The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-26

always of himself, but filled with pity for her and for the trusting animals who had been his servants, compan- ions, friends.
 And it was these animals that, on the following day, wondered in dumb misery why 1t was that so little water was given them, and why despite the penalty, they were urged forward over tortuous paths. There was nothing for it now but to abandon the 'acks. Their loss meant much to sandy, but of what moment were hey In this game of life and death? Aghtness meant speed and already me of the burros Jagged with weari- less and retarded their going And IS the day wore on it's footsteps be- anne slower and more painful
 Only one burro and one pony to ake the trail next day, and. worse ct, water cask that was light as was swung to the burro's back. to give forth hollow swashings of mock. ny. Sandy furtively tested it's weight and made calculations on it's 'ontents He sighed nightly. About swallow day for himself and the 'urro-Just gulp-and quarter ra- lon TOT the woman and the pony. Yes. ne pony must be included and must lave the most, because if the pony 1ept his feet he would take her to 'afety someWhere-perhaps Plain y the pony must be the favored one.
 Again the sun was merciless in en- nlty and focused pitiless rays upon nem, adding to their thirst. And it vas the woman who expressed sur. 'rise when Sandy advised her, with many apologies, to go a leetle mite How on that water" The half.emptv anteen came away from her lips as he said; "Is that all We have?"
 "Oh, we got plenty" came the 'heerful reply, If We only go slow. lest a leetle slow"
 To show his freedom from worry sandy chirped up a tune but some low 1t was a failure, as his lips were co parched for artistic success.
 " udS 2 hloie. lW WO udNS more! And she and the pony must have it 'll though men died thirst-stricken n a day in this terrible heat. We'll t couldn't be helped, and there was 10 use in alarming her. She must ieep her nerve, otherwise there was 10 hope.
 The night came again and went, md the sun returned and WAS just as leartless and unkind. Now there were no assumptions of cheerfulness only silence and caution, and the Irging forward of jaded beasts.
 Again night fell. but this time there vas no pause. The woman moaned with weariness and wondered at this )mittance as we'll as at the energy with which Sandy urged the poor, weakly travelling beasts forward. The three hours rest in the dawn seemed so brief and the way so long. md she was thirsty, so terribly hirsty! And this tall, gaunt man with the flaring head was cruel. be- ,ause he now carried the canteen and | 1 gave her swallow once in awhile. md used such heartless care to jerk t away before she could quench her .hirst. Why. he was kinder to the pony
 And yet-and yet-he himself never seemed to drink. Why didn't he? Perhaps he wanted one as much as ;he did
 Long hours of silence unbroken ! 'ollowed save by the "piff-piff" of his md the horses feet upon the trail nto which they had emerged
 And she in the meantime dreamed If water, Now she begged for it and sucked at the sterile mouth of the )listering empty canteen to which she dung and which at intervals she rugged to her feyered breast.
 Sandy began broken comments which were as the ravens croakinEs Il hoarsenoss. No longer was she a stranger to him. and he began to Non- fer vaguely why it was that he had leyer before recognized her as his brother He would drag back from he hold on the pommel thong of her saddle into which he had twisted his land for support, and look up at her. Then as the pony advanced he would )e jerked forward until he dreamed again.
 His great bloodshot eyes looked lround hOllowly on the glaring rim of he horizon; smile of delirium witched his cracked lips.
 They came out to meet them at -Ii1o ao ,>,,, .ba.. ...-:,