There was nothing particularly strange about that, or the green growth that water made possible wherever the soil held latent fertility.

It was the fact that those poor devils who lost the airplane--and themselves--should have wandered on and on, crazed with hunger and thirst when food and water and perhaps a guide were to be found within a mile or so of where they landed.
It was a pity, thought Johnny.

But, being very human, he also thought that if the airmen had found this place, that plane would not be sitting back there waiting his grave if inexpert inspection.

So with his pity cooled a little with self-interest, Johnny turned the puffing Sandy upon the backward trail and followed his tracks across the apparently level stretch of barrenness to the basin where waited the plane and Tomaso's brother.

Only for Sandy's tracks, Johnny knew he might have had a little trouble in finding the place again, the country looked so unbroken and monotonous.
However, he found it too soon for Sandy's comfort.