The Lamar register., 1922-12-06

nelled to shake on the saud n" i""I
from being borne To the ground. .Ind
II was necessary ia keep digging out
the packs. They lost the count OF time.
They dared not sleep, for that would
have meant being buried alive.
The storm finally blew itself out. II
left the prospector1 heavy and stupid
for want of sleep Their burro- mad
wandered away, or had been buried
In the sand. Far as eye could reach
the desert hsd maryelousl- changed:
It was nov d rippling sea Of sand
dunes. away 10 The north rose the
peal that was their only guiding
mark They headed toward H. carry
ing shovel and part II t'icIr packs.
Al noon the peak vanished in the
shimnering glare Of the desert. The
proSpectors pushed On. guided by the
sun. In every wash they tried for
water. with the forked peach branch
IN his hands Warren always succeed
ed In locating water. They dug, but
II lay too deep. Al length. spent and
sore. they fell and slept through that
night and part OF the next day Then
tlttN III EfiNlbE NhAtls
puenched their thirst. and filled the
canteens and cooked n meal.
The burnin: day found Them in an
mterminahly wide plain, where there
was no shelter from the fierce sun.
Mountain peaks doomed on all sides
some near. others distant; and one.
a blue spur splitting the giaring sky
far to the north. Cameron thought he
recognized ~ a landmark. The ascent
toward It was heartbrcakIng. not In
sieepnesS. but In Its ieague-and.league-
long monotonous rise. Cameron knew
there was only one hope-to make the
water hold out and never stop Ia rest
Warren began 70 weaken. often he
had To halt
Cameron measured the water in his
ranteen ~ It's weight. Evaporation
by heat consumed as much rs he
drank. During one OF the rests. when
he had wetted his marched mouth and
throat he found opportunity Ia pour
"a little water from his Canteen into
Warren
~ first Cameron had curb-d his
restless activity To accommodate the
pace Of his elder comrade. But bsw
he felt that he was losing something
Of his Instructive and passionate zeal
to get out OF the desert. The though
OF water came to occupy his mind. He
began TO imagine that his last little
store Of water did not appreciabiy di.
minish. He knew he was not quite
right In his mind regarding water:
nevertheless. he felt this to be more
OF fact than fancy. and he began to
ponder.
When next they rested he pretended
TO be In a kind of stupor: but he Gov
ertly watched Warren. The man ap
peared far gone. yet he had cunning.
He cautiously took up Cameron's can
teen and poured water into It from
his own.
This troubled Cameron. He reflect
ed. and concluded that he had been
unwise not to expect this very thing
Then, as his comrade dropped into
weary rest, he lifted both canteens.
II there were any water In warren's.
II was only very little. Both men had
been enduring the terrible desert
thirst. concealing II. each giving his
water to the other. and the sacrifice
had been useless.
Instead Of ministerins to the
parched threats OF one or both. the
water had evaporated. When Cam
eron made sure OF this. he took one
more drink. the last. and poured the
little water left into warren's can
teen. He threw his owl away.
Soon sfterward Warren discovered
the loss.
where's your canteenf' he asked.
THE heat was getting my water.
so ! drank what was left"
MY son r. said Warren.
The day opened for them In o red
and green he'll OF rock and cactus.
Like a tiame the sun scorched and
peeled their faces. Warren went
blind from the glare. and Cameron
had to lead him. AT last Warren
plunged down. exhausted. In the shade
OF q ledge
Cameron rested and waited. hope
less. with not. weary eyes gazing
down from their height where he sat.
Movement on the mart OF Warren ct