The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-11-16

Cameron stole of among the rocKs'
How lonx he absented himself or
what he did he had no idea. When
he returned Warren was sitting before
the campfire, and once more he ap'
peared composed. He spoke, and MS
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 e1'
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 q morning when the
sun shone angry and red through
dull, smoky haze.
"We're in for sandstorms," SAID
Cameron.
They had scarcely covered 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 round 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 and almost bury
the men. They were frequently CON-
, 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 burros had
wandered away, or had been buried
in the sand. Far as eye could reach
the desert had marvelously changed;
It was now ripping sea OF SAND
dunes. Away to the north rose the
peak that was their only guiding
mark. They headed toward 1t, carry
ing shovel and part Of their packs
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 fol
water. With the forked peach branch
In his hands Warren always succeed
ed in locating water. They dug, but
1t lay too deep. At length, spent and
sore, they fell and slept through thai
! night aud part Of the next day. Their
they succeeded In getting water, anC
quenched their thirst, and filed tn
canteens, and cooked a meal.
The burning day found them In al
interminably wide plain. where Their
= was no shelter from the fierce sun
j.. Mountain peaks loomed on all sides
some near, others distant; and one
/. q blue spur, splitting the glarlng SIX,
{ far to the north, Cameron thought h
recognized a. a landmark. The ascen
0 toward It was heartbreaklng, not II
b steepness, but In Ito league'and-league
:, long glonotonous rise. Cameron, kne'
there was only enc hope-%te' make tn
4 water hold out and never stop to >l|
I Warren began to weaken. Often h
e had to halt.
I Cameron measured tho water In hi
canteen BY Its weight. Evaporatio
:, BY heat consumed as much as h
drank. During one Of the rests, whe
It he had wetted bis parched mouth an
d throat, he found opportunity to pou
h q little water from his canteen int
J. Warren's.
AT first Cameron had curbed h1
d restless activity to accommodate II
A., pace Of his elder comrade. But no
he felt that he was losing somethll
:: OF his instructive and passionate ze
" to get out Of the desert. The thoug|
J: Of water came to occupy his mind. Z
- began to imagine that his last lit
~ store Of water did not appreclably {
minish. He knew he was not qui
~ right in his mind regarding waite
~ nevertheless, he felt this to be mo
'. Of fact than fancy, and he began
~ ponder.
~ When next they rested he pretend'
n to be In q kind Of stupor; but he co
ertly watched Warren. The man q
oa peared far gone, yet he had cunnin
~ he cautiously took up Cameron's ca
~ ~ teen and poured water into 1t fro
~. his own.
IN This troubled Cameron. He reae'
~ ed, and concluded that he had be
~ unwise not to expect this very thlI
~ Then, as his comrade dropped In
weary rest, he lifted both canteel
~ If there were any water In Warren
~ It was only very little. Both men h
~ been enduring the terrible des'
10 thirst, concealidg 1t, each giving
~, ' water to the other, and the sacrit
a. had been useless
no Instead Of ministering to
no parched threats Of one or both,
bls water had evaporated. When Ca
eron made sure Of this. he took {
+aa more drink, the last, and poured
20. little water left into Warren's G
" teen. He threw his own away.
Soon afterward Warren dlscove
the loss.
where's your canteen?" he ask
1.-THE heat was getting my wa,
N drank what Was left"