Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-10-03


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 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 a 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 suf
fering condition and that OF his 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 seen his home only since his grad
uation. He had stayed away purposely. His
brother had been a 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 crcumstantial evi.
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 redhot trail OF Geronimo there had
Joined enlisted man a strapping young of.
hcer 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
he went with 1t on its chase across the border
after the Apache chieftain.
Barlow on every occasion possible attached
himself to Tracy's 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
share In the scouting duty. He was reserved
fellow and apparently of superior education.
There 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 part
of his outfit when detached and dangerous
service.
On the morning following the night that the
troop practically without water and in n
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 not Mexican sun with the men. and with any
idea of effective service was foohardy
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 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
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 it was
lost. and then circling was necessary to take 1t
up again. AT noon they lost it and could not
find 1t again. There 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 to our 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 on the
gray desert to sleep.
The 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 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 pricky 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 a
draught of wateri He looked at Barlow. The
mans eyes burning, but they had a 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
that was choked from the clutching of thirst's
hand at his throat: Lieutenant I was afraid
that we might be tempeted to drink this long
ago SO I saved It for the last extremity Lien.
tenant, have good drink Of water apiece
left In my canteen."