The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-19

W&S no escaping, as IL beat down un- mercifully upon them while they weari- ly crawled through the heavy sand. It was miles to Pinon Creek their first nights camp, with almost the entire dis tance Q desert. Nothing but sand as far as the eye could reach; desolation-- absolute, utter desolation. The sand gnats buzzed gayly and merrily, and almost drove the animals to open re- volt. In the ambulance. which was covered the paymaster and his clerk sat, Violently flaming themselves, the water streaming off their faces, and their eyes glued to the valises contain ing the government funds for the pay ment of the command at Newgate.
 Its simply he'll" said the major, while the clerk, d tenderfoot, muttered something about being back in Ohio
 "Ohio!" thundered the chief, "Ohio! What do you mean by speaking of Ohio in this God-forsaken country, eh?"
 The clerk, who was a mild man, coughed apologetically, and for the bal ance of the ride remained silent.
 As the day wore on and the wagons creaked along, the major occasionally slept, glared at the silent clerk, and took numerous drops of the Trader S best" his panacea for all evils, The clerk didn't drink, couldn't sleep, and, by the time the wagons at last dragged into camp, was on the verge of nervous prostration. It was his first trip in the territory, and, may as well add here, it was his last.
 After the long, hot siege of the day, it was a relief to strike the little green spot where Pinon Creek gurgled and murmured over it's rough, pebbly bot tom with the most tantalizing sound Even the major relaxed and offered a drink of the panacea to the detail who had pitched the tents for himself and clerk in the coolest and shadiest spot obtainable.
 After the animals had been watered fed and secured for the night, there was supper, and then the sergeant divided the detail into reliefs for a running guard.
 At about half-past eight o'clock the moon shot up in the sky, blood red, and clerk, to whom the sight was a new one, seemed much impressed by 1t.
 Nothing unusual" said the major who, like the celebrated Joe Willet, was l now in a mood to tackle anything oI anybody in the line of argument
 Why, sir, I've seen er-ten times red der,'' he added; ''yes sir, ten times red der'
 There was silence.
 You believe mel" asked the major belligerently.
 The clerk believed him, but his resig- | nation was already a foregone conclu- sion.
 | An hour later the little camp hat sunk to slumber, and the only noise 1 that disturbed the silence was the | tramp of the sentinel in front of tht paymasters tent.
 As the night wore on it grew hotter and hotter, and men tossed and moved | uneasily on their blankets. The little l breeze that had sprung up in the early | part of the evening died out and tht silence grew almost oppressive. Over head the moon hung red and large il l the sky, it's Iurid beams giving tht | scene an almost unnatural appearance | whole camp was aroused by an un earthly yell, and the next instant thu clerk, clad only in brief shirt, came madly tearing toward the wagons. Well, what is it?' asked the ser geant, quietly, who caught him in hi. grasp; what is it?"
 | It was some time before he could tel l his story, and then, when he did speak | it was almost impossible to understand | him.
 "Something had attacked him." ht | blurted out.
 | "Who--the major?" asked one of thu grinning soldiers; but the sergeant si l fenced him.
 | Come sir, tell us what it was, | coaxed the sergeant and then he began l "Ie had been awakened by something | in his tent--a large, white animal, witl | gleaming eyes and heavy mane, tha | scratched and bit him savagely;". anc l in proof thereof he showed his righ
 arm Incredulity fled at once, for, sur' | enough, on the arm was a cruel, ret gash and the imprint of teeth. Tt Wal
 awful" he continued, shudderingly- awful; it tried to tear my throat, bu l I managed to roll out of the tent anC | get away"
 l By this time the major had joined thu | group, and the story was repeated t him.
 | "'Sh, what's that?" asked some one | There was instant silence, and quit plainly from the direction of the clerk 1 tent there came sound as if Of som | animal crawling through the brush. | The sergeant loaded his piece | Again they heard it; this time evi dently approaching them, and thel | through the brush they caught glean
 of something white.
 That's it." chattered the clerk | that's it-shoot il"
 Suddenly it came plainly into sight;
 long, white animal that crawled an slid along, slowly and stealthily, on al fours. Before they could quite realiz l what it was, it halted, turned it's hea
 toward the moon, and gave vent to
 wild, piercing cry that was absolutel
 blood curdling.
 "Now!"said the major, and the ser geant raised his piece and ran his ey
 along the barrel.
 The next instant, to their unnnistaka
 ble horror, the animal suddenly raise up erect, and the sergeant dropped hi piece.
 By the living God" he cried, hoarse ly, its mani"
 Its Mawson," said some one.
 As the thing turned its head fully to l hin, r,ta in