The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-07-22

harked: then be was OF again close e
his masters heels and not too soon
He did not know the blow that struck
SAFFRON. but he saw him fall, and tnen
and there came into his canine heart
some knowledge Of the Importance OF
his day. He had raced himself weary.
Every bone IN his little body aene0
with fatigut
SAFFRON lay his length on the bed OF
q dried-up river. one Of those phantom
like channels OF desert stream whose
course runs watery only certain tunes
of the year. Sabron. wounded In the
abdomen, lay on his side. Pitchoune
smeIled him from head TO foot al
dressed himself 10 his restoration ~
his own way. He licked bis face ana
hands and ears, sat sentinel al me De
loved head where the forehead was
covered with sweat and blood he
barkSa saVerishly and to his attentive
ears there came no answer Whatso
ever. either from the wounded man In
the bed of the African river or from
the silent plains
sabron was deserted. He had fallen
and not been missed and his regiment
routed by the Arabs, had been driven
into retreat Finally the little dog,
who knew by instinct that life re-
NAMED In his masters body. set him
self at work vigorously TO awaken
sign Of life. He attacked Sabron's
shoulder as though It we're prey; ne
worried him. barked in his ear, struck
him lightly with his paw, and lnally'
awakening to dreadful pain, to fever
and to isolation, awakening perhaps
| 70 the battle for life, to the attentions
OF his friend. the spahi opened MS
eyes.
sabron's wound was serious. but his
body was vigorous. strong and'healtny'
and his mind moro so. There was Q
film over It just now. He raised him
self with great effort, and In moment
realized where he was and that 70
lInger there was horrible death. On
each side Of the river rose an inclined
bank. not very high and thickly grown
with mimosa bush. This meant to him
that beyond 1t and probably within
easy reach, there would be shade from
the intense and dreadful glare beat
ing down upon him. with death II
every ray. He groaned and Pitchounei
voice answered him. Sabron paid N
attention to his dog, did not even cal
his name. His mind, accustomed U
quick decisions and to q matter-of-fac
consideration OF life. instantly took IL
proper course. He must get out OF tn
; river bed or die there, rot there.
; What there wac before him to d
was 30 stupendous an undertaking tina
Il made him almost unconscious OF tn
/ pain IN his lolns. He could not stant
could not thoroughly raise himself
I but by great and painful effort, blee'
] ing az every move, he could crawl; h
, ala 10, and the sun beat down upo
him. Pitchoune walked by his sid
/ whining, talking to him. encouragin
D him, and the spahi, ashen pale. b
r bright gray uniform ripped and staine
all alone In the desert with deaf
above him and death ON every ham
crawled. dragged. hitched along out
the river to the bank, cheered. O
cOuraged by his little dog.
For q drop OF water he would haN
. given-oh. what had he to givef r
little shade he would have given
about all he had to give had be-
given TO his duty in this engageme
which could never bring him glory,
distinction or any renown. The wo
OF q spahi with q native regiment
not very glorious affair. He W
simply an officer who fell doing b
daily work.
Pitchoune barkod and cried out
) him: "Couragel"
Z 81 shall die here at the foot OF I
mimosa." sabron thought; and
hands hardly had the courage
n strength to grasp the first bushes
d which he meant to pull himself up
A the bank The little dog was close
5 him. leaping. springing near him. a
z Sabron did not know how tired q
. thirsty and exhausted his brave lii
a companion was. or that perhaps
that heroic little body there was
:. much OF a soldiers soul as in his o
human form.
The sun was so hot THAI II seen
lid to sing In the bushes. Its torrid fe
lily struck on his brown. struck on
his chest: why did II not kill him?
cd was not even delirious. and yet
Alb bushes sang dry and cracking. w
by was their melody He knew IT,
iek one melody haunted him always.
tic now no knew the words: they wer
he prayer for safety,
Gro BE CoNTINuED0