The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-31
A DESERT DREAM
By e. and II. Heron.

ar THE four who had steamed past
l the Needless and away under the
low back of the Dorsetshire coast six
months before, only two were left. OF
these two Lee-Carson was the worst
case.
The fever mist was drawn like silk
en- cobweb low across the swamp, hid
ing the black eye-shaped pools and the
variegated putrescence of rotting vege-
tatior. The heavy air rang with the
shrill pinioning of wild-fowl changing
their haunts, and the ceaseless trout
trout" of the bullfrogs 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 a sixth-story attic!"
I'D better go and shoot something
before it gets any higher" said the
other man.
"What was it you knocked over down
there?" nodding back ut the swamp.
"Only-n long-beaked atrocity, species
unknown. A brace of duck or wild
geon would suit 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 feath-
.rs!"
Three more days should do it." re-
marked Grammel. cheerfully, with
broad optimistic glance westward,
where, however, there was no reassur-
ing break in the dead sea-like level OF
the horizon, above which brooded n sui
len sunset.
"Then go and leave me here with
food and ammunition. You can come
back for me afterwards"
III get supper first" said Grammel;
keep the fire in"
When his companion was gone, Lee
Carson lay down beside the shoulder
ing blaze, and his eyes wandered slow
y over the unending vista of seething
mist. Presently he began to talk out
loud.
"Grammel could reach the highlands
II were out of the way. I'm dying any
how. and it seems pity
"a day less or more, at sea or shore.
We die-does 1t matter when"
mo, it doesn't matter. It's relief.
Grammel won't leave me, so III leave
him."
He drew shotgun towards him.
Loaded for swamp-fowl," he said, as
he snapped it and laid it on his knee.
"I'll not write a note to you, ,Grammel,
because you would worry yourself, be-
ing a fool. No, III come to nicely ar
ranged natural end. It's waste to let
two men die when death only puts in
a claim for one. Grammel will get
through this and lecture before the Ge-
ographical society about the swamps
and the forests and our scientific re-
searches. and then he'll write book
with the help Of female literary
cousin. and marry her afterwards, and
then there'll be little Grammels. and
I'm be forgotten"
Then he made his arrangements
with the gun. 1t had 32-inch bar
rel. and Lee-Carson's hand was un-
steady. for he was very weak. There
fore. when the charge sputtered into to
the mud and brush behind his shoulder,
he sank down insensible.
When Grammel returned he found
the fire blackening, and his comrade
with his feet tangled in q tuft Of grass,
and the gun lying across his chest.
Grammel examined him hastily. A
$50 that was your little game. was it ?
As il I shouldn't have known!" he ex-
claimed. ITS all 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 provi.
sion sacks, sat blinking over tho fire
made Of dried reeds and the molderine
remnants Of o forest, and shivered. his
head humming with the 20 grains Of
quinine which was to be his garrison
against the now almost due attack Of
swamp fever. v... A..,s
Grammel, from the other side Of tn,
Gre, watched him narrowly through thu
smoke. and wondered how soon Il
would be safe 70 make him comfortabl,
with part Of his own clothing. ., 49,.
1T wish you wouldn't Sit there aut
stare like . night owl, Grsmmel, = La
Carson was saying fretfully.4 n liis'
being aloas whA I've sfeo ~ thi