He saw a
strong tension of his comrade's wrists, as if he was holding hard
against a considerable force. The end of the peach branch began to
quiver and turn. Cameron reached out a hand to touch it, and was
astounded at feeling a powerful vibrant force pulling the branch
downward. He felt it as a magnetic shock. The branch kept turning,
and at length pointed to the ground.
"Dig here," said the prospector.
"What!" ejaculated Cameron. Had the man lost his mind?
Then Cameron stood by while his comrade dug in the sand. Three feet
he dug--four--five, and the sand grew dark, then moist. At six
feet water began to seep through.
"Get the little basket in my pack," he said.
Cameron complied, and saw his comrade drop the basket into the deep
hole, where it kept the sides from caving in and allowed the water
to seep through. While Cameron watched, the basket filled. Of all
the strange incidents of his desert career this was the strangest.
Curiously he picked up the peach branch and held it as he had seen
it held. The thing, however, was dead in his hands.
"I see you haven't got it," remarked his comrade. "Few men have."
"Got what?" demanded Cameron.
"A power to find water that way. Back in Illinois an old German used
to do that to locate wells. He showed me I had the same power.
I can't explain. But you needn't look so dumfounded. There's
nothing supernatural about it."
"You mean it's a simple fact--that some men have a
magnetism, a force or power to find water as you did?"
"Yes.
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