The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-02
THE LIFE OF A MAN

uoHer Shlu Quleuy, petWeeu luis anu
that"
Saying thus, he looked down at the
two objects between which choice had
to be made This" was man, a
brown-skinDed man of the upper Asian
steppes. He lay prone upon the desert
sand, his eyes, uns, eyes, wide
open, motionless, save .Jr an occasion
al twitching of the limbs as the fever
SILVER shook him; silent except when
bis parched lips moved in the inarticu-
late mutter of dellrium The profess
sors gaze did not linger upon this pit
eous figure 1t travelled to "that''-two
loads of clay tablets, evidently of ex-
IRENE antiquity and closely covered
with a strange cuneiform character,
which had just been carefully strap
ped by his companion to the backs of
two kneeling camels.
"Seeing we are now reduced to two
beasts only" he went on, his eye shift
ing for an instant to the body of
third amel which lay dead some TWEEN
ty yards off, seeing also that we are
In a waterless desert, probably twen-
ty-four hours ride from the nearest
we'll and that this man is dead
weight on our hands,
you don't dream of abandoning the
poor chapY Dick Harding broke in.
The professor glanced uneasily over
his smoked Spectacles. Harding was a
puzzle to him. Il man of distinguished
scientific attainmentS and capable of
strong scientific enthusiasm, yet oc-
caSionally betraying vein of senti-
mentality altogether out of place in
correction with scientific eXploratio
Kirlihoffer had had inconvenient ex-
pcrience of this popularity more than
once during the year spent with Hard
ing in the remote Businesses of Thibet.
'You wouldn't leave him here to
die?" the Englishman persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
thoughtfully. "He's bound to die soon
in any case"
Il don't see that at all. If we can
keep him alive till we get out Of
this
Impossible, my friend. He cannot
walk and these two camels cannot
carry him in addition to you and me
and the tablets"
"Then leave some of the tablets be-
hind
The professor fairly gasped for
breath.
"I.eave-leave behind some of the
tahletS?" he stammered Leave the
records Of civilization to which the
AftHulaD is al lullS u NtSlcIudN W NC
swallowed up by the next sandstone?
Give my great discovery, the greatest
of the century, MANNED and imperfect
to the world? Harding, you must be
mad What's the life of khirgiz
Tartar beside these priceless things"
Kirkhoffer's short-sighted eyes then
cleaned angriy behind his glasses; his
Voice was thick with passion.
What's n KhrgiZ TartarW he groWl-
ed like wild animal.
He's a man, anyway" Harding re-
torted Suppose | refuse to leave the
fellow"
"Then"-the professor became all at
once ominously cool-"I shall be fore
ed to remind you that I am the head
of this expedition and you my salaried
assistant. Also that these animals are
my property. I go and they go with
me. You can Join the party or not, as
you please"
Harding grew pale. THAT is the
choice you offer me? Then | say you
are blackguard."
"And say" indifferently, you are
fool Come. will you mount"
mo" furiously.
The German shrugged his shoulders.
"Have it 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 seat himself
on the other
But here Harding sprang upon him
suddenly. "No, you don'tr' he cried.
"You shall leave me one, you brute,
though it were hundred times your
property"
stand off, the professor cried.
Harding's answer was to close with
him silently; and there ensued a trial
of strength whereof the issue seemed
for several minutes doubtful. The
men were not Unmatched Kirkhoffer
was the taller and heavier, but then he
was also the elder by twenty years
and Hardngs naturally 1.-THE habit of
body had known an English public
school and university training. The
result of the conflict was still I'M
certain when the professor suddenly
ioosed his hold and fell back, leaving
the prize of contention, the camel, al
most in the others clutch Harding
stopped to seize the creatures halter
and rose again to find himself covered
by his antagonists revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the man of science
observed, "yeu will consent to hear
reason. No use, my good friend" as
Hardings hand went briskly to his
breast pocket. ~ drew the charge
while you were asleep this morning, in
view of possible difficulties. You see,
know something Of your strange Eng
fish character. There is nothing like
being ready for difficulties as they
arise"
Dick Harding, under the covering re
volver, stood erect and-dumb. To ar
que further with a man prepared to
commit murder ON behalf of his tablets
of baked clay were simple waste of
breath.
Keeping the musale of his weapon
pointed full at Harding's breast, Pro
fessor Kirkhoffer mounted his camel;
made both the great beasts get up,
and began to move off As long as