Middletown transcript., 1897-10-23
A Preposterous
Fact

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pens.
"Sent him over to the river with the
horses for Mack" replied the foremani
'he won't be back for four days."
"Oh, a picnic," said the first speak
er.
"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
circling buzzards looked down upon q
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 water-course. Here and there
q stunted soapweed showed above the
level of the plain. A mile to the east
ward band of horses were quietly
grazing, and keen eye might have de-
tected that one was saddle6. The crisp
buffalo-grass about the man was
crushed down and broken off. Twenty
feet away q dog-hole showed a fresh
hoofmark, and in the ear,h beside the
man was broad mark made by the
cantle of the saddle as the horse rolled
over.
1t was nearly dark. and the stars
were shining when the man finally
opened his eyes intelligently.
"Boys, give me drink" he said.
"Water, water!" he repeated.
Low in the north fitful lightnings
played about pillar of cloud. II 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.
~ was stunned-hy leg is broken"
said he. "l'll lie here until rot before
they will find me. Oh, God. waterl'
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
promise of imminent rain. Painfully
tie 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 fring 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
expeciant. The stars shOne out bright
and cold. The man shivered and cursed.
and drew the coat about him.
Toward morning he slept, and
dreamed he heard the foreEan's cherry
summons. Roll out, fellowsl" but
when he sat up suddenly twinge iD
his leg brought him back to facts
thirst, daylight, helplessness. He had
been awakened by the chattering OF
the little marmot into hose 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 twenty feet" he NUT
tered, lying down again. ''I'll never
tell that"
All night he had lain upon his back.
Now, very slowly, and with both
hands clasping the injured leg, which
was broken below The knee, he turned
upon his face and reached out toward
the hat. 1t was still several feet be-
yoEd him.
''I've got TO get out of this" was
his thought; ''and it's going to hurt
like hell. I'D better begin by going af-
ter my hat" And he went. 1t required
time and forti,ude 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 in an hour is 240 in a day.
would get TO the ranch in about six
months at that rate if could keep it
u, day and night. I've got to stay
right here untilthe buzz4rds get me.
II had water wouldn't cars il the
devil got me. Ii ever get water I've
got 10 get it to-day. BY tomorrow pil
be too stiff aud too silly. | kuoM"-
sitting up aud locking around there's
no water on this fat, for there isn't a
hoof Of stock in sight. Over toward
the mountain there are water-holes
every spring. but they have been ury
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 further
from the creek, and three miles further
off the trail when the buys come out to
lock me up. | suppose they win lock
me up-in about = week when Mack
comes over to see why the horses have
not been sent. I'm getting silly al
ready. My head throbs so and my leg,
too. If can get started once, Ill
know enough 10 keep a-going. But
how 10 decide. I'll leave it to
chance.D
He nlaced hia broad hat nm the end