The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-20
OAI\IA1NlLLO 80 A. XII EINNAN

tain >box. and the winters irrigation
was assured.
When the sun came out dozen lit
tie Papago children trooped over the
bottom lands to pile up driftwood on
the banks Yasika was there. bigger
and Drawer than the rest, and swiftly
she swan to the opposite bank to
gather her bigger portion. But the
call of the damp flats. the bruised
sweet scent Of a world of living things
lured her away from her tasks and
she danced off through the tangle-
wood.
That day the rain came with re-
newed fury. wiping out the brief sun
shine and whipping the purling OF the
river into sullen murmur. The chill
dren sought the shelter of hut and
wigwam. The older Papagos snored
by the fires One only was missing
and 1t was late in the afternoon when
they remembered her.
The rain soaked his coarse strands
of hair and sputtered down upon his
feet as Kamatuk made his way from
hut to hut, calling and scolding. They
had last seen her on the far bank
waving her hands to the little folks
who were afraid to follow.
kamatuk went stoIdly home but the
warmth of the fire drove him out
again and he made for the Doggy
flats calling and calling again. Once
he fancied he heard an answer. but
IL was only Scraggles out there in
the rain. shiFering and lonely and
flashing his gaunt flanks with his tail.
Kamatuk went to him, 1t seemed the
little Yasika must be near. What
friends they were~-the wretched pony
and the gladstone little maid. Again
he called her name and again the pony
answered with a pfaintive whinny.
You love her. kavNo-find her"
cried the Indian. and with a sharp
blow he drove the dumb creature from
him.
Men and women and frightened
children gathered about Kamatuk's
tent and murrnured their fears, but
Kamatuk dismissed them and went in
alone. Long after a familiar sound
smote his ears and rising hurriedly
he parted the tent curtains
Again! Let me hear again"
1t was a distant whinny and he fol-
lowed II, down through the drowning
bottoms and into the willows. defy
ing the angry snarl of the river as
it Tapped his very feet He strained
his eyes. for the dusk was settling.
but surely 1t was he--the draggled
pony paving and plunging on the far
bank Of all that spray and foam. Yes,
and clinging to his name was the ter
rified girl. her long hair mingling
coarse and black with his.
kamaruk saw the sudden plunge and
his heart slckened within him. He
ciamped his hands over his eyes To
have hastened out for this! His little
flower maid with lips like the crushed
berries! The mad current must bear
her away and life go on for him in
the hush of the wigwam. He flung
up his arms with hoarse cry and
again the familiar whinny answered
him. Yes. Scraggles was Drawing the
river. Inch by inch he was mastering
1t. With nostrils dilated and the
scrawny neck swollen into whipcords
he was battling for his life and
Yasika's. And Kamatuk. too was bat
Ting. With the water swirling to his
armpits he was making out to them,
| calling and cheering.
Courage, Yaliva! tchild) On, on.
kaviyo" and scraggles came on.
A dozen hands were there to drag
the half drowned pony from the river
and pat him and stroke him and
whisper strange endearments in his
! ears.
| Kamatuk bore the wet girl home
ward and dried her In warm blankets
and fed her pnole (grueD from the
| steaming ola fearthen vesseD. Then
| together they went out.
That night Scraggles slept in shell
tered shed and fed upon tender food
He will always be runt and sham
BILE But money could not buy Scrag-
gles.-Dumb Animals
/