The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-10-03


was during the height Of the
Geronimo trouble, and Tracy,
e4 with his troop dismounted, and
after soul and body wearying march on the
trail of the willy Apache, found himself in the
heart Of one Of the dreariest most God-forsaken
mountain countries In TIE 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 a river in the early morning. expect
ing to find another when the day was done but
not as much as a. rivulet had they found. There
was coffee that night and there wasn't light
heart in the whole outfit.
Tracy was unhappy. It wasn't wholly his suf-
fering 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
uation. He had stayed away purposely. His
brother had been 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 eff
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 its
nose to the red-hot trail of Geronimo there had
Joined as an enlisted man a strapping young Of
hcer who said that he came from St. Louis. His
name was Barlow, and he was assigned to the
troop Of which Tracy was the junior officer and
he went with it on It's chase across the border
after the Apache chieftain.
Barlow on every occasion possible attached
himsef 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 it to
10 was n Pas roH
fellow and apparently Of superior education.
There were no camp jokes for him. He was
grave and tacturn. Tracy had noticed the evil
dent attachment Of the man to him, and as he
was a capable soldier and willing to dare and
TO do anything he was glad to have him part
of his outfit when on 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 to 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 it was thought a 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 drop of
the element of which they were in search Their
tongues were blistered They drank sparingy, 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 well as they could, but at times 1t was
lost, and then circling was necessary to take 1t
up again At noon they lost it and could not
md It again. There was great jagged rock ris.
Ing to the westward which neither recognized
Ldeutenant' said Barlow, we're going wrong
We never came this way The sun doesn't bear
right. 1t should be more to our right believe.
that we are 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 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. Twentyfour hours
passed. The sun came up once more and with
It's coming they staggered forward The can
teens were empty. They looked for the cactus
whose leaf yields Juice that helps fight of the
demon or 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 delirium Oh. for
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 On
and on and on. They could go no further sud
denly Barlow turned to Tracy and said in a voice
that was choked from the clutching of thirst,s
hand at his throat Lieutenant, / was afraid
tnat we might Dc tempeted to drink this long
ago. SO saved 1t for the last extremity. lien
tenant, have one good drink OF water apiece
left in my canteen"