Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/165

Rh in argument. Stone insisted on Harvey's taking an exact third of the water. This left three of them for their dual portion and Healy would need a good deal of that, but Harvey was going to force the pace and every drop might mean a furlong gained.

The sun was lifting fast and its beams already taking toll of what was left to them of endurance. Harvey tightened his belt, stuck a wad of tobacco in his left cheek, and shook hands with Larkin and Stone. Healy lounged against a sand pillow they had made for him, his face vacuous, as Harvey started off at a slow, long stride.

"'E's straight as a plumb line," said Larkin, indicating Harvey. "I thought 'e was in cahoots wiv this bounder, who's got some crooked scheme cooked on this deal or I'm a Prooshan, but 'e hain't. This treasure bizness mykes a cove suspicious but 'Arvey, 'e's hall man. Now we got to lug this halong and I'll bet hanyfing you like 'e'll die on our 'ands, if hit's honly for spite. Better try a chew. Smokin's too dry. I s'y, w'ot price that camel? I thought you were spoofin' larst night. Wish I'd shot the bugger. Might 'ave found water in one of 'is bloomin' stummicks an' got a steak off 'im. Gawd! A steak!"

That was the one thought that clung to them and tormented them as they struggled on, a few yards at a time, carting Healy between them on their interlocked wrists and hands. Food, in all its tantalizing variety. Neither could shake it off. It became an obsession, yet it kept their minds a little from the agony of the way. Luscious fruits, long, cooling