Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-08-21

back country somewhere IA the dtroc-
ton Of the Gray Ranges. There they
might exist for years, II they happened
to drop across good water-supply, ur-
seen by any mortal eye."
But there is a vast sandy tract OF
country between this and the Gray, is
there not? inquired the sergeant.
YES" replied Mr.. Hail. but 1t II
just possible that they succeeded in
crossing 1t. This has been an unusual
ly wet season; and, from what the
stock men have told me, all the creeks
and 'clay-pans' out In that direction
are full OF water. Jack knows the coun-
try well-better than anybody about
this neighborhood. He has often been
out for weeks together after stray
cattle that have gone that way
Very well, SIR" said the sergeant;
Il am willing to do whatever you may
] think best"
| 1T Is decided then" replied Mr.. Hall.
I'VE will take two weeks provisions on
pack-horses, and see IL we can't come
across their tracks"
This seemed a most sensible plan to
pursue, and accordingly a party was
organized, consisting OF the sergeant,
three troopers, young Jack, Mr.. Hall,
William Luke, and-much to Mr.. Halls
disgust-Sullivan the innkeeper.
Mr. Hall did his utmost to prevent
Sullivan's Joining the expedition, so
great was his adherence of the man:
but, as he had provided himself with
pack-horse well-laden with food and
grog. Mr.. Hall could not well prevent
him from accompanying them.
AS matters turned out, it would have
been very much better for Mr.. Sullivan
II he had llowed himself to be dis
suaded; but the majority Of sensible
people, when talking the affair over
in after years, were decidedly of opin-
lon that 1t was very good job for
every one else that he had joined the
expedition.
The commotion on the station on the
morning when the expedition started in
search OF the fugitives was tremendous.
Pack-saddles were being adjusted to
FESTIVE brutes whose sole aim and OBJ
Ject was to kick themselves free from
their encumbrances. All sorts Of things
were forgotten and remembered Just
at the last momeIt
AT last the cavalcade got under way,
and Mrs. Hall and her daughter watch
ed 1t across the plain from the veran-
dab OF the house until the gumtrees.
which lined the creek for some miles.
hid 1t from view.
The expedition proceeded some thir-
ty miles or more without any difYiculty
In fact the country was familiar to
nearly all the riders. Several small
out-stations were passed, where boun-
d2y riders and shepherds In Mr.. Halls
employ lived their quiet uneventful
lives.
At one OF these they halted for the
night, much to the disgust Of the old
halter" who lived there with his
fiocks. and who nursed wholesome
antipathy to the entire human race.
Cranky jim" he was called, and, II
4 love Of absolute solitude entitled him
TO the name, he was undoubtedly de-
serving of 1t.
Had he seen two people pass that
way about ten weeks ago? No, he had
not seen two people pass that way
md. what WAS more, he did not want
10 see them. One was a woman. was
t? All, we'll, a woman was naught to
him; he had seen enough of women in
lis time, he had! His other remarks
we're SO full of imprecations and BIAS
,hemy that Mr.. Hall ceased to interro-
rate him.
On the second day they halted about
loon In sight of the sand-hills. This
vas the great barrier which they knew I
ay between the grass country on the {
Barrier side and the Gray Ranges.
Mr.. Hall had wisely insisted upon all
he water-bags being fifllled up at the
asst good water-hole; and he felt con- '
inced that, with the supply they car
led, the fifty or sixty miles Of desert I
ught to be safely crossed by man and 6
east
1t was within two hours of shutdown e
nown region. The horses staggered o
rearily along. occasionally sinking in +
, the sand up to their knees, and {
truggling through the scrub and
richly mimosa which grew plentifully Il
, places upon the low hills. b
Nightfall came on. and the cavalcade {,
ncamped; there was no sign Of water, Il
nd they had to draw upon the supply 81
ley carried with them. u
Jack Hall had more than once enter n
these inhospitable regions in search v