The Madison journal., 1913-10-04

tenant in the 18th cavalry. 1t
during the height OF the
Geronimo trouble. and Tracy
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 drearest. 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 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 a light
heart in the whole outfit
Tracy was unhappy. 1t wasn't wholly his suf-
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 far northeastern state The
officer had his home only once since his grad.
uaton. He 1ad stayed away purposely His
Drother had been trusted bank employe Then
came suspicion, then conviction and a sentence
John Tracy protested his innocence Of the crime
charged against him. and his family. knowing the
lad, believed In him, but the circumstantial eyi.
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 rcd-hot trail of Geronimo there had
Joined as an enlisted man strappng 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 ii 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 II 70
share in the scouting duty He was a reserved
fellow and apparently Of superior education
lhere were no camp jokes for him. He was
grave and taciturn. Tracy had noticed the eyi.
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 a mart
OF MS outht when detached and danperous
service.
On the morning following the night that the
troop was practically without water and in q
country devoid of all green things save the for
bidding cactus, the troop commander told Tracv
that he had better make a short reconnaissance
ieei 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 .nr
ioea OF effective service, was foolhardy
Tracy told his captain that he would take but
ohe man win him; that they would strike south
west where 1t was thought better prospect q,
water lay. and that they would return as soon as
d ma was made He selected Barlow for his
companion, and the two struck out through the
black, sun-seared country
Ihey went on for three hours Not a dron n,
the element OF which they were in search Their
tongues we're blstered. They drank spar,nplv q,
tne water In their canteens pressed on for an
''ner hour and then knew that they must return
Back they started. They followed their onward
trall as we'll as they could but at times II was
up again. At noon they lost II and couId NOT
hhu IL again There was a great Jagged rock ris.
ing 10 the westward which neither recognized
lieutenant said Barlow, we're going wronp
we never came this way. The sun doesn't hear
',snt IL should be more to our right. I believe
70 the camp"
They circled again aud again. but no traco ~,
me trail Then the conclusion forced itself on
racy that they were lost. They wandered on
lntl IN tne sun went down beyond the black rocks
ihen they each drank sparingly of the prec,ou.
,ohtents OF the canteens. and lay down on the
gray desert to sleep.
The sun came IN lilo q rod h..
Tracy and Barlow ate the last NJ tbo,r .tna,~
auon' and took one swallow of water an,ooa
men on they went again. Twenty-four hours
'aeeeo. Inc sun came up once more and with
Us coming they staggered forward The can.
Gems were empty. They looked for the cactus
'nose ieaI Yields Juice that helps fight of the
lemon OF thirst. They could not find It. The
my vegetation were occasional clumps of stunt
"a prlckly pear cactus, the juice Of whose leaves
ccentuates thirst
Ahotner twenty-four hours. The men cheerea
ach other on like the soldiers they were Tracy
egan TO feel the coming of delirium. Oh for
vi water He looked at Barlow. The
nan eyes were burning, but they had a cour.
ge IN them and something else in their deptbs
'h,cn Tracy never before had seen there On
no on ana on. They could 60 no further SIND.
enly Barlow turned to Tracy aid said in a voice
lat was choked from the clutching Of thirst's
sat a. nis .nroat: Lieutenant I was afraid
CO. SO saved 1t for the last extremity 1ian'
snant' =. l nave one good drink of water apiece