The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-10-04


after a soul and body wearying march on the
trai % The Willy Apache, found himself in the
heart OF one OF the dreariest. most God dforsaken
mountain countries in the whole range OF the
southern country.
The troop exhausted and practically with
out water the men having not drop to drink
save what vas in their canteens, They had cut
loose from a river in the early morning. expect
ing TO tHd another when the day done. but
not as much rivulet had they found There
was TO coffee that night and there wasn't a light
heart iU the whole outfit
Tracy vas unhappy. 1t wasn't wholly his sut
ferlUg condition and that of his which
weighed upon him Just before leaving the
Arizona post he had received that hts
younger brother John. had been committed to
states prison in a far northeastern state. The
ohc"r had seen his home only once since his grad
uail0u He had stayed away purposely. His
brother lad been trusted bank employe Then
came suspicion then conviction and sentence
John Tracy protested his innocence of the crime
charged against him. and his family. knowing the
lad, believed In him, but the circumstantal evil
deure was overwhelming. and in spite of the ef
forts Of the aged father, who spent his time and
his money In the boys defense, he went to
prison.
Hcfor" the troop had left Fort Banks with its
nose 10 the redhot trail OF Geronimo there had
Joined as an enlisted man strappng Young OF
Ecer who said that he came from St Louis. HIS
name was Barlow. and he assigned to the
troop Of which Tracy the junior officer and
h." went with It its chase across the border
after the Apache cheftain.
BARLOW on every occasion possible attached
himself TO Tracys person. Whenever there was
scouting party detached from the main body
and put under the second leutenant's command
Harlow asked that he might be assigned to It to
share in the scouting duty He was a reserved
fellow and apparently OF superior education
There We're camp jokes for him. He was
grave and taciturn. Tracy had noticed the evil
dent attachment of the man to him. and as he
was capable soldier and willing to dare and
TO do anything he glad to have him part
OF his outfit when detached and dangerous
service
On the morning following the night that the
troop was practically without water and in a
country devoid OF all green things save the for
bidding cactus, the troop commander told Tracy
that he had better make short Reconnaissance
feel out the country for the enemy and above all
try 70 locate water. To attempt a march under
that hot Mexican sun with the men and with any
idea OF effective service, was foolhardy
Tracy told his captain that he would take but
one man with him. that they would strike south
west where 1t was thought better prospect OF
water lay. and that they would return as soon as
a ind was made He selected Barlow for his
companion, and the two struck out through the
black, sun-seared country
They went on for three hours Not a drop OF
the element of which they were in search Their
tongues were blistered They drank sparingly Of
the water In their canteens pressed on for an
OthfT hour and then knew that they must return
Back they started They followed their onward
trail as we'll as they could but at times It was
lost. and then crcng necessary to take 1t
up again At noon they lost 1t and could not
Hnd Il again. There a great jagged rock ris-
Ing to the westward which neither recognized.
Lieutenant" said Barlow. we're going wrong
We never came this way. The sun doesn't bear
right 1t should be more right. | believe
that going almost directly at right angles
to the camp"
They circled again and again. but no trace OF
the trail. Then the conclusion forced itself on
Tracy that they were lost They wandered on
until the sun went down beyond the black rocks
Then they each drank sparingly OF the precious
contents OF the canteens and lay down the
gray desert to sleep.
The sun came up like a red-hot round shot
Tracy and Barlow ate the last of their single
ration. and took swallow OF water apiece
Then on they went again. Twenty-four hours
passed. The sun came up once more. and with
its coming they staggered forward The can
teens were empty They looked for the cactus
whose leaf yields Juice that helps fight off the
demon of thirst They could not find It. The
only vegetation were occasional clumps of stunt
ed prickly pear cactus. the juice of whose leaves
accentuates thirst.
Another twenty-four hours The men cheered
each other on like the soldiers they were. Tracy
began to feel the coming of delirum. Oh for a
draught of water, He looked at Barlow The
mans eyes were burning, but they had cour
age in them, and something else in their depths
which Tracy never before had seen there Or
and on and They could go no further. Sud
denly Barlow turned to Tracy and said in a voice
that was choked from the clutch'ng of thirst's
hand at his throat: Lieutenant. l was afrait
that mighs be tempeted drink this Ions
ago. SO I saved 1t for the last extremity Lieu
tenant. have one gooe drink of water apiece
left IN my canteen."