Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-02
PREPOSTEROUS.


the boys were gathered around the sup
per table after hard day In the brand
ing pena
"Sent him over to the river with the
horses for Meek" replied the foreman.
"He won't be back for four days"
"Oh, q picnic. said the first speaker.
"Not quite It's long stretch with
out water"
Beats branding calves, insisted the
other.
"Yes, II you're built that way"
Ten miles or 80 from the ranch the
circling buxzaris looked down upon q
PROSTATE man. When the sun set, cool
breeze sprang up, and the man stirred
and groaned. He lay upon an elevated
mesa, far from any house or tree or
wntercourse. Here and there stunted
soap weed showed above the level OF
the plain. A mile to the eastward q
band Of horses were quietly grazing,
and keen eye might have detected that
one was saddled. The crisp buffalo grass
about the man was crushed down aud
broken of. Twenty feet away dog
hole showed fresh hoof mark. and in
the earth beside the man was q broad
mark made by the cantle Of the saddle
as the horse rolled over.
II was nearly dark, and the stars
were shining when the man finally
opened his eyes intelligently.
Boys give me u drink" he said.
Water! waterv' he repeated.
Low in the north fitIul lightnings
played about pillar Of cloud. II the
cloud drifted this way, he might get
water; II not, he would go dry. Ger
tainly no mans hand would minister to
him that night Soon he realized the
situation.
II was stunned-my leg is broken, "
said he. ''I'll lie here until 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
ise Of imminent rain. Painfully the
man stripped of his coat and spread il
beside him to catch the water. His hat
had fallen and lay several feet beyond
his reach.
Quickly the cloud spread overhead.
Following jarring roll Of thunder, a
few big drops fell-one on the face Of
the thirsty man. And tina, was all. A
brisk west wind wiped the sky clean in
q moment, while the man yet watt
expectant. The stars shone out brig!
and cold. The man shivercd and curse
and drew the coat about him.
Toward morning he slept and dream
cd he heard the foreman's CHEEKY sum
mons, Roll out, fellows" but when
he sat up suddenly twinge in his leg
brought him back to facts-tbirst, 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 muttered, ly-
ing down again. I'm 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. IL
was still several feet beyond him.
1--WE got to get out Of this, was his
thought, land it's going to hurt like
hell. I'd better begin by going after my
hat" And he went It required time
and fortitude to crawl ten feet on hands
and knees, dragging the broken leg,
but il was done at last. He reached the
hat and lay down to take account Of
himself and his chances.
"Ten feet in All hour is 240 in day.
would get to the ranch in about six
months at that rate, il l could keep il
up day and night. I've got to stay right
here until the buzzards get me. IL l
had water, wouldn't care il the devil
got me. II ever get water, I've got to
get it today. BY tomorrow III be too
stiff and too silly know"-sitting up
and looking around there's no water
ON this fat, for there isn't hoof Of
stock in 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 il l
knew there was drink st the finish
but they may be dry. Then I'll bc three
miles farther from the creek, and three
miles farther of the trail when the
boys come out to look me up. suppose
they will look me up-in about week
when Mack comes over to zee why
the horses have not been sent. I'm get
ting silly already. My head throbs 20,
and RS leg too. II can get started
once, I'll know enough to keep a-going.
but how to decide I'll leave it 10
chance"
He placed his broad hat on the end
of his quirt held upright, balanced 1t
carefully ard gave il II twirl.
Now. IL that side with the bullet.
hole stops toward the south, I'll crawl
toward home, and II it turns to the
mountains, will hunt the water holes.
Hold on!" stopping the revolving hat
and closing his eyes, he said in very
low voice: 80 Lord, don't know q
one cowpuncher is much object to you,
you got 20 many, but never did much
dirt only to Billy, and he was 80 mean
himself, IL served him right. II yor
will help me ont Of this scrape and
make the hat stop at the right place
I'll never forget it. Amen"
Very earnestly then he balanced the
hat and set it turning. After several
revolutions II came to stop, with tn
| hole toward the mountaina
1.-THE water holes IL II, then, ;" SAID
| he, and carefully noting the direction
indicated, "That's rather more 70 thu
left than would choose bat Il you
say 70 Il goeA"
without delay, but without haste, b
made his preparations for great effort.
Before deciding On = course be ha'
| whimpered . little The shock and paiI
lad unnsrved him. There was now n
more Of that He had q purpose an
meant 10 execute u With bandage