The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-11
THE REPARATlon SOLDIER.


y without water, the meh having not
! crop 70 drink save what was in theii
csASeens- They had cut loose from
liFsE IN the early morning, expecting L
ma another when the day was done. hu
not as much as a Sivulet had they found
mere was no coffee that night and Their,
wasn't light heart in the outfit
Tracy was unhappy 1t wasn't wholly
MS suffering condition and that OF his
men which weighed on him. just before
!e%Flng the Arizona post he had received
news that his young brother. John, had
peen committed 10 states prison in a IA,
northeastern state. TheNoficer had seer
MS home only once since his graduation
he had stayed away purpOsely His
Drotner had been a trusted bank EN-
pioye- Then came suspicion, then con-
sictlon and sentence John Tracy pro-
/ tested his innocence OF the crime charg-
60 against him. and his family, knowing
the lad. believed him, but the circum-
| stential evidence was overwhelming. and
in spite of the efforts of the aged father
VINO spent his time and his money in the
! lads defense. he went to prison.
Before the troop had left Fort Banks
with its nose to the red hot trail OF
Geronimo there had joined as an en-
hsted man Gtrapping young fellow who
said that he came from ST. Louis. His
name was Barlow. and he was assigned
to the troop OF which Tracy was the
Junior officer. and he went with 1t on
its chase across the border after the
apache chieftain
Barlow on every occasion possible at
tached himself 10 Tracy's person. When
ever there was a scouting party de-
/ tached from the main body and put under
the second lieutenants command Barlow
asked that he might be assigned 10 il 10
share in the scouting duty.
On the morning following the night that
the troop was practically without water
and in county as devoid of green
things, save the forbiGding cactus as
is the Staked Plain of Texas, the troop
commander told Tracy that he had bet
ter make a short reconnaissance. feel
out the country for the enemy and above
all try to locate water. To attempt d
march under that hot Mexican sun with
the men, and with any idea of effective
service. was foolhardy. They must first
strike water.
<raey 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 q
find was made. He selected Barlow for
his companion. and the two struck out
through the black. sun-seared country.
They went on for three hours. Not
drop of the element of which they were
in search.
Back they started. They followed their
own onward trail as well as they could,
but at times II was lost. and then cir
cling was necessary to take il up again.
All noon they lost it. and could not find
X again. There was a great jagged
rock rising to the westward which neither
recognized.
Lieutenant" said Barlow, we're go
ing wrong. We never came this way.
The sun doesn't sit right. It should bear
more TO our rightl 1 believe that we are
going almost directly at right angles to
the camp
They circled again and again, but no
trace of the trail. Then the conclusion
forced itself on Tracy that they were
lest. They wandered on until the sun
went down beyond the black rocks. Then
they each drank sparingiy of the pre-
cIous contents OF the canteens. and lay
down on the gray desert to sleep
The sun came up like a red-hot 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 hours passed. The
sun came up once more, and with its
coming they staggered forward. The
canteens were empty They looked for
the cactus whose leaf yields juice thai
helps fight off the demon of thirst. They
could not find it.
Another twenty-four hours. The men
eheered each other on like the soldiers
they were. Tracy began TO feel the com
ing of delirium. oh, for q draught of
water, He looked at Barlow. The mans
eyes were burning, but they had cour
age in them, and something else in their
depths which Tracy never before had
seen there. On and on and on. They
could not go farther. Suddenly Barlow
turned to Tracy and said in voice that
was choked from the clutching of thirsts
hand at his throat. Lieutenant. ! was
afraid that we might be tempted to drink
this long ago, so I saved II for the last
extremity. Lieutenant, 7 have one good
drink Of water apiece left in my can
teen"
Barlow shook the canteent and Tracy
heard the splash of the water within.
Drink. Barlow" said Tracy, drink.
You saved it. and 1t should be yours
Drink, drink it. 1 say. 1t may give YOU
strength to go on II you get hack. boy.
and the men strike water. ask them 10
come after my body"
Tracy was reeling His brain was
awhirl and his whole system on fire.
Lieutenant" said Barlow. 4 had more
in my canteen than you had in yours
when we started. Men in an extremity
III take my cup and well divide the !
water"
rs there enough for the two and to do /
any good?' asked Tracy.
Yes" said Barlow, "one good drink !
for each.
Drink first" said Tracy. IN not /
touch drop tin my command is served. 1
"AIl right, sir" said Barlow.
Tracy turned away for a moment. He +
ri ha of
never come his turn to drink9 Barlow (
spoke Lieutenant. I'm afraid l took /
more than half. Here is what's left"
Re poured the water gurgling from the +
canteen into the cup There was q good. I
round drink. Take 1t. lieutenant" said /
Barlow. y had more than that"
Tracy seized the cup and drained it. I
Oh. the joy Of IL New life vent surgins /
through him. His eyes cleared. He look /
ri at Barlow There was no new iife in /
he mans eyes. His lip was droopiug
Barlow. said Tracy. almost heTceiy /
you deceived me. You never drank q
irop.
Something like smile came fato Par
cws face.
Forgive ne. lieutenant" he said -but
here was only enough for one and thea
ie staggered and fell forward. Tracy
,auEht him IN his arms. and. weak
hough he was, managed To support the
surden-
lieutenant whispered Barlow go
IN. You are strong enough ard may
zach the camp. II you do Just CONS
sack and bury me here.
Then the man drew his officers head
lose 10 him and Whispered soneth.uE-
Barlow almoss let fail his burden. Yes.
true. I was tire guilty one ard gufif
,rother was inBoccat and z sacrifice.
Take This. and he drew paper from bis
lioGEe snd put it in Tracy's hand Per
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