Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-03-23

he stripped the bandages from Ladd
and applied the mixture to his wounds.
That DONE he let him lie with the
wounds exposed to the air, at night
covering him. Next day he again
exposed the wounds to the warm, dry
air. Slowly they closed, and Ladd
ceased to bleed externally.
! Days passed and grew into what
Gale imagined must have been weeks.
Yaqui recovered fully. Jim Lash be-
gan TO move about on a crutch; he
shared the Indians watch over Ladd.
Thorne lay haggard, emaciated
| ghost Of his former rugged self, but
with life In the eyes that turned al
ways toward Mercedes. Ladd fingered
and fingered. The life seemingly
would not leave his bullet-pierced
body. The tireless, implacable, In
scrutable savage was ever at the
rangers side. His great somber eyes
burned. At length he went to Gale,
and with that strange light fitting
across the hard bronzed face, he said
Ladd would live.
The second day after Ladd had
been given such thin nourishment as
he could swallow he recovered the use
Of his tongue
"Shore-this's HI" he whispered.
That was a characteristic speech for
the ranger, Gale thought; and indeed
1t made all who had heard It smile
while their eyes were wet.
From that time forward Ladd
gained, but he gained SO immeasurably
slowly that only the eyes Of hope
could have seen any improvement.
Jim Lash threw away his crutch, and
Thorne was well, If still somewhat
weak, before Ladd could lift his arm
or turn his head. His whispers grew
stronger. And the day arrived when
Gale, who was perhaps the least OPP
timistic, threw doubt to the winds
and knew the ranger would get well.
Boys, come round" said Laid, in
his low voice. AN you, Mercedes.
An call the Yaqui."
Ladd lay in the shade of the brush
shelter that had been erected. There
seemed little Of him but long, lean
lines, and II 1t had not been for his
keen, thoughtful, kindly eyes, his face
would have resembled a death mask
Of a man starved.
Shore I want to know what day
is 1t an what month";" asked Laid.
Nobody could answer him. The
question seemed a surprise to Gale,
and evidently was so to the others.
Look at that cactus" went on
Laid.
Il reckon according to that giant
cactus it's somewheres along the end
Of March," said Jim Lash, soberly.
Shore It's April. Look where the
sun H. An can't you feel it's gettin'
hot7"
"Supposin' 1t Is AprilT queried
Lash, slowly.
We'll, what I'm drivin' at Is It's
about time you all was hittin' the trail
back to Forlorn River, before the
waterholes dry out"
lady, I reckon wen start soon
as you're able to be put on a boss" |
Shore that1l be too late"
A silence ensued, In which those |
who heard Ladd gazed fxedly at him
and then at one another. Lash IN
easily shifted the position Of his lame
leg, and Gale saw him moisten his lips
with his tongue.
Charlie Ladd, 1 amt reckonin' you
mean we're to ride of an leave you
herer
What else is there to dol The
hot weather's close. Pretty soon most
Of the waterholes will be dry. You
can't travel then. I'm on nv
back here, an God only knows when
could be packed out. Not for weeks.
nebbe. I'll never be any good again,
sven II 1 was TO get out alive.
You see, shore this sort Of case comes
'ound sometimes In the desert. It's
COMMON enough. I've heard of sew
,ral cases where men had to go an
cave a Teller behind It's reasonable.
Z you're hghtin' the desert you can't
ford to be sentimental. Now,
IS ! said. I'm all In. So what's the
ense Of you waitin' here, when II
means the old desert storyf BY goin'
low mebbe you'll get home. Shore
ow. boys. you'll see this the right
Fayf jim. old pardT
mo, Lady, an can't fgger how
gu could ever ask me-
Shore then Leave me here with va
ui an couple Of the bosses We
an eat sheep meat, Ar II the water
Olds out"
mol" ipterrupted Lash, violently,
Ladd's eyes sought Gale'e face.
Son, you aiD't hull-haaded Ike Jim
ou'n see tho sense Of A. There's
ell a-waifsn' back az Forl0rn River
blink what u means 10 her Yovn
p, son, gont your I
Dles sboos hls head, (
1he ranger TUNED pc gezs nn9n Z
hosas, SAD peg as secs, fllsienlps q
~ had blpgssd 4