The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-10-02

James Tracy was a second Heu'
tenant in the 10th cavalry 1t
was during the height of the
". Geronimo trouble, and Tracy,
with his troop, dismounted, and
after soul and body wearying march the
trail Of the willy Apache, found himself in the
heart Of one of the dreariest, most God-forsaken
mountain countries in the whole range Of the
southern country.
The troop was exhausted and practically with
out water the men having not drop to drink
save what was in their canteens. They had cut
loose from q river In the early morning, expect
ing to find another when the day was DONE but
not as much as rivulet had they found. There
was no coffee that night and there wasn't light
heart in the whole outfit
Tracy was unhappy. 1t wasn't wholly his sui
ferlng condition and that Of his men which
weighed upon him. Just before leaving the
Arizona post he had received news that his
younger brother John, had been committed to
states prison In a far northeastern state The
officer had seen his home only once since his grad.
uat1on. He had stayed away purposely. His
brother had been a trusted bank employee 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 circumstantial evil
dence 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.
Before the troop had left Fort Banks with it's
nose to the red-hot trail Of Geronimo there had
Joined enlisted man a strapping young of.
fcer who said that he came from st. Louis His
name was Barlow, and he was assigned to the
troop OF which Tracy the Junior officer, and
he went with 1t on 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 lieutenant's command
Barlow asked that he might be assigned to 1t to
share in the scouting duty. He was reserved
Fellow and apparently Of superior education.
There were camp Jokes for him. He was
grave and taciturn Tracy had noticed the evt.
dent attachment Of the man to him, and as he
was capable soldier and willing to dare and
to do anything he was 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
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 to locate water. To attempt 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
find 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 dron az
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.
other 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 1t was
lost, and then crcng was necessary to take 1t
up again. AT noon they lost 1t and could not
nnd 1t again. There was great jagged rock ris.
ing 70 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 to our right I believe
that we are going almost directly at right angles
to the camp"
They cfrcled 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 on the
gray desert to sleep
The sun came up like red.hot round shot
Tracy and Barlow ate the last of their single
ration, and took one 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 OF the
demon of thirst. They could not find It. Tho
only vegetation were occasional clumps of stunt.
ID 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 delirium. oh. for
oraught OF water! He looked at Barlow The
mans eyes were burning but they had cour.
age m them. and something else in their depths
which Tracy never before had seen there On
and on and on They could go no further. Sud
denly Barlow turned to Tracy ard said in voice
.nat was choked from the clutching of thirst's
nand at his throat: Lieutenant, was afraid
'nA' we might be tempeted to drink this long
ago, SO saved 1t for the last extremity. Lien.
tenant have one good drink Of water apiece
Ieft In my canteen'