e allotted for the trip had gone, and still there was no sign of
deserted mines.

Roger smoked a long pipe after his lunch, chewing impatiently on his
pipestem and swearing under his breath from time to time. He was tempted
violently to keep on to the north, but remembering Dick's repeated
warnings as to the danger of running out of water he finally won his own
consent to turning back. He determined, however, to make the return trip
on the neighboring range, to the east.

He hoisted his pack and started heavily down into the valley that
separated him from the next range. It was a good two miles of tooth and
nail climbing and the canyon was filled with afternoon shadows when
Roger reached the foot-wall of the east range. The heat was almost
intolerable.

As he paused here, far above his head a donkey brayed. Roger started
quickly upward and for an hour was led by the brayings that grew louder
as he neared the top. As he crawled around the last brown rock heap
that crowned the ridge, he almost stepped on a man beside whom stood a
little gray burro.

"Peter!" said Roger. Then, "I say, Von Minden!"

He stooped over the quiet form at his feet. The little German was lying
on his face, his iron-gray head resting on his arm. His blue overalls
and faded red sweater were covered with a light sifting of dust. His
pack lay beside him, unopened.

Roger turned him over, and as he did so Peter backed off. Von Minden was
dead. He had been dead a long time Roger thought, as shuddering, he
looked down on the bearded, distorted face. Roger took off his own pack
and went over the body carefully. There was no sign whatever of any
violence. He made a careful survey of the immediate surroundings, but
there was no trace of Mrs. von Minden to be found.

Peter watched Roger's every move, moving his long ears back and forth
enquiringly.

There was nothing whatever in Von Minden's pockets, except a jack knife.
There was neither food in his pack nor water in his canteen. The one
sack contained only a few ore samples. The dispatch box was not to be
found.

It was impossible to dig a grave on that peak of solid rock. Moreover,
Roger had an idea that the authorities--if there were authorities in the
desert world--ought to find the body as he had found it. He cut down
several of the stunted cedars and piled them over the pathetic heap,
under the blanket. On these he heaped stones, as heavy as he could lift
until he felt sure that neither co