wa CONS could be dimly seen
through their own dust on the road TO the
spring, Greggs little three-year-old son
came out OF the mess-tent ana crossed over
to the corral, where he often played. The
old horse was there, nosing through the
hangers, and the child presently climbed
upon its back as It stood rubbing against
wagon. The horse paid no heed to his
little rider, and soon ambled off up the
road after the water wagons. The child
held on tightly, at first laughing. then
crying, until he had been carried several
miles. when he fell off and wandered away
from the road through the brush.
Jimmy was not missed until the men
came IN from the grade for dinner. Then
there was hurried and unavailing search
through the camp. After dinner Mahcm
laid off ten teams and sent the drivers out
TO make a general search. BY mid-after-
noon they returned and reported failure
Meanwhile Mrs. Gregg, who said she was
perfectly sure Jimmy would not leave
camp, had been through every tent and
overhauled every bedroll believing that
some man for Joke had hidden the boy.
Mahem now took the whole force Of forty
men and Joined in the quest. Under his d.
rection the camp was circled twice, at a
distance Of one mile, and every yard of the
way carefully examined for footprints.
None were found, and Mahem said 20 his
men: NOW your work is cut out for you.
Before dark you've got to look under
every brush inside Of this line, and you're
bound to find him, for he could not get out
side without making tracks"
This search also was Of course fruit
less. Some men came 60 camp at nightfall,
others kept moving about the plain all
night, hoping 20 hear the child cry
AZ daybreak the captain was IN the sad
die mounted on his favorite mule. He still
believed the boy must be inside the circle
" that had been properly made; 10 clear
up that doubt, he meant 10 make the en-
tire round alone and outside Of the line
made by the men. To reach the starting
point he rode out up the road toward the
spring. his eyes on the ground, his mind
on the problem Of how Jimmie could get
out OF camp and leave no trail.
by God. I've got itH' said he suddenly,
jabbing both spurs into the mule, which
responded with a gallant attempt 70 pitch
nun INTO cactus Deu. AHdN boy fOue out
on a water-wagon. His mother is of wrong
IN thinking he was in the tent when the
wagons pulled out He must have hung on
20 the tail Of the last wagon. and lay low
for fear the driver would see him and send
him back. After a while he got sleepy and
fell of. and ! shall ind his tracks some
where In this road. Damnationl Why
couldn't ! think Of that yesterday"
The captain confidently urged his mule
along as fast as a scraper-mule could be
medn 20 travel. And bis confidence was
justified by soon picking up tho boys TRAN
al the point where he fell from the horse.
Abandoning now his mule, Mahem on
foot followed the tortuous tran AZ rapidly