Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-18
in the stirrups and looked in every d.

In the sttrrups and looked in every d.
rection. I did not take the trouble to
follow his example. When he had fin
ished the circuit he turned to me. He
looked at me coolly for a few moments
and l perceived that he understood the
pred!caMent we were in. But there
was no indication Of Tear In his blue
eyes, only a grim resolution and deter
mination to play out the game and
win. A sort of admiration sprang up
within me for him, which was tenn
pered with a desire to wear him out,
break him, make him whine. sob. and
beg. to have the satisfaction of seeing
fear of death in his eyes,. and heay the
cry on his lips for mercy. I recognized
1t was to be a battle and also the like
lihood of my own ruin, in fact, the i'm
pending probability OF such an end. for
/ was as much unacQuainted with the
waste as he. l began TO grow very
thirsty, with the strange burning des-
ert thirst that Graves water in large
quantities. Examining my canteen. 1
found 1t about three-Quarters full.
Every hour or two Darlington halted
to survey and change the course. l re-
manned behind. allowing him to pilot
our voyage upon this shifting. sandy
ocean. He did not favor me with an
other look, but simply set the direction
Of our progress without any seeming
care as to whether I followed; and he
understood why I would follow.
He would have persisted rather than
ask me to take the lead and bring him
back to the land Of life. believe that
he had an idea that I could find out
the way and anticipated that l might
try to desert him, and leave him to his
destjny. Nightfall came, and we al
most fell on our horses. and the anil
mails themselves sank down upon the
sand without moving from their
tracks. l dozed OF Immediately, but
awoke presently. I stirred and went
over to my horse with the intention
of taking the saddle from the poor
beasts back, SO that 1t might rest more
easily. As I reached the animal. I OBJ
served Darlington raise his head and
watch me. I began loosening the girth.
He was on his feet Immediately. but
ny down when he saw what I was
about. ! do not believe he slept at
all. but know that he kept an eye on
me, for later in the night he came and
walked me with the suggestion that We
be progressing. - We could make bet
ter time IN the cool Of the night,
On the morning Of the fourth day
We found that Darrington's horse had
perished In the night. He stood close
by, looking at It steadily for . few
minutes. and then turned to me. From
his expression I was certain that he
expected that l would now ride away
and leave him to his fate. for he was
smiling up at me al though to wish me
an enjoyable Journey to the city and
that / might find all the folks well.
This was the way Darlington met the
prospect OF walking put Of . he!. that
he could not evade ON horseback. I
climbed into the saddle and drove the
spurs into the horses tanks. A weak.
ness came over me; q terrible onp
which l must nee from. This man
was too great for the hate that WA
within me. He seemed to be getting
the bsttsr OF me- and all through my
admiration.
After riding for the period OF an
hour or more I pulled my horse up and
rstpsAed. There was no a~atisfActiea
II a11ewing this man 70 Gay boAin1.