The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-03-02
lll-C continued.

Cameron stole OF among the rocks
How long hs absented himself or
wnat he dN ne had no idea. When
he returnf-i WarreA vas sitting before
the caw phre, ana 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 singular ex-
altation. He had lightened his COM
rade's burden. Wonderfully It came
20 him that he had also lghtened his
own. From that hour It was not tor
ment to think Of Nell.
w
There came a morning when the
sun shone angry and red through
dull, smoky haze.
"we'rs in for sandstorms," said
Cameron.
They had scarcely covered a mile
when 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 rounu their faces,
and then covered their heads. The
steady. hollow below OF flying sand
went on. II flew so thlckly that enough
sifted down under the shelving rock to
weight the blankets ana almost bury
the Iuen. They were frequently CON-
pellet to shake Off the sand TO keep
from being borne TO the ground. And
II 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;
Il was po~ a ripping sea or sand
drnes. Away to the north rose the
peak that was their only guiding
mark. They headed toward It, carry
ing a 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 for
water. with the forked peach branch
In his hands Warren always succeed
Cd in locating water. They dug, but
II lay too deep. At length, spent and
sore. they fell and slept through that
hight and part Of the next day. Then
they succeeded in getting water, and
suenched their thirst, and filled the
ranteens, and cooked meal.
The burning day found them in an
tnterminably wide plain, where there
was no shelter from the fierce sun.
Mountain peaks loomed on all sides,
some near, others distant; and one,
q blue spur, splitting the glaring sky
far to the north, Cameron thought he
recognized as a landmark. The ascent
toward It was heartbreaking, not In
s,eepness, but in Its league-and-league-
long monotonous rise. Cameron knew
there was only one hope-to make the
water hold out and never stop to rest.
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 Y pour
q 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
20 get out of the desert The thought
Of water came to occupy his mind. He
began to imagine that his last little
store Of water did not appreciably d.
nilnish.s 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
70 be in q kind of-stHpor; but he COW
srtiy watched Warren. T6eTan ap-
peared far gone, vet he had cunning.
He cautiously took up Cameron's ran-
teen and poured water into IL from
bis own. 1874
This troubled Cameron. He reflect
"a. and ccncluded that he had been
unwise not to elexpect this very thing.
1hen, as his kourade dropped into
weary rest, hel lifted both canteeps.
II there were any Water IN wafren's,
Il was only very little. Both men had
been enduring the terrible desert
thirst, ,concealing r. each giving his
water to the other. and the sacrifice
had beer useless.
Instead of ministering to the
parched throats OF one or both, the
kater had evaporated. When Cam
srsn made surs Of this. he took. one
nprs 1rsnk - 'ast ana Dsurs1 ~