- At a well, which young bucks on the warpath may have poisoned, McCord and a female doctor are surrounded by the warriors. McCord was escorting her to a colleague's desert office, but they came across the male physician, killed by arrows. The pair have used up almost all their water, caring for the wounded cavalryman they found with Dr. Marshal. Already at the oasis are a duplicitous pair of prospectors, and a tiny old man with kyphosis.—David Stevens
- My current job was to escort a young woman, Dr. Evelyn Cole, to a medical outpost where she was to join Dr. Mitchell. The trip took days across a hot desert. We were running low on water, but we had to keep traveling on. But soon, we came upon an overturned wagon. My heart sank when I realized it was the doctor. He was killed with an arrow. His friend was barely alive. He was a Calvary officer. I buried the doctor, then pulled the Calvary Officer along with us. Little did I know that the murdering Apaches were watching.
Two men were also riding across the hot desert. They came upon a burned farmhouse and a well. Being mighty thirsty, they hurried to the well to get a drink of water, but a third man stepped out and declared he was waiting for some thirsty man to take a drink. He suspected the water had been poisoned, as that was the Indians' way. The men were not willing to be the first to find out if the water was indeed poisoned. They were mighty thirsty and hated the fact they couldn't even taste the water. But then one of the men came up with a plan. He saw me and Dr. Cole riding up, and he figured I would take a drink, then he could see if the water was poisoned. But the older man, he couldn't let me drink it. He warned me the water could have been poisoned. I certainly wasn't too happy with the one-eyed stranger who tried to tell me different! Luke, the man who warned me about the water, asked me for a small drink from my canteen. I couldn't deny him. He had helped me, and he was thirsty. The other two men, though, they came over and grabbed him, forcing him to drop the canteen. Taeger was getting so thirsty he thought he may just take his chances on the water, but suddenly he was shot in the back. The Apachies were up in the hills and they were shooting at us. I got everyone to a safer place then started shooting.
As night fell, the shooting ceased, but they were still out there waiting for us. Dr. Cole asked me to get some water. She could use it to cool the man's skin, even if we couldn't drink it. I got shot at, but succeeded at getting the water. As she wiped the officer's forehead, he called me Captain McCord. He said he was with me at Fort Crook. He was the drummer. Everyone knew exactly who I was then. Hawland was disgusted that he was stuck with a coward like me.
The next morning, Hawland started to crack. He picked up the bucket and tried to force the old man to drink some. He spelled it on the ground instead, and I advised him to get a hold of himself. He ran back toward the well. The Indians shot him. He was killed. Then the Indians charged. I shot them. One of them got past me though and grabbed Dr. Cole. When I heard her scream, I turned and drew my sword. I threw it and got the Indian. That part of our danger was over. It was time for me, Dr. Cole, and the officer to move on. He told Dr. Cole he never believed I was a coward. He told Dr. Cole that I had given up my career for the General. He didn't know why, but he knew I hadn't done what they said I did.
When we were getting ready to leave, I saw the old man, Luke, at the well. As I started toward him, I saw him take a nice, long drink of the water. Around his neck were bags of gold. I questioned him and discovered he had witnessed Hawland and Taeger steal the money in Casterbell. He had followed them out there and used the poison water story as an easy way to get the gold. He figured on keeping the money since they wouldn't have any use for it anymore. But I informed him that gold was going back to Casterbell. He pulled a gun on me, but I knew he wouldn't shoot me. I took the gold and the bucket of water. After giving everyone a nice, long drink, we went on our way. I was going to see that Dr. Cole got back to Boston.
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