Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-10-21

10 TeIleVe the worst OF their distress.
The tropical incoming sped in heat, ST.
lence and half-slumber. At o'clock
Benoni reused the little caravan, and
after hasty supper, told them to
make ready for long, hard ride. All
night they journeyed. Through desert
wastes and over rocky Businesses, up
steep mountains and across half stag
nant shallow rivers. And even when
the dawn came there was no resting.
The horses, jaded and covered with
coating of dust and sweat, stuck their
feet weariedly into the sand or chung
listlsssly to the hilly slopes. Larry
was weak as a woman, and Johnny
too worn to talk. The sun conferred the
sky when Benoni let them halt They
were Just past strip of desert waste.
and near tiny oasis of parched grass
and scrawny palms. A murky pool of
water Knocked them with resemblance 81
OF Apollinaris, settlers, ice-fiushed
lemonades and carbonated beverages to
be quaffed in the blessed land at home.
Johnny exhausted, had dropped from
his horse and was trying to drag him
self towards the muddy pool.
Benoni was as mistaken as the palm
tree standing motionless in the desert
calm He pulled Johnny up bolstered
him along with a draught from his
mask, and set him to rights generally.
How are you. Morris?" he asked.
"Oh, fair" replied Larry. This gaunt
American found 1t hard to admit ply
steal inferiority to the black.
I'VE can rest but an hour or two
Volunteered
must go on"
But where2" asked Larry. Il con-
TESS wanted to go into darkest Afri-
ca, but this affair is growing too shad-
owy for me. I don't care about being
handled like packinghouse cow!"
Benoni turned a reproachful eve
upon him. Il have promised to help
You find the girl you seek, can you.
not rely upon me? know my Africa.
! am trusting you, and trying to repay
you for aiding me to escape from that
cafe mob-that corral filed with worse
than the beasts of the jungle-drunken
Infatuated swine that once were men"
Hello, what's this?" asked Johnny.
I'm always finding things-now amt
!! Look at this, and in the desert,
tool" He held up to view q phlnnp
pigeon. Apparently 1t had been hurt
in a fight with some heavier denizen Of
the air. For 1t was quite dead, and its
mead was severed almost from it's body.
Benoni reached out his hand for the
bird
Doves like that nest In but one
place in all this continent" he remark
co. and his face became ashen gray as
he noted the odd markings of purple
and brown on its snowy breast. only
one place." he repeated.
Johnny had been turning the bird
over and over. rumpling up the help
less wings. Something caught his eve
and he held the dead dove out with nm
raised wing for the others to see.
Scratched on its wing in rude letters
they read:
Betty Lancey, Africa!"
Betty!" cried Larry. Then he seiz-
ed Benoni by the wrist. IF doves like
that nest in but one place on this con-
tinent, take us there, take us at oncA
What place is it? Where? Would she
be safe? Or in the hands of savages ?"
That Is where we have been trav-
cling to. my friend" answered Benoni.
4 had suspected, but l had not GER
tainiy known. We will not even rest
for the hour, If you wish"
I must" answered Johnny. Safety
razors I'm beat out. I'm not a camel
in the legs, If can go without q drink
for six months!"
Tell me, tell me something" nlaaa.
ed Larry.
But the sands were not more silent
Benoni made but one reply. IT dare
not. 1t might destroy all hope!"
Day after day. clinked off this ardu-
Gus travel. Once they met a caravan
and Benoni bargained for fresh horse.
The erstwhile novelty was succeeded
by feverish unrest. Both Americans
were dead with fatigue, the little Arab
stood the journey well, and Benoni
was in the pink of condition. Ten davs
later they found a second pigeon.
This one was alive and futtered n
their very luncheon table. Larry GOV.
cred 1t with his hat, and bent its wings
back fiercely only to find a bitter dis
appointment, for there was no messava
traced upon the wing.
Two days later they reached a native
hanging tassel-like upon the |
oANSAS VI al Immense jungle. BenOni |
hired heaters to break the way for
them, and for week they journeyed IN
4 setting Of tropic grass and dusly |
skins. One morning Larry awolxe to |
Ind the camp deserted Of all but Be
noni and Johnny. The horses were
gone and even the little Arab had dis
appeared.
What! are we lost in this iunRle7 |
Betrayed and deserted?" questioned
Larry.
No, indeed. I sent them away. We
cannot leave here till nightfall, so
sleep again or lounge till return" re-
piled Benoni 81 will be back in a few
hours"
Divesting himself OF his garments
8enoni swathed his loins with a girdle
II flexible grass, and strobe away in
o the Businesses OF the thicket.
Larry reused the sleeping Johnny
'udely. "Ffrehead, get up, and tell me
what you think of it." he commanded
Johnny. roughly disturbed from
ireams of home, kicked viciously in
larry's grasp.
Cant you let fellow sleep when