Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-09-29

The long, cylindrical iron tauk.
capable Of holding some two hundred
gallons q water, was mounted on
broad -9aoed and long coupled trucks
that added greatly 70 its weight and
'araft hlfehed 70 It, the span handled
Il IS easily S II i were i haby-car-
ila9e
Drlyea into Lost River, It gradually
sunk to tie hubs with the weight Of
tle water Us Steve filled Il; aud al the
| nerve and power Of the heavy horses
were required 10 start it from the sand.
Once il the solid road they trundlel
i ea4ilv, with Steve sitting braced on
the Ii ii seat
Fifty nlIes Of waterless desert
stretched between Lost River and the
SNAKE. Pitched III depression OF
tAe desert, noqrly railway between
the two, vas tic stage station Of Red
/ Hole.
Water nrl 70 ha alauioll there for the
stage stool, and the stock tender.
There. also, water was measured ont
to clnl1fants crossing the desert, aud
10 Mormon vendors of fruit and vege-
tables bound for the mines. It was
! given free to man, but for beasts i
must be bought
= VAS IL the afternoon " hen Steve
left Lost iS..-er. The road was nearly
level, smeotA apI solid: except fol oc-
casidnal stretches of sand and oat-
cropping O lava rock-the terror OF
the teamster
lie had 70 make 6oodtime Late as
i was, it would oe we'll into the night
before he reached Red Hole and the
horses there, for the relay would want
the water before their start across the
desert
The strong young horses pulled the
! heavy tank at steady pace over the
road, whether good or bad Itrollel
smoothly over the solid gravel, fur
rowel deep the sand, and crashed
over tho rock with creaking Of wood
a rumhing OF iron and a mighty splash
ing OF water
x haze Of heat hung over the desert
10 Steve the Snake River hills were
. slnokily ln,ilstlnct. and the long Bittel
} Root Divide was mlstily perceptible
It marked the boUnlary between Idah,
, and Montana, and lay in land that wa:
t the resort Of rougher characters
The dark outline Of the divide,
shifting gently IN the simmer Of the
desert, pleasantly suggested TO Steve
! the shade Of spruce and lulling wate1
] and Indirectly that cool corntT stall Il
!, the stage barn The low sun Of hi
: back threw lis long shadow down &
smooth stretch Of road; the team hat
i settled 10 the collar: and Steve, yield
. ing to that pleasant suggestion, va
I soon asleep and driving with
d perilous swayine On the high seat.
I Jolted along thus with danger an
] discomfort, the hostler suddenly foun,
b himself nearly pitched leadlong owe
!, the foot board The tank had stoppe,
abruptly. lnvol,mtariIv he put HI
5 hanl to his eyes. The sun had goD,
] lown. all IA the twilight he saw be
T,rn h.m three mounted Eannaek Ia
! dians.
enc. On isis pony il t4a middle Q
+ the read. had stopped the tesea. III
Z others sat s$a:uesque IL the;r saddle
j ag either front wheel, aal the voice Q
enc called in his waking ears. Water.
lIalI-asleep rs he was, Steve recoy
4 u1ed the three ollooaers .. tie no
+ iue nj Los, River
sure" he uow usale reply: az.
o taking tae bucket iro.l the foot-hoar,
i a, his feet. he leaned beck and ralse
the IRON cap and allied tie bucket zen
,rouslv.
II Tue blanketel rider on his righ
: reached ont, took il. lowered his Lea
r to meet it. and thrcst II his mont
8 and uostrlls like watering hors<
!. lou., and eagerly. With heavin
sigh lie passed the bucket back
i Steve. who handed i. - the silen
V waiter On L,s left He, teo. dran
/. .,reell!v. ani then -o,.e with i . h.
:. ,a.npauion. stationed i1otionleSs.v .
il the head OF the team.
! Water tor pony, again SAL +
: statIe-lue spokesman a. the o.. wl-ee
Not mncA." re.urno: Steve, VI
: vas use.i Is tie always increasing u
u.a.gls ot the Indian. TaAt : asalLs
s: orders Fetch that bucket back Lei
: ana ride oa Is Lost Rive.
Water for pony tie 1-.n =:
] sisted
! L struck Steve that his toDe vi
strangely mandatory for BaL-oci