The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-11-04
PREPOSTEROUS.

Where's Nedward?" some one asked
the foreman, one August night when
the boys We're gathered around the sup
per table after a hard day i'll the brand
ing pens
Sent him over to the river with the
horses for Mack, replied the foreman.
lie Won be back for four days "
Oh, picnic, said the first speaker.
Not quite. It's long stretch with
out water "
" Beats branding calves, " insisted the
other
Yes if you re built that way"
Ten miles or so from the ranch the
eireling buzzards looked down upon a
PROSTATE man. When the sun set, "A cool
breeze sprang up, and the man stirred
and groaned. He lay upon an elevated
mesa, far from any house or tree or
watercourse. Here and there a stunted
soap weed showed above the level of
the plain. \ mile to the eastward a
band of horses We're quietly grazing,
and keen eye might have detected that
one was saddled. The crisp buffalo grass
about the man was crushed down and
broken off. Twenty feet away a dog
hole showed fresh hoof mark and in
the earth beside the man was a broad
mark made by the cantle of the saddle
as the horse rolled over
1t was nearly dark, and the stars
We're shining when the man finally
opened his eyes intelligently.
Boys, give me a drink" he said.
water water!" he repeated
Low i'll the north titful lightnings
played about pillar of cloud. If the
cloud drifted this way, he might get
water; if not, he would go dry Ger
tainly no mans hand would minister to
him that night, Soon he realized the
situation.
q was stunned-my leg is broken, "
said he. I'm lie here until l rot before
they will find me O God water"
The cloud drew nearer, grew larger
and put out the stars. AS it slid down
from the mountain and advanced across
the plain, rumbling thunder gave prom
Use of imminent rain. Painfully the
man stripped off his coat and spread it
beside him to catch the water His hat
had fallen and lay several feet beyond
his reach.
Quickly the cloud spread overhead
Following a jarring roll of thunder, a
few big drops fell-one on the face of
the thirsty man. And that was all A
brisk west wind wiped the sky clean in
moment, while the man yet waited
expectant. The stars shone ont bright
mud oA1J Tho Chi tro,.,1 ,,,l III
and drew the coat about him.
Toward morning he slept and dream
ed he heard the foremans CHEEKY sum
mons, Roll out, fellows, " but when
he sat up suddenly twinge in his leg
brought him back to facts--thirst day
light, helplessness. He had been awak-
ened by the chattering of the little mar
mot into whose hole the horse had
stumbled, now come forth to view the
damage done his home The man drew
his pistol and fired twice at the prairie
dog.
Missed at 90 feet" he muttcrcd, ly-
ing down again. TN never tell that. "
All night he had lain upon his back.
Now, very slowly and with both hands
clasping the injured leg, which was bro
ken below the knee, he turned upon his
face and reached out toward the hat 1t
WAS still several feet beyond him,
4 ve got to get out of this, - was his
thought, land it's going to hurt like
he'll. I'd better begin by going after my
hat. And he went 1t required time
and fortitude to crawl ten feet on hands
and knees, dragging the broken leg,
but it was done at last. He reached the
hat and lay down to take account Of
himself and his chances
'Ten feet i'll an hour is $40 in day.
| would get to the ranch in about six
months at that rate, if could keep it
up day and night. I've got to stay right
here until the buzzards get me. If |
had water, | wouldn't care if the devil
got me. If ever get water, I've got to
get it today. BY tomorrow I'll be too
stiff aud too silly. | know''-sitting up
and looking around--"th there's no water
on this fiat, for there isn't a hoof Of
stock i'll sight. Over toward the noun
tain there are water holes every spring,
but they have been dry since June. BY
God, = he said aloud, that cloud last
night emptied out somewhere before it
got to me, and those holes may be full
of water now and only three miles
away. | could crawl three miles if /
knew there was drink at the finish
but they may be dry. Then I'll be three
miles farther from the creek and three
miles farther off the trail when the
boys come out to look me up / suppose
they will look me up-in about "a week
when Mack comes over to see why
the horses have not been sent. Pm get
ting silly already. My head throbs so,
and my leg too. If | can get started
once, III know enough to keep a-going,
but how to decide Ill leave il to
chance.
He placed his broad hat on the end
of his quirt held upright, balanced it
carefully and gave it a twirl.
Nov, if that side with the bullet
hole stops toward the south, I'll crawl
toward home, and if it turns to the
mountains, | will hunt the water holes
Hold on" stopping the revolving hat
and closing his eyes, he said in a very
low voice: 80 Lord, | don't know as
one cowpuncher is much object to you
you got so many, but l never did much
dirt only to Billy, and he was SO mean
himself it served him right. If you