The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-11-05

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sand. where It struck head flrst, rolled
over and lay motionless In . heap
The travellers was q Mauser pistol
that would have killed a. surely al
500 yards as 50; and the bullet had
gone through the Tartar's brain.
Baraka sprang up the sandy slope
and ran along the narrow beach to the
body. In an instant she had detached
the large brown water.gourd from the
thong by which he II had hung over
Saad's shoulder. and she felt that II
was full. Without thought for her
self she fastened back to the mouth
OF the cave where the traveller was
now standing. His face was dripping
with Precipitation that ran down into
his matted golden beard. his eyes
were wild. his hands we're bleeding.
Drink" cried Baraka joyfully. and
she gave him the gourd.
He gripped It as a greedy dog snaps
at q bit Of meat and pulling out the
wooden plug he set the gourd to his
lips. with an expression of beatitude.
But he was an old traveller and only
drank little. knowing that his life
might depend on making the small
supply last. A gourd Of water was
worth more than many rubies Just
then.
Are you very thirsty YETI" no
asked In harsh voice.
NO." answered Baraka bravely:
keep II for yourself"
His hand closed round the neck Of
the gourd and he looked up towards
the rocks above. The vuIture had
come back and was circling slowly
down.
you had better bury the body
while 20 on working" said the trav
eler. turning back into tho cave and
taking the gourd with him.,
Baraka had marked the place where
he had tried to dig for water and had
almost disappeared In the Quicksand.
She took from the body the wallet. In
which were dates and some half-dry
bread, and then dragged and pushed
and rolled the dead man from the
place where he had fallen. The vul
ture sat on the lowest ledge where
his claws could find a hold. and
though he watched her with horrible
red eyes while she robbed him Of his
prey. he did not dare 30 nearer.
The body sank into the moving
sand. and Baraka had to roll herself
back 10 firmer ground In haste to es.
cape being swallowed up with tho
dead man. The last she saw Of him
was one brown foot sticking up. Il
sank slowly out Of sight. ana then sAs
went to the hollow where the ruby
mine was and took up piece Of the
broken crust. full OF precious stones,
and threw It at the vulture as hard a.
she could. II did not hit him, but he
at once tumbled on the ledge into tho
air. opened his queer. bedraggied
wings and struck upwards.
Then Baral<a sat down In the shade
and slowly brushed away the dry sand
that had got into the folds Of her lin.
en- garment, and looked steadily ut the
mouth OF the cave and tried not TO
realize that her throat was parched
and her lips almost cracking with
thirst. and that the traveller had .
gourd almost full OF water with him
For she loved him. and was willing 70
die that he might live little loager:
besides. n he succeeded In digging his
way out. there would be plesty to
drink. and when he was free she was
sure that he would love her because
she had made him % rich.
The sum rose higher and at las.
shone down to the bottom of tho
chasm. and she sat in the narrow strip
Of shade. where she had passed most
OF tho previous day. She was very
thirsty and feverish. and felt tired.
and wished she could sleep. but could
not. still the traveller toiled In thu
darkness. and from time to time she
heard sounds from far away an a.
stones and loose earth falling He was
still working hard. for he was yer,
strong and he was desperate.
Baraka thought that II he was ab,-
to dig through the dam the water
would run In again. and she watch !,
the sand for hours. but II was dr..
than ever. The shadow breadsnel
again. and crept up the rock quicl !,
~ the afternoon passed.
CTo BE coNTINuED.)