The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-23

the head with it, and put an end to my
irdescribable agonies. The heroic crea-
ture smiled sadly and shook her head
emphatically. She took the proffered
weapon, however, and after putting
some distinguishing marks on my tree
with it, she hurled it some distance
away from me. She then stopped and
propped me against the trunk of the
tree, and leaving my poor suffering
dog to keep me company, she set out
on her lonely, search with long, Looping
strides of amazing vigor.
1t was late in the afternoon when
she took her departure, and I lay there
hour after hour, sometimes frantically
delirious, and at others in a state of
semi-consciousness, fancying she was
by my SIDE with shells trimming over
with the precious fluid. / would rouse
myself with a start from time to time
but. alasi Yamba was not near me-
During the long and deathly stiffness
of the night the dew come down
heavily, and as it enveloped my bed
fell into a sound sleep, from which
was awakened some hours later by the
same clear and ringing voice that had
addressed me on that still night on my
island sandpit. Out upon the impress
siVe stiffness of the air rang the earnest
words, Coupe Parbre, Coupe Parbrew
! was quite conscious and much re-
freshed by my sleep, but the message
puzzled me a great deal. At first I
thought it must have been Yamba's
voice, but I remembered that she did
not know word of French, and as I
looked around there was no one to be
seen. The mysterious message still
rang in my ears, but 1 was far too
weak to attempt to cut the tree my
self, so l lay there in q sort of inert
drowsiness. until. rousing myself, I
heard the familiar footsteps of Yamba
approaching the spot where I lay. Her
face expressed anxiety, earnestness and
joy.
MY MINISTERING ANGEL.
In her trembling hands she bore a
big leaf containing two or three ounces
of life-giving water. This drank with
gasping eagerness. as you may sup
pose. My delirium had now entirely
left me, although I was still unable to
speak. I signed to her to cut the tree.
as the voice in my dream had directed
me. Without word of question Yamba
picked up the tomahawk from where
she had hurled it and then cut Vigor-
ously into the tree, making a hole
three or four inches deep. 1t may
seem astonishing TO you, but it sur
prlsed me in no wise, when out from
the hole there trickled a clear uncertain
stream of water, under which Yamba
promptly held my fevered head This
had wonderfully refreshing effect
upon me, and in short time 1 was
able to speak feebly but nationally.
companion. AS, however. I was still
too weak to move, 1 INDUCED in an
other and far Sounder sleep. All
through that terrible night, while
Yamba was far away searching for
water, Bruno had never left my side,
looking into my face wistfully. and
occasionally licking my body sym
pathetically with his poor, parched
tongue.
Whilst I was asleep the second time.
Yamba had gone off with the dog in
search of food, and had returned with
a young oposSum, which was now friZ-
zling in an appetiZing way on a tripod
of sticks over blazing fire / was able
to eat a little of the flesh, and we OBJ
tanned all the water we wanted from
our wonderful tree. have since learn
ed that my life was saved by the we'll
known Australian bottle tree So
called from the shape of the trunk. OF
course, Yamba was unacquainted with
the fact that water was stored in its
because this wonderful tree
was unknown in her country As a rule
ner instinct might be depended upon
implicitly, and even after years of her
I used to be filed with
wonder at the way in which she would
track down game.
HOW YAMBA CAUGHT OPOSSUM.
She would glance at a tree casually
and discern on the bark certain minute
which were quite invisible to
me even when pointed out She would
then climb up like monkey, and would
return to the earth with a good-sized
opossum, which would be roasted in its
skin and accompanied with many diff
ferent varieties of delicate roots. When
[ had recovered Yamba told me she
had walked many miles during the
night, and had finally discovered a full
in new country, for which
she said we must make as soon as I
was sufficiently strong. Fortunately
this did not take very long, and on
the brink of the water-hole we
camped beside 1t for several days. in
order to recuperate. / must saw that
he liquid we found here did not look
very inviting-it was, in fact, very
Shiny and green in color: but by the !
lot a drop left. Yamba had a method !
IF filtration which excited my admira- !
ion. She dug another hole alongside /
he one containing the water leaving /
l few inches of earth between them. |
Ind then forced a stick through the |
partition. When we wished TO drink, |
his stick WIS withdrawn. A stream of (.
clear water then spurted |
through the opening. She would also |
liter the water by letting it drain |