Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-11-23
lll-Continued.


he returned Warren was sitting before
the campfire, and once more he ap-
peared composed. He spoke, and his
voice had a deeper note; but other
wise he seemed as usual.
They packed the burros and faced
the north together.
Cameron experienced a singular ex-
altation. He had lightened his COM
rade's burden. Wonderfully 1t came
TO him that he had also lightened his
own From that hour it was not tor
ment to think Of Nell.
There came morning when the
sun shone angry and red through a
dull, smoky haze.
Were in for sandstorms," said
Cameron.
They had scarcely covered a mile
when a desert-wide, moaning, yellow
wall of flying sand swooped down
upon them. Seeking shelter In the lee
of a rock. they covered their heads
and patiently waited. The long hours
dragged and the storm increased in
fury. Cameron and Warren wet
scarfs with water from their canteens,
and bound them roun0 their faces,
and then covered their heads. The
steady, hollow below of flying sand
went on. 1t flew so thickly that enough
sifted down under the shelving rock to
weight the blankets ana almost bury
the men. They were frequently COM
PEELED to shake off the sand to keep
from being borne to the ground. And
it was necessary to 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. 1t
left the prospectors heavy and stupid
for want of sleep. Their burr0s had
wandered away, or had been buried
in the sand. Far as eye could reach
the desert had marvelously changed ;
it was now a ripping sea of sand
dunes. Away to the north rose the
peak that was their only guiding
mark. They headed toward it, carry
lllS Il SItNel anu pul vi lltlI IldChS'
At noon the peak vanished in the
shimmering 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
it lay too deep. At length, spent and
sore, they fell and slept through that
night and part of the next day. Then
they succeeded in getting water. and
Quenched their thirst, and filled the
canteens. and cooked a meal.
The burning day found them In an
unfortunately wide plain, where there
was no shelter from the fierce sun.
Mountain peaks doomed on all sides,
some near others distant; and one,
blue spur, splitting the glazing sky
far to the north, Cameron thought he
recognized as a landmark. The ascent
toward 1t was heartbreaking, not in
steepness, but in It's league-and-league-
long mOnotOnOus rise. Cameron knew
there was only one hope-tO make the
water ilVh Vul anu never sup " ltSl.
Warren began to weaken Often he
had to halt.
Cameron measured the water in his
canteen by Its weight Evaporation
by heat consumed as much as he
drank. During one of the rests, when
he had wetted his parched mouth and
throat. he found opportunity to pour
a little water from his canteen into
Warren'S
At first Cameron had curbed his
restless activity to accommodate the
pace of his elder comrade. But now
he felt that he was losing something
of his instructive and passionate zeal
TO get out Of the desert. The thought
of water came to occupy his mind. He
began to imagine that his last little
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 tC
ponder.
When next they rested he pretended
W Dt III Il hlll'l vi sluIJDI DUl lie GOV
ertly watched Warren. The man ap
peared far gone, yet he had cunning
He cautiously took up Camerons can
teen and poured water into 1t from
his own.
This troubled Cameron. He reflect
ed, and concluded that he had beer
unwise not to expect this very thing
Then, as his comrade dropped int,
weary rest, he lifted both canteens
If there were any water in Warrens
Il was only very little. Both men haC
been enduring the terrible deser
thirst, concealing 1t, each giving hi
water to the other and the sacrifice
had been useless.
Instead Of minlstering to tn
parched threats Of one or both. tn
water had evaporated When Cam
eron ~ AIDE sure Of this. he took on
Ho" VI the last, and poured tn