In Search of Water

           LAKESALINASendsthestringoflagoonsconnectedwiththeSierrasVentanaandGuamini.NumerousexpeditionswereformerlymadetherefromBuenosAyres,tocollectthesaltdepositedonitsbanks,asthewaterscontaingreatquantitiesofchlorideofsodium.

           ButwhenThalcavespokeofthelakeassupplyingdrinkablewaterhewasthinkingoftheRIOSoffreshwaterwhichrunintoit.Thosestreams,however,werealldriedupalso;theburningsunhaddrunkupeverythingliquid,andtheconsternationofthetravelersmaybeimaginedatthediscovery.

           Someactionmustbetakenimmediately,however;forwhatlittlewaterstillremainedwasalmostbad,andcouldnotquenchthirst.Hungerandfatiguewereforgotteninthefaceofthisimperiousnecessity.Asortofleathertent,calledaROUKAH,whichhadbeenleftbythenatives,affordedthepartyatemporaryresting-place,andthewearyhorsesstretchedthemselvesalongthemuddybanks,andtriedtobrowseonthemarineplantsanddryreedstheyfoundthere—nauseoustothetasteastheymusthavebeen.

           AssoonasthewholepartywereensconcedintheROUKAH,PaganelaskedThalcavewhathethoughtwasbesttobedone.Arapidconversationfollowed,afewwordsofwhichwereintelligibletoGlenarvan.Thalcavespokecalmly,butthelivelyFrenchmangesticulatedenoughforboth.Afteralittle,Thalcavesatsilentandfoldedhisarms.

           "Whatdoeshesay?"askedGlenarvan."Ifanciedhewasadvisingustoseparate."

           "Yes,intotwoparties.