“You’re not the only one,” groaned Bruce. “What wouldn’t I give for one little swallow of water!”
“We must strike water soon, or we are done for,” put in Jack.
Toots began to sway in his saddle, and Frank spurted to his side, grasping him by the arm, as he sharply said:
“Brace up! You mustn’t give out now. The mountains are right ahead, and——”
“Lawd save us!” hoarsely gasped the darky. “Dem dar mount’ns had been jes’ as nigh fo’ de las’ two houah, Marser Frank. We don’ git a bit nearer ’em—no, sar! Dem mount’ns am a recepshun an’ a delusum. We ain’t nebber gwan teh git out ob dis desert—nebber! Heah’s where we’s gwan teh lay ouah bones, Marser Frank!”
“You are to blame for this, Merriwell,” came reproachfully from Diamond. “You were the one to suggest that we should attempt to cross instead of going around to the north, and——”
“Say, Diamond!” cried Harry; “riv us a guest—I mean give us a rest! You were as eager as any of us to try to cross the desert, for you thought we’d have it to boast about when we returned to Yale.”
“But we’ll never return.”
“Perhaps not; still I don’t like to hear you piling all the blame onto Merry.”
“He suggested it.”