Desert　Gold
  by　Zane　Grey
  CONTENTS
  Prologue
  I。　　　　　　　Old　Friends
  II。　　　　　　Mercedes　Castaneda
  III。　　　　　A　Flight　Into　The　Desert
  IV。　　　　　　Forlorn　River
  V。　　　　　　　A　Desert　Rose
  VI。　　　　　　The　Yaqui
  VII。　　　　　White　Horses
  VIII。　　　　The　Running　of　Blanco　Sol
  IX。　　　　　　An　Interrupted　Siesta
  X。　　　　　　　Rojas
  XI。　　　　　　Across　Cactus　and　Lava
  XII。　　　　　The　Crater　of　Hell
  XIII。　　　　Changes　at　Forlorn　River
  XIV。　　　　　A　Lost　Son
  XV。　　　　　　Bound　In　The　Desert
  XVI。　　　　　Mountain　Sheep
  XVII。　　　　The　Whistle　of　a　Horse
  XVIII。　　　Reality　Against　Dreams
  XIX。　　　　　The　Secret　of　Forlorn　River
  XX。　　　　　　Desert　Gold
  D　E　S　E　R　T　　G　O　L　D
  PROLOGUE
  Chapter　I
  A　face　haunted　Camerona　woman's　face。　　It　was　there　in　the　white　heart　of　the　dying　campfire；　it　hung　in　the　shadows　that　hovered　over　the　flickering　light；　it　drifted　in　the　darkness　beyond。
  This　hour；　when　the　day　had　closed　and　the　lonely　desert　night　set　in　with　its　dead　silence；　was　one　in　which　Cameron's　mind　was　thronged　with　memories　of　a　time　long　pastof　a　home　back　in　Peoria；　of　a　woman　he　had　wronged　and　lost；　and　loved　too　late。　　He　was　a　prospector　for　gold；　a　hunter　of　solitude；　a　lover　of　the　drear；　rock…ribbed　infinitude；　because　he　wanted　to　be　alone　to　remember。
  A　sound　disturbed　Cameron's　reflections。　　He　bent　his　head　listening。　A　soft　wind　fanned　the　paling　embers；　blew　sparks　and　white　ashes　and　thin　smoke　away　into　the　enshrouding　circle　of　blackness。　　His　burro　did　not　appear　to　be　moving　about。　　The　quiet　split　to　the　cry　of　a　coyote。　　It　rose　strange；　wild；　mournfulnot　the　howl　of　a　prowling　upland　beast　baying　the　campfire　or　barking　at　a　lonely　prospector；　but　the　wail　of　a　wolf；　full…voiced；　crying　out　the　meaning　of　the　desert　and　the　night。　　Hunger　throbbed　in　ithunger　for　a　mate；　for　offspring；　for　life。　　When　it　ceased；　the　terrible　desert　silence　smote　Cameron；　and　the　cry　echoed　in　his　soul。　He　and　that　wandering　wolf　were　brothers。　　Then　a　sharp　clink　of　metal　on　stone　and　soft　pads　of　hoofs　in　sand　prompted　Cameron　to　reach　for　his　gun；　and　to　move　out　of　the　light　of　waning　campfire。　　He　was　somewhere　along　the　wild　border　line　between　Sonora　and　Arizona；　and　the　prospector　who　dared　the　heat　and　barrenness　of　that　region　risked　other　dangers　sometimes　as　menacing。
  Figures　darker　than　the　gloom　approached　and　took　shape；　and　in　the　light　turned　out　to　be　those　of　a　white　man　and　a　heavily　packed　burro。
  〃Hello　there；〃　the　man　called；　as　he　came　to　a　halt　and　gazed　about　him。　　〃I　saw　your　fire。　　May　I　make　camp　here？〃
  Cameron　came　forth　out　of　the　shadow　and　greeted　his　visitor；　whom　he　took　for　a　prospector　like　himself。　　Cameron　resented　the　breaking　of　his　lonely　campfire　vigil；　but　he　respected　the　law　of　the　desert。
  The　stranger　thanked　him；　and　then　slipped　the　pack　from　his　burro。　Then　he　rolled　out　his　pack　and　began　preparations　for　a　meal。　His　movements　were　slow　and　methodical。
