Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-30

&c Jsit his fcoi slipping from uRGcr him.
'ouid upon his insecure footing, he call
ed to his companion with cheering
words. Easton had kept his head" III
| the IL idst Of his peril and was now using
both brain and muscle to extricate him
self. But he was also mindful Of Dicks
danger and began untyirg the lariat
from his waist so that he could cast il
Of ii he saw that it was drawing Dick
into tho slide.
Dick aaw the movement and guessed
its intent.
Don't do that. Eastsn,'' he cried
"For heaven's sake, give Yourself every
chance
There's 10 use both going" returned
the other. with grim look down the
mountain side.
az yoa throw tho rape off, swear l
viii jump into tie slide with you"
cried Dick nsain in an agony CT fear
lest his companion shorld sacrifice him
self for his sake. II am not in cny dan
ger. can hold on.
Even as be spoke, he felt his feet slip
ping from under him upon the treacher-
Gus ice.
The burro train had kept on along
the path after their leaders, and the
foremost one had now come so close
that Dick felt its warm breath behind
him. He turned, and flung one arm
about the beasts neck ana threw his
weight upon it. The little animal braced
itself and stood firm as rock. Dick
felt as though the eaEth had suddenly
grown solid beneath him, and shouted
with renewed courage to Easton The
latter began again to pull himself Up
hand over hand UPON tho rome, and soon
stood safely besido Dick
''That was narrow squeak" hesaif
locking back. ''You have saved my
life. -
no" disclaimed Dick. ave both
owe our iiVes to this little fellow here"
He patted the burro a.Iectionately upon
the head as he spoke.
1t was not III the nature Of either
man TO make much Of such On incident
Yet 1t served to cement their friendship
still closer and to give each renewed
assurance that he could depend upon
tho other il any h0ur Of need, a fact
which they were to have ample oppcr-
tunlty to test liz tho time yet to come.
On through tho day they kept up this
weary struggle. Mono but tie OLD frcn
tiersman could have kept the trail, and
at times even he was almost at q loss to
know where their course hay. Pr!f be-
fore night they had made the last Of the
passes ard stood locking down upon the
plain which reached cldlossly from the
farther base Of the mountain.
Easton stretched cut his hand toward
it.
1.-THE Indians named It right when
they called it the Evil Place, Dick. 1t
is evil enough, as many poor fellow
has found and as his bleaching bones
will tell us -
TWAS again night when they came 20
the edge Of the desert. Instead CT carn7-
ing, they made but b-ief rest and uusI-
ed on. Until daybreak they kept up
steady, silent march. Then, when the
sun came up, big and red, from ont the
eastern edge Of that ocean Of sand, they
unslung the panniers, picketed the bur
ros. made a hasty breakfast and tLeu Iay
down to rest.
Dick went to sleep. with the cool airs
OF The morning still blowing across The
plain. Three hours later he awoke with
a start. At first lie thought some huge
burning glass had been focused upon
him. His hands and face were bliztered
The sand was Is hot as though it were
molten lead.
Dick sat up and looked about him. as
far as the eye could reacl, was tie M
broken level OF sanG-level except where
J the wind had swept it into holloxs and
ridges. From horizon 20 horizon was
iething to breai. the monotony except
| tie polished oliver white dome Of the
mountain behind them and the scaut
tufts Of cactus and sage brush in tie
b; owl waste
To be Continued