The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-02
A Dasert Dream.
qrom the English cornhnL In two

Lee-CaTson was-I1e worse case
The fever mist was drawn like a sillZen
cobweb low across the swamp, hiding the
black eye-s1aped pools and the vafiegated
putrescenee of rottfng vegetation The
heavy air rang with the shrll pinioning
Of wila-fowi changing their haunts, and
the ceaseless ''troat-Toat' OF the bull
froes in the quagmires round.
The two men were making fire on
dark green ridge somewhat raised above
the chilling level Of the marsh.
The mist is rising said Lee-Carson;
oh. for sixth-story attic.'
I'D better 90 and shoot something be
fore it gets any higher" said the other
man.
What was It YOU Knocked over down
there2'' nodding back at the swamp
only a lons-beaked atrCcity, species
unknown. a brace Of duck or 4 widgeon
would SUR US better"
Give me flesh and not foWl-the ooze-
bred, mud-breasted progeny of this for
saken swamp! Give me corned beef or
German sausage, for I'm sick Of featn-
ers!"
Three more days should do it." re
marked Grammel cheerfully. with a, broad
optimistic glance WestwarGs. Where, how
ever, there was no reassurirg break n
the dead sea-Iike level OF the horizon,
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Then 80 and leave me here with food
and ammunition. You can come back for
me afterwards
I'm get supper first" said GrammeI;
keep the fire in
When his companion was gone, Lee
Carson lay Down beside the smoidering
blaze. ana mis- eyes wandered slowly over
the unendins vista OF seethiug mist Pres
emily he began to talk out loud.
-
I We're out Of the way. I'm dying any
how and it's pity
\ day less or more at sea or ashore,
We die-does If matter when?'
"No. it doesn't matter. It's a relief
Grammel won't leave me, so III leave
him"
He drew a shotgun towards him.
LOADED for swamp fowl he said as he
snapped il to and laid it on his knee.
III not write a note TO you, GrammeI,
because you would worry yourself, being
O fool. No I'll come 10 a nicely arranged,
natural end. It's waste to let two men
die when death only puts in a claim for
enc. Grammel will get through this and
lecture before the Geographical Society
about the swamps and the forests and
our scientific researches, and then he'll
write a book with the help of a female lit
arary cousin. and marry her afterwards,
and then there'H be little Grammels, and
til be forgotten"
Then he made his arrangements with
the gun. 1t had a thirty-two inch barrel,
ana l-ee-Carson's hand was unsteady, for
he was very weak. Therefore when the
charge sputtered into the mud and rush
behind his shoulder he sank down insen-
sible.
When Grammel returned, he found the
fire blackeuing. and his comrade with his
feet tangled in tuft Of grass and the
gun lying across his chest. Grammel eX-
amined him hastily.
so that was your little game. was it?
As if l shouldn't have Known he ex-
claimed. It's ali SO like the young ass,
too, he added gently.
Within an hour the night had closed in.
and Lee-Carson, wrapped up in q blanket,
and a couple of empty provision sacks,
sat blinking over the fire made Of dried
forest. and shivered his head humming
with the twenty grains of quinine which
| was TO be his garrison against the now
Lalmost due attack OF swamp fever
I Grammel. from the other side Of the fire
watched him narrowly through the
smoke, and wondered how soon it would
/ he safe TO make him comfortable with
/ part of his own clothing.
Il wish YOU wouldn't sit there and stare
like a night owl, Grammel. Lee-Carson
was saying freuully. Il like being alone
when I've a go of this mongrel malaria.
If YOU would push on TO the higher ground
you might save US both
I'll start when the moon rises" replied
Grammel with ready untruthfuluess.
That's all right" said the sick man
drowsily. pile up those reeds at my ell
bow and I'll keep the fire going. I'll do"
Grammel rose at once and began to ar
range the heap Of reeds to humor his
! companions fancy.
Lec-Carson leaned against them and
dozed and dozed. and GrammeL Selling
the opportunity, added his own blanket 10
the others coverings.
/ Lee-Carson opened his eyes with an eff
! fort.
"once too often, friend Grammel," he
said
GrammeI glanced confusedly at the Of
/ Tending blanket
I'm not sleepy" he replied; besides
/ I'll be starting presently"
/ Take it OFF, was the peremptory re-
/ joinder.
Let me make up the fire first" said
/ GrammeI temporizing; but he was saved
! further argument. for the fever was gain
/ Ing upon the sick man.
Whats that?" exclaimed Lee-Carson
nervousIy. struggling to sit IN. They
+ are coming. That's the trampling Of the
! hoofs,"
/ "Dare say they are said Grammel.
/ with "a vague wish that there was n hoof
! within eco miles Of them. You might try
/ to rest now
/ Lea-Carson made no reply. but sank
! back obcdiently in his blankets. where he
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