re. We can ford it there, if the water ain't too fierce."

Bauer thought awhile and then asked if he might go with the teamster.
There was room in the wagon for his trunk and bag, and after securing
his effects from the train he transferred to the wagon, and bidding a
cheery farewell to his travelling companions, who he said might have to
stay on the train two or three days, the teamster drove off with Bauer
across the shimmering desert.

They reached the river the next day about noon, after a glorious night
which Bauer will never forget, as he slept with his face upturned to the
diamond stars of that desert expanse, breathing that pure air of God's
all out of doors.

The river was high from the recent heavy rains in the mountains but the
teamster said he could make the ford all right. This was at a point
nearly a mile above the mission which was not visible owing to a bend in
the stream.

Bauer, who was totally unfamiliar with the country, the river, the
customs, the entire situation, calmly sat in his place as the driver
started his team down the shelving bank into the chocolate coloured
stream.

The water was a little over the hubs of the wheels at first and it
seemed to be of that uniform depth as the horses slowly walked along.
But suddenly without warning the off horse sank down clear over his
back. The next minute the wagon wheels tipped down as if they had run
over the edge of a precipice a mile high.

The driver yelled and swore in several languages, but the nigh horse
plunged and then sank over his back. The current caught the entire
outfit and turned it completely over, tumbling horses, wagon and stuff
over and over like a roller. As Bauer felt the water closing over him he
had a momentary glimpse of two figures on the south bank of the river
running and gesticulating, one a man, the other a woman. He felt himself
struggling in a confused tangle of wagon wheels, floundering horses,
yelling driver, boxes and muddy water. Then something struck him on the
head. He struggled to help himself, throwing his arms out blindly, was
aware that someone had hold of his hair and was striking him in the
face, of a great roaring and rushing sound, and then he lost all
consciousness as the river bore him and his would-be rescuers down the
stream together.

CHAPTER XII

THE penetrating light of the desert came into the east opening of the
Council Hogan at Tolchaco, and bathed in its enveloping flood the strip
of