Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-11-04
PREPOSTEROUS.

WI mere s N0QWaTU! some one asked
the foreman, one August night when
the boys were gathered around the sup
per table after hard day in the brand
ing pens.
"Sent him over to the river with the
horses for Mack" replied the foreman.
"He won't 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
eyes, if you're built that way
Ten miles or SO from the ranch the
circling buzzards looked down upon a
prostrate 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
watercourse. Here and there stunted
soap weed showed above the level of
the plain A mile to the eastward a
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 and
broken off. Twenty feet away dog
hole showed a fresh hoof mark, and in
the earth beside the man was broad
mark made by the camille of the saddle
as the horse rolled over.
It was nearly dark, and the stars
were shining when the man finally
opened his eyes intelligently.
Boys, give me a drink he said.
"Wateri water!' he repeated.
Low in the north fitful 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 man 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, waterp'
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 jarring roll Of thunder, a
few big drops feli-oneson 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 out bright
and cold. The man shivered and cursed
and drew the coat about him.
Toward morning he slept and dream
ed 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-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 30 feet,' he muttered, ly-
ing down again. "I'll never tell that. y
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. II
was still several feet beyond 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 after my
hat. I" 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 in an hour is 240 in day.
/ would get to the ranch in about six
months at that rate if could keep ii
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 te
| get it today. By tomorrow I'll be toe
stiff and too silly l know w''-sitting UP
and looking around there's no water
| ON this fiat, for there isn't a 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 il
got to me, and those holes may be full
of water now and only three miles
away l 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. I'm get
ting silly already My head throbs SO,
and my leg too If | can get started
once, I'll know enough to keep a-going,
but how to decide III leave it tc
chance.
He placed his broad hat on the end
Of his quirt held upright, balanced il
carefully and gave it twirl.
| Nov, il that side with the bullet