t in his pocket he started across the desert. He had a hobby for
taking photographs and carried a small camera with him, and before
leaving he photographed the place, which he called "The Mound of Eternal
Silence," so that in case anything happened to him it could be found
without trouble. They developed the negatives later, and he has them
pasted all around his room. He called the place "The Mound of
Eternal Silence" because during the two months he was there he never saw
or heard a single living thing except jack-rabbits and a bird or two.'

[Illustration: THE MOUND OF ETERNAL SILENCE.]

[Illustration: JUDSON'S MAP.]

"'What was that about his killing the dog?' asked the Eastern man.

"'Well, you see when Judson started off alone the dog would not leave
his dead master, and sat upon the hill howling. Judson was afraid he
would attract somebody's attention if they happened along that way, and
after trying to get him to follow him without success, he went back and
shot him. The first thing that Judson saw when he awoke the next morning
after they had found him was the dog sitting on his haunches looking at
him. Judson looked at the animal, but said nothing--something within him
forced him to keep silence. After a time he snapped his fingers and
called the dog by name.

"'"Did you speak?" asked one of the men, Stevens it was, I believe.

"'"I was only calling the dog," said Judson.

"'"What dog?" asked Stevens.

"'"Why, that dog, of course," said Judson, pointing at the animal.

"'"You are crazy, man," answered Stevens. "The heat yesterday was too
much for you; there is no dog there."

"'Judson turned away; he began to fear there might be something the
matter with his brain, and that there was no dog there after all. But
when he looked again there he was as plain as ever. "I will take the
brute outside of camp and kill him when I get a chance," he thought.

"'That evening when they made camp at a small water hole, Judson walked
away out of sight and hearing of the camp. When he could no longer be
seen he turned, and, aiming his pistol at the dog, pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit the ground between the animal's legs, and he ran back a
few paces and stood grinning at Judson showing his teeth, and his face
looked like that of his old partner. Judson picked up a large rock and
ran at the dog; the animal yelped slightly and started for camp. Judson
increased his pace and the dog circled out into the desert.

"'