  Cameron　watched　him；　still　with　resentment；　yet　with　a　curious　and　growing　interest。　　The　campfire　burst　into　a　bright　blaze；　and　by　its　light　Cameron　saw　a　man　whose　gray　hair　somehow　did　not　seem　to　make　him　old；　and　whose　stooped　shoulders　did　not　detract　from　an　impression　of　rugged　strength。
  〃Find　any　mineral？〃　asked　Cameron；　presently。
  His　visitor　looked　up　quickly；　as　if　startled　by　the　sound　of　a　human　voice。　　He　replied；　and　then　the　two　men　talked　a　little。　But　the　stranger　evidently　preferred　silence。　　Cameron　understood　that。　　He　laughed　grimly　and　bent　a　keener　gaze　upon　the　furrowed；　shadowy　face。　　Another　of　those　strange　desert　prospectors　in　whom　there　was　some　relentless　driving　power　besides　the　lust　for　gold！　Cameron　felt　that　between　this　man　and　himself　there　was　a　subtle　affinity；　vague　and　undefined；　perhaps　born　of　the　divination　that　here　was　a　desert　wanderer　like　himself；　perhaps　born　of　a　deeper；　an　unintelligible　relation　having　its　roots　back　in　the　past。　　A　long…forgotten　sensation　stirred　in　Cameron's　breast；　one　so　long　forgotten　that　he　could　recognize　it。　　But　it　was　akin　to　pain。
  Chapter　II
  When　he　awakened　he　found；　to　his　surprise；　that　his　companion　had　departed。　　A　trail　in　the　sand　led　off　to　the　north。　　There　was　no　water　in　that　direction。　　Cameron　shrugged　his　shoulders；　it　was　not　his　affair；　he　had　his　own　problems。　　And　straightway　he　forgot　his　strange　visitor。
  Cameron　began　his　day；　grateful　for　the　solitude　that　was　now　unbroken；　for　the　canyon…furrowed　and　cactus…spired　scene　that　now　showed　no　sign　of　life。　　He　traveled　southwest；　never　straying　far　from　the　dry　stream　bed；　and　in　a　desultory　way；　without　eagerness；　he　hunted　for　signs　of　gold。
  The　work　was　toilsome；　yet　the　periods　of　rest　in　which　he　indulged　were　not　taken　because　of　fatigue。　　He　rested　to　look；　to　listen；　to　feel。　　What　the　vast　silent　world　meant　to　him　had　always　been　a　mystical　thing；　which　he　felt　in　all　its　incalculable　power；　but　never　understood。
  That　day；　while　it　was　yet　light；　and　he　was　digging　in　a　moist　white…bordered　wash　for　water；　he　was　brought　sharply　up　by　hearing　the　crack　of　hard　hoofs　on　stone。　　There　down　the　canyon　came　a　man　and　a　burro。　　Cameron　recognized　them。
  〃Hello；　friend；〃　called　the　man；　halting。　　〃Our　trails　crossed　again。　That's　good。〃
  〃Hello；〃　replied　Cameron；　slowly。　　〃Any　mineral　sign　to…day？〃
  〃No。〃
  They　made　camp　together；　ate　their　frugal　meal；　smoked　a　pipe；　and　rolled　in　their　blankets　without　exchanging　many　words。　　In　the　morning　the　same　reticence；　the　same　aloofness　characterized　the　manner　of　both。　　But　Cameron's　companion；　when　he　had　packed　his　burro　and　was　ready　to　start；　faced　about　and　said：　　〃We　might　stay　together；　if　it's　all　right　with　you。〃
  〃I　never　take　a　partner；〃　replied　Cameron。
  〃You're　alone；　I'm　alone；〃　said　the　other；　mildly。　　〃It's　a　big　place。　　If　we　find　gold　there'll　be　enough　for　two。〃
  〃I　don't　go　down　into　the　desert　for　gold　alone；〃　rejoined　Cameron；　with　a　chill　note　in　his　swift　reply。
