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mouth〃 thirst； and the memory of it outweighed any desire for treasure。
But Schwartz was money…mad。 Left to himself he would have staid on
that sand flat to perish； as certainly as had poor Billy。 We had fairly to
force him away； and then succeeded only because we let him fill all his
pockets to bulging with the coins。 As we moved up the next rise； he kept
looking back and uttering little moans against the crime of leaving it。
Luckily for us it was winter。 We shouldn't have lasted six hours at this
time of year。 As it was； the sun was hot against the shale and the little
stones of those cussed hills。 We plodded along until late afternoon；
toiling up one hill and down another； only to repeat immediately。
Towards sundown we made the second bay； where we plunged into the sea；
clothes and all； and were greatly refreshed。 I suppose a man absorbs a
good deal that way。 Anyhow； it always seemed to help。 We were
now pretty hungry； and； as we walked along the shore； we began to look
for turtles or shellfish； or anything else that might come handy。 There
was nothing。 Schwartz wanted to stop for a night's rest； but Denton and I
knew better than that。 〃Look here； Schwartz；〃 said Denton； 〃you don't
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realise you're entered against time in this raceand that you're a damn fool
to carry all that weight in your clothes。〃 So we dragged along all
night。 It was weird enough； I can tell you。 The moon shone cold
and white over that dead； dry country。 Hot whiffs rose from the baked
stones and hillsides。 Shadows lay under the stones like animals
crouching。 When we came to the edge of a silvery hill we dropped off
into pitchy blackness。 There we stumbled over boulders for a minute or
so； and began to climb the steep shale on the other side。 This was fearful
work。 The top seemed always miles away。 By morning we didn't seem
to have made much of anywhere。 The same old hollow…looking
mountains with the sharp edges stuck up in about the same old places。
We had got over being very hungry； and； though we were pretty dry； we
didn't really suffer yet from thirst。 About this time Denton ran across
some fishhook cactus； which we cut up and chewed。 They have a sticky
wet sort of inside； which doesn't quench your thirst any； but helps to keep
you from drying up and blowing away。 All that day we plugged
along as per usual。 It was main hard work； and we got to that state where
things are disagreeable； but mechanical。 Strange to say； Schwartz kept in
the lead。 It seemed to me at the time that he was using more energy than
the occasion called forjust as man runs faster before he comes to the
giving…out point。 However； the hours went by； and he didn't seem to get
any more tired than the rest of us。 We kept a sharp lookout for
anything to eat； but there was nothing but lizards and horned toads。
Later we'd have been glad of them； but by that time we'd got out of their
district。 Night came。 Just at sundown we took another wallow in the
surf； and chewed some more fishhook cactus。 When the moon came up
we went on。 I'm not going to tell you how dead beat we got。 We
were pretty tough and strong； for all of us had been used to hard living； but
after the third day without anything to eat and no water to drink； it came to
be pretty hard going。 It got to the point where we had to have some
REASON for getting out besides just keeping alive。 A man would
sometimes rather die than keep alive； anyway； if it came only to that。 But
I know I made up my mind I was going to get out so I could smash up that
Anderson； and I reckon Denton had the same idea。 Schwartz didn't say
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anything； but he pumped on ahead of us； his back bent over； and his
clothes sagging and bulging with the gold he carried。 We used to
travel all night； because it was cool； and rest an hour or two at noon。
That is all the rest we did get。 I don't know how fast we went； I'd got
beyond that。 We must have crawled along mighty slow； though； after our
first strength gave out。 The way I used to do was to collect myself with
an effort； look around for my bearings； pick out a landmark a little
distance off； and forget everything but it。 Then I'd plod along； knowing
nothing but the sand and shale and slope under my feet； until I'd reached
that landmark。 Then I'd clear my mind and pick out another。 But I
couldn't shut out the figure of Schwartz that way。 He used to walk along
just ahead of my shoulder。 His face was all twisted up； but I remember
thinking at the time it looked more as if he was worried in his mind than
like bodily suffering。 The weight of the gold in his clothes bent his
shoulders over。 As we went on the country gradually got to be more
mountainous； and； as we were steadily growing weaker； it did seem things
were piling up on us。 The eighth day we ran out of the fishhook cactus；
and； being on a high promontory； were out of touch with the sea。 For the
first time my tongue began to swell a little。 The cactus had kept me from
that before。 Denton must have been in the same fix； for he looked at me
and raised one eyebrow kind of humorous。 Schwartz was having a
good deal of difficulty to navigate。 I will say for him that he had done
well； but now I could see that his strength was going on him in spite of
himself。 He knew it； all right； for when we rested that day he took all the
gold coins and spread them in a row； and counted them； and put them back
in his pocket； and then all of a sudden snatched out two handfuls and
threw them as far as he could。 〃Too heavy；〃 he muttered； but that was
all he could bring himself to throw away。 All that night we wandered
high in the air。 I guess we tried to keep a