The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-09-16
thusiastic. Colet was student of the

vainly to find place where it was a
degree or two cooler. s'What wouldn't
/ give for a good swim now!"
Keep still, there's good fellow"
expostulated Littlefield. "You are
kicking up this dry sand and it won't
settle again in a dogs age. Don't
knock all our grub over, either. The
Tauregs may stop the supply train, and
vegetables don't grow in this country.
There! you've gone and done it,"
For Colet had given another roll
and dislodged pile of boxes of pro-
visions which, with a miscellaneous
lot of clothing and instruments, came
crashing down in heap.
When they had been restored to
their places Belleau awoke from a
troubled slumber He glanced at his
watch and then pulling his coat collar
up to shield his neck from the solar
heat, crossed the interval between the
hut and the tower.
-Four thousand feet" he murmured.
Decidedly in 4S hours we ought to
reach the water-bearing strata"
BY turning lever he reversed the
electric apparatus rapidly and the drum
began to wind the wire rope. When it
was full another was deftly substituted,
and after that a third. Then the ma
chinery stopped and the heavy metal
drill emerged from the black depths OF
the well, bringing with it volume OF
dark earth, which tumbling down a
trough prepared for its reception,
poured over the tawny desert sand.
1t was a curious contrast OF hues.
The engineer fingered the soil. 1t
was loose and friable. He smelled it
and even tasted 1t.
"We have not yet reached the belt
of clay which confines the subterranean
reservoirs" he said.
Once more, with a humming sound,
the drill vanished into the depths, the
wire rope ratified furiously as it un-
wound, and then the apparatus re-
sumed its work.
"Clink-clank! Clink-clank!"
When the sun declined it was OBJ
scured by a curious mouse-colored
cloud rising from the west.
Can it be thunderstorm? asked
Littlefield.
Worse" answered the chief; sit is
a sand-storm, the terrible simeon. l
fear we are in great danger"
With incredible swiftness the Devil
of the Sahara" advanced. Where the
three men stood deathlike stiffness
prevailed. The outlines of the tower
seemed drawn in sepia on background
of fiery orange. Long, snaky fingers
of smoke came reaching out over the
sky, wriggling Enthusiastically,
Then wall of gray mist came sweep
ing over the desert, and the awe-strik-
en- beholders saw the sand caught up
in vast, whirling columns. A dull,
booming sound, like that of breakers
on hidden reefs, smote upon their ears.
Inside and close the door!" shouted
Belleau. The engineers fastened into
the hut and secured the door.
In moment, it seemed, the storm
was upon them. The atmosphere be-
| came black as midnight. A sonorous
hum, like the diapason of some mighty
cathedral organ, filled all the dome of
heaven. There were sounds of titanic
buffetings and demoniac yells. 1t was
as if all the ancient fiends of the
Sahara had gathered to overwhelm
| it's presumptuous invaders. Had not
| the hut been strongly bolted together
| it would have been torn to pieces. The
| fiery particles Kissed against it's iron
sides like a discharge of shot. Sand
| sifted through the cracks until the
| three men, their heads wrapped in
| cloths, were almost stified.
For a moment it seemed as though
they were to be buried deep In liv-
ing grave. Then, as quickly as 1t
came, the simeon fed away, and the
sun, now red as blood, threw its level
beams across the plain. The drilling
apparatus was not injured. Its deli
cate machinery was so protected that
the sand could not reach it.
Then a terrible discovery was made.
Colet, his throat burning with thirst,
approached the tank which contained
their supply of water. He found the
tap open and the tank empty.
The lad gave cry. His companions
rushed to the spot. Cali gone
wasted" he moaned.
It was true. Not drop remained
When the pile of supplies had fallen
over, the tap had been knocked open
and the thirsty sand had drunk the
precious liquid.
eff the train doesn't get here
tomorrow we shall be in a fix" OBJ
served the assistant engineer.
Belleau shook his head. ''The sand
storm has blocked the rails he said
mo engine can pass until the plows
have made a path for it. That will
take many hours, and man cannot
live many hours in the Sahara without
water"
"Let us walk to the next station,
suggested Colet
1t is 200 miles. If one of us tried il
he would perish before he had accom-.
plished one quarter of the distance,
replied the gray chief. His eyes turned
toward the drill.
There is one hope, them" cried the
American, following the direction Of
the gaze. eff the drill reaches the
water-bearing levels in time we shall
be saved"