masters when they were saddled and bridled.

All was soon ready, when Chris raised his head to mark exactly where the
sun had disappeared--a hard task, for the heat haze was thicker than
ever.

"Where's that star?" he said impatiently.

"Which star?"

"That one that goes down of a night three hours after the sun. The one
my father used to guide us by in the early part of the night, and said
that it was a planet."

"I don't know. I never heard him say anything about it."

"He did to me. There, there. High up; I can see it now; but it looks
faint through this thick dusty air, and it's higher up than I thought
for. It will be clearer, and lower down by and by."

"Are you going to steer by that?"

"Yes, of course. Ready?"

"No; we must go and tell our fathers what we are going to do."

"No, we mustn't," said Chris stubbornly; "they'd only say we mustn't go,
and after what Griggs said I'm sure it's our only chance. We must get
water and bring it back, if they're to be saved."

"But are you sure of that? Mayn't they be better in the morning, and
ready to go on?"

"Not unless we get back with water. Now then, will you come?"

"I daren't, Chris," said Ned, with a groan; "it's too horrible."

"Then you're afraid?"

"How can I help it? See how dreadful it will be to strike right off
into the desert all alone."

"Not so horrible as to stop here and see the others die like that
poisoned mule. Come."

"I can't: it's cowardly to go and leave them."

"It isn't," cried Chris; "it's brave, and we shall find the water and
bring it back. Come, we're wasting time. Come on."

"I dare not."

"Very well," said Chris. "When father wakes in the morning, tell him
what I've done, and why."

"What shall I say?" cried Ned hoarsely.

"That I felt it was the only chance of saving all our lives; and if I
don't come back it's because I couldn't find water, Ned."

"And then?"

"Good-bye."

"What do you mean by good-bye?"

"I don't know," said Chris sadly. "Only good-bye."

He held out his hand, but snatched it back and hurried beneath the
spread-out tent-canvas, to drop upon his knees close to where the doctor
lay plunged in a deep stupor more than sleep.

Chris did not rest there many minutes before he sprang up again and
walked hurriedly to where Ned stood with the two ponies and the mule.

"Good-bye," said Chris then.

Ned made no reply, and giving his companion one long reproachful look,
Chris