The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-18

ter. To attempt march under that
hot Mexican sun with the men, and
with any idea of effective service, was
foolhardy. They must first strike wa
| ter.
Tracy told his captain that he would
take but one man with him; that they
would strike southwest, where it was
thought better prospect of water
lay, and that they would return as
soon as find was made. He selected
Barlow for his companion, and the
two struck out through the black, sum
scared country.
They went on for three hours. Not
drop of the element of which they
were in search. Their tongues were
blistered. They drank sparingly of
the water in their canteens, pressed
on for another hour and then knew
that they must return.
Back they started They followed
their own onward trail as well as they
could, but at times it was lost, and
then circling was necessary to take it
up again. At noon they lost it, and
could not find it again. There was a
great jagged rock rising to the west
ward which neither recognized.
lieutenant" said Barlow, we're
going wrong. We never came this
way The sun doesn't sit right. 1t
should bear more to our right. be-
lieve that we are going almost direct
! ly at right angles to the camp"
They circled again and again, but
no trace of the trail. Then the con-
clusion forced itself on Tracy that
they were lost. They wandered ON IN
til the sun went down beyond the
black roakA- wem Asr =eeA en@RE
.=s.skszeznz e. g., -- ts-z- 7T---yy--zzs7 .
/ akA A.IzAA=A -a===z--=--===.-=x=-<z
Ssx-F@ 6, -
The SUI c=E@ - 49, g - b.
round shot Tracy and Barlow ate the
last of their single ration, and took
one swallow of water apiece. Then
on they went again. Twenty-four
more, and with it's coming they stag
gered forward. The canteens were
empty. They looked for the cactus
whose leaf yields a juice that helps
fight off the demon of thirst. They
could not find it. The only vegetation
were occasional clumps of stunted
prickly pear cactus, the juice of whose
leaves accentuates thirst.
Another "a hours. The men cheered
each other on like the soldiers they
were. Tracy began to feel the coming
of delrium Oh, for a draught of wa
ter! He looked at Barlow. The mans
eyes were burning, but they had a
courage in them, and something else
in their depths which Tracy never be-
fore had seen there. On and on and
on. They could not go farther. Sud-
! denly Barlow turned to Tracy and said
in voice that was choked from the
/ clutching of thirst's hand at his
throat. Lieutenant, I was afraid that
we might be tempted to drink this long
ago, so 1 saved it for the last extremi-
ty. Lieutenant, have one good drink
of water apiece left in my canteen."
Barlow shook the canteen, and Tracy
heard the plash of the water within.
Drink, Barlow" said Tracy, "drink.
You saved it, and it should be yours.
Drink, drink it, I say. 1t may give
you strength to go on. If you get
back, boy, and the men strike water,
ask them to come after my body"
Tracy was Keeling. His brain was
awhirl and his whole system on fire.
Lieutenant" said Barlow, 81 had
more in my canteen than you had in
yours when we started. Men in an
extremity like this should share and
share alike. I'll take my cup and
we'll divide the water"
SIS there enough for the two and to
do any good?" asked Tracy.