XII. 



Si)ernariliao. 



ROM its peculiar appearance, surroundings and asso- 

 ciations, I give a sketch of the fountain known as 

 the Kingston Springs. The bleached skeleton, with 

 its skull's ironic grin, the splintered rocks, the glaring sands 

 with their repellent vegetation of cacti, thorns and the dis- 

 agreeable yucca tree made a deep impression on me. Besides, 

 we were now beginning to feel the lack of provisions, and this 

 brings me again to Bently and his dog. 



When our provender was divided, no allotment was made 

 for this animal, who was of good size and seemed to have been 

 born hungry, and to have never got over this natal failing. 

 The dog got into thieving habits, resulting in the carrying 

 away of some of our precious rations ; his master being caught 

 sometimes assisting him. This, with the dislike their doings 

 engendered in the balance of our mess, made the twain devoted 

 to one another to a degree which, had we not been void of senti- 

 ment, would have filled us with pity and admiration. But 

 we were hungry and our hearts were of stone. So two of the 

 mess coaxed the dog from camp and shot him. His master 

 was disconsolate at his loss and the rest of us wondered what 



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