Digging for Gold | Page 8

question, went silently forward. It was all that Frank himself could do
to refrain from drinking the little that remained, for his very vitals
seemed on fire. Indeed, in this respect, he suffered more than some of
his companions, for while those of them who had not charge of the
water-kegs and bottles experienced the pain of suffering and hopeless
longing, he himself had the additional misery of having to resist
temptation, for at any moment he could have obtained temporary relief
by gratifying his desires at the expense of his companions.
Overpowered with heat, and burnt up with thirst, those without water to
moisten their parched lips and throats could scarcely keep pace with the
guide. By degrees they threw away their possessions--their blankets,
their clothes,--until the plain behind was strewn with them.
"Don't go so fast," groaned one.
"Won't ye halt a while?" said another uttering a curse--then, suddenly
changing his tone, he implored them to halt.
"We cannot halt. It is death to halt," said the guide, in a tone so resolute
and callous that those who were enfeebled lost heart altogether, and
began to lag behind.
At that time the man Bradling, who had become nearly mad with
drinking brandy, ran in succession to each of those who had water, and
offered all that he possessed of the former for one mouthful of the latter.
His flushed face, glassy eyes, and haggard air, told how terrible was his
extremity; but although some might have felt a touch of commiseration
not one was moved to relieve him. The law of self-preservation had
turned the hearts of all to stone. Yet not quite to stone, for there were
one or two among them who, although nothing would induce them to

give a single drop to a comrade, were content to do with less in order
that they might relieve a friend!
One man in his desperation attempted to lick the bodies of the mules,
hoping to obtain relief from the exudations of their skins, but the dust
on them rendered this unavailing.
Suddenly Bradling darted at the water-skin hanging by the side of the
guide's mule, and swore he would have it or die.
"You'll die, then," observed the guide quietly, cocking a pistol and
presenting it at his head.
Bradling hesitated and looked at the man. There was a cold stony stare,
without the least excitement, in his look, which convinced him that his
attempt, if continued, would end in certain death. He fell back at once
with a deep groan.
Onward they pressed, hour after hour, until, in many of them,
exhausted nature began to give way. They became slightly delirious,
and, finding that they could not keep up with the party, a few
determined, if left behind, to keep together. Among the number was
Bradling, and terrible were the imprecations which he hurled after the
more fortunate as they parted. It seemed cruel; but to remain with them
would have done no good, while it would have sacrificed more lives.
Bradling seemed to regard Frank as his chief enemy, for he shouted his
name as he was moving off, praying God to send down the bitterest
curses on his head.
A sudden impulse moved the heart of Frank. He turned back, poured
about half a wine-glassful of water into a tin can and gave it to the
unfortunate man, who seized and drained it greedily, licking the rim of
the can and gazing into it, to see that not a drop had escaped him, with
an eagerness of manner that was very painful to behold.
"God bless you," he said to Frank with a deep sigh.
"Do you think," said Frank earnestly, "that God will curse and bless at

your bidding?"
"I don't know, and don't care," replied the man, "but I say God bless
you. Go away and be content with that."
Frank had already lost too much time. He turned and hastened after the
others as fast as possible.
"They won't last long," said the guide harshly, as he came up. "The
wolves or the redskins will soon finish them. You were a fool to waste
your water on them."
"You are a fool to give your opinion to one who neither asks nor cares
for it," retorted Frank.
The man took no notice of the reply, and Frank afterwards felt
somewhat ashamed of being so hasty, for at night, when they encamped,
the guide advised him, in a friendly way, to keep a sharp look-out on
the water, as those who had finished theirs during the day would be not
unlikely to make an attack on those who had any left. Frank thanked
him; but being too much fatigued to mount guard, he and Graddy, with
his Yankee friend Jeffson, slept together, rolled in