Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-27

~ rim OF the desert was
breaking into fire; al
ready across the Redeemed stretch of
sage. bush burst of dust marked the
sure coming of the coach, on its way
from the Snake River settlements to
the Salmon River mines.
Attracted by its vaunting approach,
three blanketed figures rose about a
little open campfire fickering near the
roadside. and stood while the coach
fitted by, staring with admiration at
that pageant OF the desert. Their ap-
pearance drew from the driver look
that also fingered, but not in admira-
ton.
"Blamed if there aint those three
Bannocks again, hanging round the
station like jack-rabbits ronnd stack
OF lucernel" he commented.
But Bannocks by the roadside were
an ordinary sight to him, and these
were nowise extraordinary in dress or
manner or habit Of changing round. !"
He gave them no further notice as
they followed after him into the sta
tion. Then, blanket-enwrapped to the
eyes from the thin air of the morning,
they stood, mute and motionless
watchers of the change of horses.
The fresh wheelers were already in
their places at the pole. The leaders
tugs were hooked, and the hostler,
stepping nimbly backward was string
ing out the long lead-lines, when the
driver spoke authoritatively from the
box:
"Say, Steve, you must haul water
to Red Hole to-day, sure! That's or
ders."
The hostler looked up. He was an
alert young fellow in tilted cowboy
hat, "check" shirt and overalls.
"Oh, give us a rest!" he exclaimed
in the slang of the stable, and with
no thought Of the clean, cool, hay
bedded corner stall in the stage barn
where, rolled in a horse blanket, he
usually made up for his broken night.
The driver grinned. "That's the
order" he repeated. ''It's straight
from the old man. Rustic round, kid,
and get that water-t tank a-rolling tu
Red Hole"
His manner altered, and turning his
head he glanced at the passengers
within, disdainfully ignoring the three
blanketed statues planted at the of
wheel.
"'There'll be little pile coming in
the treasure.box tonight, Steve" he
said, bending alike from dignity and
the box, and lowering his voice to Il
confidential tone. "It's to pay of
with at the mines, and the old man
wants it sent right along to Salmon
River. You look out there amt any
waiting at Red Hole for water"
He Strengthened up and held out his
hand. "Pitch me them strings! All
ready there, inside9 Hike!"
The four horses sprang forward as
one horse. The rocking body of the
coach rose in front; the baggage
weighted boot dipped behind, and the
canvas curtains tapped wing.wise OF
either side in swift and dusty evanish
ment.
The blanketed Indians gazed afte1
in cleaning eyed approval. Return
ing to their roadside camp, they mount
ed their ponies, and taking the trail tt
Snake River, they also began to pound
the dust from tho desert.
Then across Lost River another dust
cloud arose, as the hostler, Steve, il
the saddle, thinking not of indians
but orders. circled the range afte
horses to haul the heavy water tank t.
Red Hole-work for which the light
witty stage horses were useless.
He soon found the animals he sough
"a pair of four year-old Cleveland ba.
horses. High.headed, long named
streaming tailed, the span stood six
teen hands high and were heavy il
proportion. But despite their beef
ness, Steve's we'll grained little saddle
horse was put to his best to drive them
fiery-eyed and snorting, into the cor
raj.
Harne ssed by him, they came out @
the stable fit for even the eyes Of 18th
old man" the superintendent, :
whose hawk-like vision could take i
at Q glance the points of horse an
the polish of harness.
The long, cylindrical iron tank
capable Of holding some two hundre
gallons OF water, was mounted o.
broad. gagged and longcoupled truck
that added greatly to its weight an
draft. Hitched to it, the span handle
it as easily as if it were baby-car
riage.
Driven into Lost River. it gradual
sunk to the hubs with the weight c
the water as Steve filed it; and all tn
, nerve and power of the heavy horse
were required to startit from the sanf
Once in the solid road they trundle
it easily, with Steve sitting braced o
the high seat.
Fifty miles of waterless desel
stretched between Lost River and til
Snake. Pitched in q depression {
the desert, nearly midway betwee
the two. was the stage station Of Re
Hole.
Water had to be hauled there for I'll
stage stock and the stock.tende
There, also, water was measured OF
10 emigrants crossing the desert, an
TO Mormon vendors Of fruit and veg
tables bound for the mines. 1t ws
give1 free to man. but for beasts