But the fidelity to that purpose was great, asit
was inexplicable. The look had the meaning of a prayer to Adam, yet it waslike a
blade in his heart.
Something came back to him or wasborn in him during
these hours. Dismukes was perplexed, and a little ashamed.
Long had Adam feared this blow, and now it had
fallen. Indeed, this strange man was a dreamer of dreams. Hisheart lifted high in
his breast, almost choking him.
Soon he would fall and die, besun-dried and blow
away like powdered leather on the desert wind. The discovery gave him a wonderful
thrill.
Remember it was Jinny saw me wandering in a circle,
madwith thirst.
Ithad to do with peace, with dream, with
effacement. Then theproblem consisted of felling the tree, for he had not the
strength toclimb it.
The Coahuila chief had been born on thatdesert and
he must have been nearly sixty years old.
Adams weary, hopeless hunting instinct sustained a
vivifying,galvanising shock. The dusky desert maiden had little instinctive
vanitiesthat contact with him developed.
Many had been the rewards of Charley Jim and his
family for savingand succouring Adam.
The days passed, with ruddy sunrises, white,
glaring, solemn noons, andgolden sunsets.
For to watch the eagles in their magnificent
flights became a passionwith him.
Adam knew, when he faced Oella in the shadow of
thepalms, that she had been told.
They might return in time to save hislife. No time
so swiftly fleeting as days and nights out in new and strangeplaces of the
desert!
She was trying to feedhim with a stick or a wooden
spoon. For the first moment in all that time did Adam feel an absolutesense of
safety.
And espying one alongthe edge of the stream, he
plunged to secure it.
For to watch the eagles in their magnificent
flights became a passionwith him.
He was only a fearfulanimal, fascinated by another,
dreading death by instinct. Taking his family and Adam, he began a nomadic questfor
change of scene and work and idleness.
Life is strange on the desert, replied
Adam.
They had come to look up to the white man they
called Eagle. His _expression_ changed, but it was not with recognition.
The act of swallowing made his throatfeel as if it
was sore. Stone after stonehe flung, missing every time.
His piercing gaze was thatof one who had befriended
many men and could not remember.
Not far indeed was he thenfrom the actual seizing
of that deadly serpent in his bare hands.
A little spring welled up here and trickled down to
the creek. If I made you my wife it might be to your shame and sorrow.