The Irish standard., 1916-03-25
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steady star. But it's all right now,
You'll go back to her."
: II can't" whispered Gerry hoarsely,
more to himself than to Alan. 1--WE
got wife here. I've got child here.
To me he is my first-born."
Alan's eyes opened, this time in won
der. A twisted smile came to his lips.
"Youw he said. "You! and then the
smile changed to faint disgust. He
turned his head on the pillow away
from Gerry and slept.
The next morning found Gerry still
at Lieber's. Outside the heavenly
bowl Of blue was virgin Of clouds. It
stretched and domed in sphered eter-
nifty of emptiness. Through its de-
pressing void the sun swan slowly,
pitilessly, as though it were loath to
mark the passing minutes. The whole
earth baked. Strong trees wilted and
turned up the wrong sides Of their
leaves on the sea of heat like dying
fish turning up their white bellies at
the last gasp. Not a breath of air
stirred. Heat rose from the ground in
an unbroken, visible wave. "My God"
said Alan, gazing with wistful, far
seeing eyes beyond the familiar; repel-
lent scene, ga homeward fever
parches up my tongue There was
such an agony Of longing in the words
that Gerry was frightened. He looked
Questioningly at Lieber.
"No," said Lieber, ''he's not dying.
He was dying, but he's changed his
mind. He's going to go home instead"
II believe he's right, Gerry" said
Alan with faint smile. But didn't
change my mind. He did it for me.
He's in line for a life-saving medal.
Lieber's all right" He stopped, tired
out.
Lieber began to talk to Gerry.
"How's the water in the ditch, Mr..
Lansing?"
mighty low" said Gerry. He spoke
almost absent-mindedly. For the first
time in months the ditch was far from
his thoughts.
"1t's hard luck" said Lieber. 1.-THE
rivers never been so low before-not
in the memory Of man. We do not
hear the falls any more. The river is
asleep. Do you want me to send my
men down again?"
"1t's no use," said Gerry. 81 don't
dare deepen the ditch any more. It's
way below the normal level now"
Alan stirred. whats that about 4
ditch?"
In unhurried phrases and a low
voice Lieber told him the history az
Fazenda Flores since Gerry's advent
and Of the great part tae ditch had
played in bringing resurrection to the
abandoned plantation and life to the
neighboring stock.
Alan cast curious glance at Gerry.
Dangerous business" he said. STOOL
ing with the normal level In food
country"
Lieber nodded and went on. BE
told his tale well. He had seen more
than Gerry could have put into words.
Gerry listened for while, but he soon
wearied. What had all that to do with
him now? He wandered off and start
ed to saddle True Blue. He must get
away from Alan. Alan was drawing
him, but he was bound in chains. He
must remember that. Then, too. what
Alan had said about fooling with the
normal level worried him. He must
20 back and station a guard at the
great sluice gate.
A sudden puff Of air, then breeze,
then a gale, swept down on Lieber's
from the southwest. The wind was
hot, a furnace blast from the torrid
wilderness. 1t carried with 1t whirls
Of dust, light, dry sticks, and, finally,
small pebbles that hurtled along the
ground. Gerry and his horse sought
shelter by the house. Herders came
running out from their quarters and
gathered in front Of the veranda. The
wind suddenly turned cold. dropped
and ceased. The dust settled. The
sun blazed as before. There was not
cloud in the sky. The herders all
looked at Lieber. They did not talk.
They were waiting.
Lieber shrugged his shoulders.
Somewhere" he said with wave of
bis hand to the southwest, "there has
been rain and hail and that sort of
thing. Temperature fell and drove
the hot air off the desert" He told
the men, but they did not go away.
They stood around. their eyes sweep
ing the horizon to the southwest. At
last one of them grunted. His eyes
were fixed on a distant pillar Of dust.
It came towards them. Lieber used
bis field glasses. Without taking them
from his eyes. he spoke. ITS a man.
riding. Looks like he's riding for life.
Something is up. He's riding to kill
bis horse"
AS the man approached. dull rum
bling filed the ears of the watchers.
So gradual was its crescendo that they
did not notice it. The rider spurred
and beat his horse to final effort.
They could see he was shouting. He
drew nearer, and they heard him.
FLOOD! Flood! Then they noticed
the rumbling. 1t became roar. Far
away on the horizon rose white, adj
vancing mist. The rider rolled on his
staggering horse. 1.-The food" he
gasped. "Never before has there been
such a food"
Before the words were out Of bis
mouth there was a frenzied rattle Of
hooPa and Corpv m Truo Rlue tore