CHAPTER XXI.
Lee-lee brought to the Lake—Charlie's Recovery—Final Departure from the Lake.
The question of getting the infirm old gin across the desert was a somewhat puzzling one.
Charlie, who was fast gaining strength, proposed making Billy and some of the other blacks carry her by turns on a litter of boughs. Brown reminded him that Stuart had found it impossible to get the natives to go to the eastward, so he did not imagine that they would have any better success.
"We must tie her on to a horse, somehow," said Morton at last. And that was all the conclusion they could arrive at.
Charlie was not yet strong enough to stand a long ride, but he felt sufficiently restored to stay behind with only Billy for a companion. So Brown and Morton went back, Charlie having promised to start Billy to meet them with fresh horses on a day appointed.
Lee-lee was anxiously looking out for them, but seemed greatly astonished at seeing two white men. Brown's height, too, appeared to excite his admiration, as it did that of all the blacks they met.
Morton had brought some powder and shot, procured by opening some of their cartridges, as he thought that if he made the gun alive again Lee-lee would come without any difficulty.
"How strange," said Brown, "that these three white men should have lived so long separated from each other and yet within reach."