Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-02-18

the end of 1t hung down over his face.
Both hands grasped the high pommel
of the Tartar saddle; his legs swung
helplessly with each movement OF the
horse.
Since sunrise they had been on the
march, and the horse-a mere skel-
etou with Tapping ears and ungainly
neck-showed fatigue more than the
man walking at its side. Every now
and then the poor brute stumbled
forward az II about to drop from
sheer weariness. and on each occa-
sion the rider would slightly raise his
head. For some hours perfect 81
lence had fallen over the two men;
their blaskened lips were SO hard
and dry az to render articulation
nearly impossible. Suddenly the
horse gave a great lurch forward.
and falling to recover himself, col.
lapsed sideways with a piteous groan.
The man at its head dropped the
bride and with marvellous raptdity
slipped his arm round his compan-
ions dropping body.
Look out PAUL" he exclaimed.
hoarsely. in Russian.
The rider made no attempt to as
sist himself, and as the horse fell.
his full weight came upon his COM
panion, who, however, managed to
step back and keep free from the
poor brute's dying kicks.
The man on horseback had actual
ly been asleep, and as his companion
laid him gently on the warm sand, he
slowly opened his heavy eyes.
Little father" he murmured. The
corners of his mouth were closed with
a deposit Of black sand. and his lips
hardly moved. The other put aside
the loose end Of the turban cloth.
and exposed fair, boyish face with
languishing blue eyes, and a jaw SO
square as to be almost deformity.
The sun had burned the fair skin
in some places, leaving the others
pale, the result being a fantastic
medley of brown, reds and pinks.
PAUL"
Eyes, little father"
"You are better for your sleep
ia that not so?" asked the other.
kindly.
But the younger man lay still, with
his blue eyes half closed. His mouth
was so parched that he could scarce
ly move his tongue.
1--WE will divide what water there
is left" said the elder man, decisive.
ly. And he turned toward the pros.
trate horse.
From the saddle he detached a
large gourd, which gave forth a ter.
ribly hollow sound, and after some
searching In a loose bag that was
suspended from his shoulder he found
a small drinking vessel, cunningly
manufactured from half a gourd.
He kept his back carefully toward
his companion as. kneeling on the
ground, he extracted the wooden
stopper.
Then the young man painfully
turned over on his face, and, crawl.
ing along. stealthily approached. AS
his companion elevated his arm to
raise the gourd he dragged himself
forward and watched the yellow
water trinkle into the vessel with
eyes devoid of human feeling. They
were like the eyes Of wild beast in
sight of blood.
Slowly and deliberately the man
poured all the water into the little
vessel; he appeared to have forgot
ten the division of which he had
spoken.
In setting down the gourd he
glanced to one side, and caught
sight of his companion lying on the
ground at his side, with agonizing
eyes fixed upon the water vessel.
Then he turned, and for some Sec
onds their eyes met; in one face was
steady determination, in the other a
wavering weakness, rendered terri
BILE by the brutelike agony OF the
eyes. .
"You drink your share first" said
the younger man, painfully.
II do not want any. liam not
thirsty"
This with cracking lips and tongue
as dry as leather.
The younger man attempted to
raise himself, while the contortions
OF his discolored face were terrible
to look upon.
"You drink your share flrst," he
repeated hoarsely.
"WilT you drink 1t all?" The
elder man gently inclined the drink
ing cup so that the water glistened
on the edge.
"WiI you drink it all?" he re-
peated.
One precious drop fell on the sand,
and the dampness OF 1t vanished in
simultaneously.
will you drink--it-all?"
Then he held tho cup to his COM
panion's lips, and the water was
gone.
He who did that deed to dying
man-beneath no gaze but that OF
his God-was VINEYARD Mistley. The
young man was his servant.
Now he sat upon the sand and
took his servants head upon his
knees.
The cooler air now revived Paul
Maritch. He turned his head to
where Mistley lay on the sand at his
side.
The Englishman heard The move
ment and crawled closer to him.
"Mistley," whispered the dying
man.
Eyes, Paul"
"If you live through this, never let
them know that I am dead. Let the
tu@ fuh nr