Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-10
A STORY OF THE DESERT.
Scientific Explorers Fight for the
Possession Of u Camel.
Lnumalo Evening Ncwal

"It h question: Prof. i<irkhoircr
said quietly. between this ana that"
Saying thus. he looked down at the
two objects between which choice had
To be- made. This was man. u brown
skinned man Of tho upper Asian step
pes. He lay prone upon the desert
sand. his unseclng eyes wide open.
motioniess save FOR an occasional
twitchlng Of the limbs az tho fever
SILVER shook him. silent. except whom
his parchcd lips moved In the inartio-
ulate muttcr Of dellrlum. The profcs-
sor'H gaze did not lingcr upon this pitt
lous figure. II travelled quickly tn
"that'--two loads Of clay tablets. evil
IDENTIFY Of extreme antiquity. and closely
covered with a strange cunIform char
aoter. which had Just been carefully
strapped by his companion to the backs
Of two kncclinR camcls.
"Secing We are now reduced to two
beasts only" he went on. his eye shift
ing Tor an Instant TO the body OF a
third camel. which lay dead some twenty
yards on. seeing also that We IRE In
watoriesH desert, probably twenty-f0ur
hours ride from the nearest well, and
that thl. man IL a dead weight on our
hands
You don't dream o. abandoning the
poor chap" Dick Harding broke In.
The profcnnor glanced unonHliy over
mis- smoked npectacier. Harding was
u puzzle To him. u man of distinguished
scientific attachments. capable Of strong
scientific enthusiasm. yet occasionally
bctrnylng vrin Of kcntimcntnlity al
together out OF place In connection with
scientific exploration. kirkhoffcr had
had inconvcnient experience OF this pc
ouilarlty more than once during the
year spent with Harding In tho remote
businesses ~ Thibrt.
you wouldn't leave him herr TO dlc9"
tho Engllahmnn persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
thoughtfully. Hes bound 10 die soon
In any case"
II don't zee that at all. II we can
keep him alive till we get out OF this"
''ImpoHaible. my friend. He cannot
walk. and these two camclH cannot
carry him. In addition to you and me
and the tablets"
Then leave some OF the tablets be-
hind"
The professor fairly saapcd for
breath.
'Lcave-loave behind some OF tho
tablcts7" he stammcrcd. Leave the
Arcndlan u a thing OF yesterday to be
swallowed M by the next Handaturmi
Give my great discovery. the greatest
Of the century. MANNED and imperfect
60 the Morldf Harding. you must be
mad. what's the life OF Khlrglz
Tartar beside these priceless things 70
Kirkhoffer'u short sighted eyes glenm-
ed nnRrliy behind his glasses, his voice
was thick with passion.
whats a khirglz Tartcr?" he grow.
led like Wild animal.
Hes u man. anyway" Harding re.
torted. suppose ! refuse 10 leave this
;ellow."
"Then"-the professor became at
once ominourly ouol--'1 shall be- fursec
90 remind you that am the head OF
this expedition, ana you my ralaried
assistant Also That these animals are
my property. go, ana they go with me.
You can Join tho party or not. IN you
please"
Harding Row pale. "Thnt IL the
choice you ofier me. Then say you nrc
"a blackguard,"
And say" Inadvertently. 'thnt yon
are fool, Come, viii you mount?"
mol" fnriounly
The German shrugged his shoulders,
"liave II your own way" he said. And
gathering up the long leading rein
which he had fastened TO the head OF
one camel; he prepared TO scat himself
ON the other.
Hut here Harding sprang upon him
suddenly, mo, you don'tl" he cried,
You shall loaVe me. one you brute.
though Il were a hundred times your
property"
stand on" the professor cried.
Hnrding's answer WIS 10 close with
him silently, and there entered trial
OF strength whereof the Issue aeeemnd
for several minutes doubtful The
men were not IN matched. kirkho1er
wns the taller aud heavier hut then he
VIVA also the elder by twenty years.
Harding's naturally llthc habit OF
body had known an English public
school and university training. The
result OF the conflict was stiil uncertain
when the professor suddenly loased his
hold and fell back, leaving the prlle
OF contention, the led cnmei almost in
the others clutch, Harding stooped
tn seize the creatures haitrr ana rnac
again TO find himself covered by his
antagonists revolver.
NOW, perhaps the man Of science
observed, you win consent TO hear
reason. No use my good friend. . as
lInrding's hand went To his hreas: poe
ket. II drew the charge while YOU were
asleep this morning IN view OF possible
difficulties. You see, ] know something
Of your strange English character.
There y nothing like being ready for
difficulties as they rise"
Dick Harding under the covering re-
volver, stood erect nnd--dumb no
argue further with man prepared to
commit murder ON behalf OF his tablets
Of baked clay were simple waste OF
breath.
Keeping the muzzale OF his weapon
pointed full AT Harding's breast. Prof.
| l>lrkhonor mounted his camel, made
both the great beasts get up, and be-
gan 10 move on, AZ long as Harding
| remained within running IN distance
he continued 20 hold tho revolver
raised and leyelcd, sitting sideways on
hts camel To insure an accurate aim
but after minute the camel broke
into long, awkward troi; in two