The Washington times., 1901-07-07

'They must have perished of thirst" said
the professor, and with water 50 near,
poor fellows
Thirst exclaimed Hiram. doubtfully.
Thirst! What do you say, Seth?' ad-
dressing his cOmrade, taciturn individ-
ual, who never spoke except when he was
spoken to, and not always then.
They died in their sleep, in coorse. Any
fool could see that: but what killed EN-
l don't know. Thur they were, all lyin'
round the fire, and somethin' came and
polished them OFF without their knowing
what hurt en-"
You can see that Seth's right, cant
yer2' said Hiram, apolOgetically. If
they'd died of thirst you wouldn't have
found them lying all together, and quiet
like No. One would have been there.
and another half mile back, and another
somewhere else"
Inis Was So obvious on reflection that
Bernstein felt rather ashamed of himself
for not having perceived the truth at
once. After few moments contempla-
tion of the melancholy spectacle, the par
~ remounted and set out for the camping
ground.
There does seem to be some inexplica-
bic danger about this plain. after all,
said Mainwaring. I'm beginning to wish
We were well across it
No one replied TO this observation It
clearly expressed the sentiments OF every
one present
The spring was found among soma
rocks. near the extremity of narrow
wedge or promontory which projected far
across the ravine. The water proved eX-
cellent and in few minutes the horses
were unsaddled. packs thrown down, fires
lit, and the party had settled themselves
to supper under the lee of the rocks. This
was neceSstated by the violence OF the
wind. All the hot day they had been
painting for a breath of air and now that
the cold night had come gale had sprung
up, as it eenerally did in the evening in
those parts, according to Hiram's expert
ence.
There was little sleep In the camp. Ev-
eryone was vaguely uneasy as 10 the
danger that walked In darkness, 1or that
this was the case the fact that the IN,
dians had perished in their sleep appeared
to Indicate. MainWaring heard his com
paniOn muttering and stretching far INTO
the small hours, but at length the most
wakeful ceased tossing, and he was the
only one of the party left awake
Daylight brought him an unreaSohaple
sense OF irritation that the night had
passed off without adventure. In spite OF
his watchfuiness. All his lself-sacrihce had
been I'm vain, and he might Just as wen
have slept for all the good he had done.
Thus sullIily meditating, he threw on his
blanket and stood up.
The morning WAS not q pleasant one
was parchingly hot; the rays OF the sun
seemed shorn in some way, and there was
peculiar reddish tint in the atmosphere
walk round the side of the rocks lmme-
diately explained the phenomenon.
The whole plain behind was covered
with vast forms in motion. advancing re
treating, and gliding to and FRO, as IL
engaged in some gigantic dance Ihey
We're easily recognizable. They were sand
pillars raised by the eddies of the storm
After a few moments contemplation, the
young man reused his companions. Bern
stein was delighted with the grand and
novel spectacle, but Hiram looked very
serious.
IF one of those burned thinks ketches
US right here, at the edge OF the canyon
we shall be in pretty particular fix. We
must clar out quick, and run chance o
gettin' smothered on the plain, unless we
want to find ourselves at the bottom OF
the cliff by short cut"
As If to confirm his remark, one OF the
columns al that moment reached the cage
Of the chasm not far from them. over 1t
went IN an avalanche OF sand. The dam
ger was so evident that every one rushed
TO the horses 10 saddle them up, ana IN
five minutes everything was ready Tor the
start.
As they rounded the rocks. they saw
that several columns were dangerously
near the base of the wedge, and by Ill
rams advice they decided on waiting Tor
few minutes on the chance OF the pain
becoming more open in that direction Al
most Immediately afterward one OF tne
pillars struck the rocks not tn DIS