The San Francisco call., 1910-07-31


preston was that they were before
him. He remembered how he called
aloud, or had tried to call aloud, but
having received no answer had begun
his search Thompson and his men
he found in their beds beneath the
wagons. They were weak almost unto
death. For on finding that they could
not hope to travel while the storm
kept up they had camped here waiting
until 1T passed over, But 1T continued
and their provisions giving out, the
freighters turned the mules loose TO
shift for themselves, and attempted to
walk back into the valley. But they
wandered from their course, and after
two days and nights exposure to the
elements again reached their outfits
weak from the want of food and ex-
hausted by their efforts.
Forgetting his own pains and fatigue,
Tim worked and worked over the four
half conscious men and 1t was we'll on
toward noon of the next day when he
at last rested. He knew the men were
out of danger, but he realized that he
must have help. Fowler. Rossi and
Fatty Jack had not arrived. Where
were they? The storm had all but
passed, here and there the blue sky
showing through the breaking clouds.
Was it possible that the constable's
party had fallen by the way or had
finding the storm too severe had
abandoned the expedition and returned
to town?
But Tim was a prospector's son and
like prospector knew how to get the
most good out of the smallest trifie
Also he could shape that trifie to fit his
purpose. Besides being good pros
pector, he always made it his business
to find out in what section of the
country the hunters of mineral were
spending their time. So he readily con-
ceived a plan.
Leaving behind what provisions he
had brought he was soon mushing
along over the snow. This, however,
soon disappeared, for his way lay along
the lower ridges on the desert side
of the range where the snow could not
live. Although stiff and sore of limb
and exhausted in mind and body, he
reached Wacobi spring, 12 miles away
in good time
Here, as he had anticipated, were
camped three prospectors. In a few
words he told his story and asked their
assistance. The men were deeply i'm
pressed and eager to help, and load
ing their burros with a goodly stock
of grub and bedding, urged Tim to ride
one of the little animals.
The huge camp fire Of the Thompson
party had not burned itself out when
the sturdy reScuerS, led by young
Bender, arrived. The four freighters
were profuse in their thanks to Tim
for saving their lives and appreciating
the ordeal through which he had passed
they insisted that he should remain in
camp and take the rest of which he
was so much in need To this the pros
pectors also agreed, saying that they
would institute the search for Fowler
and his men. Tim. however, would not
listen to them.
R,yt x1ybiJ 10 Aot~
pared the boys worn out body and
mind conquered his spirit, for as he lay
resting upon a horse blanket before
the fire he fell asleep.
Wien he awoke a whole day had
passed and the sun was Just setting.
Rising painfully to his feet he looked
around. A short distance away a large
crowd of men was gathered and among
them he saw the constable, Rossi, Fat
ty Jack and many of his town friends.
Three cheers for Tim Bender" cried
some one, and the canyon rang again
and again. From all directions men
rushed up and struggled to grasp his
hand. Fatty Jack lifted him, blushing
and embarrassed, upon his shoulder and
held him there while Fowler told the
story Of the rescue party. How he had
been afraid for Tim to accompany the
expedition and how they themselves
had become lost in the first nights
f''oi h hhally hHuiHB lHeir way DacK
to camp. Then, as Tim did not return.
and fearing for his safety, they had
hurried back to town to get men to
scour the mountains for him. After
this he narrated our hero's adventures,
going over the story which we know,
and ended by praising the unselfsh
spirit of the boy who would undertake
so much for another at the peril of
his life.
That evening a messenger arrived in
town. He rode straight to the little
cottage on the outskirts. There a
large crowd of sympathetic friends
were assembled, come to comfort Mrs.
Bender, whose son they had given up
for dead. The rider was Fowler