26 DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



cursed in hot words and threatened each other 

 with blows if this constant stealing was not 

 brought to an end. 



Finally, one morning at the end of the week, 

 after they had lost some especially treasured 

 articles, they had what is known as a ''genuine 

 fall-out," and each fellow declared in ugly 

 words his intention to shift and live by himself. 

 There was no use trying to get along further 

 together. 



Each of the prospectors now began gathering 

 together his belongings ready for his departure, 

 and as they worked there were sullen looks 

 exchanged and grouchy expressions and threats. 

 One of the men, remembering he had left a 

 bridle out under a mesquite tree, went out to 

 get it. Several times before he had noticed a 

 queer pile of sticks and rubbish piled under the 

 tree, but it had never occurred to him that this 

 could be the dwelling-place of any living crea- 

 ture. On this particular morning he paused a 

 minute before it as he took his bridle down from 

 the crotch in which he had lodged it, and no- 

 ticed something bright, shining among the sticks. 



What could this be? He ran his fingers in 



