Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-11-30
CHAPTER XXI.

~
workmen had been served
both were quick witted enough TO- see
that the little lady was in no conditloh
10 endure emotion of any kind. she
had slept little on the night before
leaving Cairo, very little more at the
night camp during the journey ana not
at all on the night of her arrival. Her
first words indicated a purpose on her
part to fend off all talk that might
touch upon personal matters.
Good morning, gentlemen" she
said. Pm very well, thank you' SO
you needn't ask me about that, espe-
cially as there are more important
things to be discussed. brought all
the supplies | could, but after seeing
the men eat / realize that we shall run
short of food very soon. How many
more days are thereT
"FOur more, including today"
'Then you must telegraph ut once
to Cairo for more beef or we shall run
short. Please go and telegraph at
once, GuilfOrd. Then come back and
your breakfast will be ready"
When he had gone the girl turned to
Temple and said:
everything is ready for you two.
Bob will serve it. think I'll 60 and
sleep little now"
With that she tripped away to the
canvas covered wagon which Duncan
had detained at the camp to serve her
as sleeping quarters.
Late in the evening of that day the
two transfers, who had started early
in the morning on their return journey
with the other wagon, rode back into
camp. They had been obliged to aban-
don their wagon, wholly unable to
make their way farther owing to the
floods.
"Then we shall get no more provi-
sions," said Barbara sadly.
"And that's pity" answered Tenn
ole, "fOr the mems spirits have greatly
revived under the stimulus OF your I'M
proved commissariat, Miss Barbara.
How long will your supplies lastT-
"Tve enough coffee, -four and mOlas-
ses," she answered, ito last through.
but the fresh meat will be exhausted
by tomorrow night The hams will
help out for breakfast, but they won't
90 far among 200 men. Pm sorry
couldn't have brought more"
'You could not have got through at
all if your loads had been heavier"
said Duncan. 1--WE must simply do the
best we can. still have hopes that
we shall win."
"Oh, we must win, you know. You
mustn't allow yourself to think of any
thing else"
1t was G o'clock on the morning of
the last day when the night gave Its
first intimatiOn of q purpose to come
to an end. In the slow coming gray OF
the dawn the torches still fared, cast
ing long and distorted shadows Of the
work weary men as they continued
their toll. During that last night the
entire company had been kept at work
In q last desperate effort to accomplish
the end SO vitality necessary. All night
long Duncan had done what he could
to encourage the toilers, while Temple
had given his attention to such devices
as might shorten the task or otherwise
facilitate It's doing. All night long
Barbara had busted herself furnishing
limitless coffee as an atonement tor
the insufficient food the men had Lad
since her supplies of meat ran out two
days before.
During the last half hour the rain
had almost ceased, and GuilfOrd Dun
can had INDUCED an anxious hope that
the skies might clear away with the
sunrise, but just as the gray of morn
ing began to give light enough for the
workmen to see without the aid of the
torches the downpOur began again
more pitilessly than ever.
Its discouraging effect upon the al
ready exhausted men was instantly
apparent. A dozen of them at once
quit work and dOggedly sat down In
The mud of the embankment. Two or
three others. reckless of everything but
their own suffering, stretched them
selves at full length to sleep where
they were. too weary and hopeless now
even to seek the less uncomfortable
spots to rest their wOrnout bodies.
"Six hours MORE" said Duncan, look
ing at his watch. "Only six hours be-
tween us and triumph. Only six hours,
and we must lose all simply because
the men are done up"
"We'll do it yet" answered Temple.
"We never can. Those fellows are
done for, tell you. | know the symp-
toms. They've lost their morale, lost