  His　companion's　deep…set；　luminous　eyes　emitted　a　singular　flash。　It　moved　Cameron　to　say　that　in　the　years　of　his　wandering　he　had　meant　no　man　who　could　endure　equally　with　him　the　blasting　heat；　the　blinding　dust　storms；　the　wilderness　of　sand　and　rock　and　lava　and　cactus；　the　terrible　silence　and　desolation　of　the　desert。　Cameron　waved　a　hand　toward　the　wide；　shimmering；　shadowy　descent　of　plain　and　range。　　〃I　may　strike　through　the　Sonora　Desert。　　I　may　head　for　Pinacate　or　north　for　the　Colorado　Basin。　　You　are　an　old　man。〃
  〃I　don't　know　the　country；　but　to　me　one　place　is　the　same　as　another；〃　replied　his　companion。　　for　moments　he　seemed　to　forget　himself；　and　swept　his　far…reaching　gaze　out　over　the　colored　gulf　of　stone　and　sand。　　Then　with　gentle　slaps　he　drove　his　burro　in　behind　Cameron。　　〃Yes；　I'm　old。　　I'm　lonely；　too。　　It's　come　to　me　just　lately。　　but；　friend；　I　can　still　travel；　and　for　a　few　days　my　company　won't　hurt　you。〃
  〃Have　it　your　way；〃　said　Cameron。
  They　began　a　slow　march　down　into　the　desert。　　At　sunset　they　camped　under　the　lee　of　a　low　mesa。　　Cameron　was　glad　his　comrade　had　the　Indian　habit　of　silence。　　Another　day's　travel　found　the　prospectors　deep　in　the　wilderness。　　Then　there　came　a　breaking　of　reserve；　noticeable　in　the　elder　man；　almost　imperceptibly　gradual　in　Cameron。　　Beside　the　meager　mesquite　campfire　this　gray…faced；　thoughtful　old　prospector　would　remove　his　black　pipe　from　his　mouth　to　talk　a　little；　and　Cameron　would　listen；　and　sometimes　unlock　his　lips　to　speak　a　word。　　And　so；　as　Cameron　began　to　respond　to　the　influence　of　a　desert　less　lonely　than　habitual；　he　began　to　take　keener　note　of　his　comrade；　and　found　him　different　from　any　other　he　had　ever　encountered　in　the　wilderness。　This　man　never　grumbled　at　the　heat；　the　glare；　the　driving　sand；　the　sour　water；　the　scant　fare。　　During　the　daylight　hours　he　was　seldom　idle。　　At　night　he　sat　dreaming　before　the　fire　or　paced　to　and　fro　in　the　gloom。　　He　slept　but　little；　and　that　long　after　Cameron　had　had　his　own　rest。　　He　was　tireless；　patient；　brooding。
  Cameron's　awakened　interest　brought　home　to　him　the　realization　that　for　years　he　had　shunned　companionship。　　In　those　years　only　three　men　had　wandered　into　the　desert　with　him；　and　these　had　left　their　bones　to　bleach　in　the　shifting　sands。　　Cameron　had　not　cared　to　know　their　secrets。　　But　the　more　he　studied　this　latest　comrade　the　more　he　began　to　suspect　that　he　might　have　missed　something　in　the　others。　　In　his　own　driving　passion　to　take　his　secret　into　the　limitless　abode　of　silence　and　desolation；　where　he　could　be　alone　with　it；　he　had　forgotten　that　life　dealt　shocks　to　other　men。　　Somehow　this　silent　comrade　reminded　him。
  One　afternoon　late；　after　than　had　toiled　up　a　white；　winding　wash　of　sand　and　gravel；　they　came　upon　a　dry　waterhole。　　Cameron　dug　deep　into　the　sand；　but　without　avail。　　He　was　turning　to　retrace　weary　steps　back　to　the　last　water　when　his　comrade　asked　him　to　wait。　　Cameron　watched　him　search　in　his　pack　and　bring　forth　what　appeared　to　be　a　small；　forked　branch　of　a　peach　tree。　　He　grasped　the　prongs　of　the　fork　and　held　them　before　him　with　the　end　standing　straight　out；　and　then　he　began　to　wa