The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-10-23
fCon+inued from Last tasusC

nv heat consumed as much rs he
drank During one Of the rests, when
he had wetted his parched mouth and
throat. he found opportunity to pour
Il 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 wafer cane to occupy his mind. He
began to imagine that his last little
store of water did not appreciably d.
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 kind of stupor; but he COW
ertly watched Warren. The man APP
peared far gone, vet he had cunning.
lie cautiously took up Cameron's cam
teen and poured water into it from
his own.
This troubled Cameron. He reflect
cd, and concluded that he had been
unWise not to expect this very thing.
Then, as his comrade dropped into
weary rest, he lifted both cnnteens.
If there were any water in Warren's.
it was only very little. Both men had
been enduring the terrible desert
thirst, conccaling it, each giving his
water to the other, and the sacrifice
had been useless.
Instead of ministering to the
parched throats 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 own. away.
Soon afterward Warren discovered
the loss.
"Wheres your canteen?" he asked.
'.The heat was getting my water.
SO drank what w:s left
MY son!" said Warren.
The day opened for them in red
and green hell of rock and cactus.
Like flame 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 ledge.
Cameron rested, and waited, hope
less. with not. weary eyes gazing
down from their height where he sat.
Movement on the part Of Warren at
tracted his attention Evidently the
old pr0spectOr had recovered his sight
and some Of his strength. For he had
arisen. and now began to walk along
the arroyo bed with his forked peach
branch held before him. He had chung
to that precious bit Of wood. Warren,
however. stepped in q deep pit, and,
cutting his canteen in half, began to
use one side Of 1t as n scoop. He
scooped out a wide hollow, 80 wide
that Cameron was certain lie had gone
crazy. Cameron gently urged him to
stop, and then forcbly tried to make
him. But these efforts were futile.
Warren worked with slow, ceaseless.
methOdical movement. He toiled for
what seemed hours. Cameron, seeing
the darkening. dampening sand, real
tied Il wonderful possibility of water,
and he plunged into the pit with the
other half of the canteen. Then both
men toilet, round and round the wide
hole. down deeper and deeper. The
sand grew moist then wet. At the
bottom of the deep pit the sand coars-
rned, gave place to gravel. Finally
water Welled in, stronger volume
than Cameron ever remembered find
ing on the desert.
The finding of water revived Cam
eron's tagging hopes. But they were
short.Iived. Warren had spent HIM
self utterly.
"I'm done. Don't linger," he whis-
pered "A1y son, go-go!'
Then he fell. Cameron dragged him
out of the sand pit to a sheltered
place under the ledge. While sitting
beside the failing man Cameron dis
covered painted images on the wall.
Often in the desert lie had found these
evidences Of a prehistoric people.
Then. from long habit, lie picked up q
piece of rock and examined it. Its
weight made him closely scrutinize It.
The color was a peculiar black. He
scraped through the black rust to
find a piece of gold. Around him lay
scattered heaps Of black pebbles and
bits of black, weathered rock aud
pieces OF broken ledge, and they
showed gold.
Warren! Look See it! Feel it!
Goldw
But Warren was too blind to see.
"G0-go'' he whispered.
Cameron gazeG down the gray
reaches Of that forlorn valley, and
something within him that was nei-
Their intelligence nor emotion-some-
thing inscrutably strange-impelled
him to promise. - - - : = =