"
The two went into the tent and were soon fast asleep. The father,
being very much fatigued, slept very soundly, and when he awoke the
sun was beating down upon him. The mother and boy were nowhere to
be seen. The tent had been taken down from over him so carefully
that he had not been awakened. Getting his horse, he mounted and
rode after the two who had left him sleeping. He had no trouble in
following the trail, as the boy had stamped his feet hard and left
his little tracks in the soft places.
That evening he spied the little tent again and on getting to it
found them both asleep. The boy awoke and motioned for his father
to go outside. He again told his father that the next day's travel
would be the hardest of all. "We will cross a great plain,
but before we get there we will cross a sandy hollow. When you get
to the hollow, look at my tracks; they will be deep into the sand,
and in each track you will see little pools of water. Drink as
much as you can, as this is the only chance you will get to have a
drink, there being no water from there to the big ridge, and it
will be dark by the time you get to the ridge. The relations of my
mother live at that ridge and I will come and talk to you once
more, before I leave you to join my mother's people."
Next morning, as before, he awoke to find himself alone.
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