The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26

x TANHEIMERT had been in many
W duststorms, but never in such
" storm so far from the haunts OF
men. Awaking in his blanket with his
mouth full of sand, he had opened his
eyes to the binding sting OF storm
which already shrouded the very tree
under which he lay Other landmarks
there were none; the world was swal-
lowed in yellow swirl that turned
browner and more opaque even as Van
heimert shook himself out OF his
blanket and ran for the fence as for
his life. He had only left it in order
to camp where his tree had lowered
against the stars; it could not be
hundred yards away; and along the
fence ran that beaten track to which
the bushman turned instinctively In his
panic. In few seconds he was CROP
ing with outstretched hands to break
the violence of a collision with invisible
wires in a few minutes, standing at
a loss, wondering where the wires or he
had got to, and whether it would not be
wise to retrace his steps and try again.
And while he wondered fit of cough
ing drove the dust from. his mouth like
smoke; and even as he coughed the
thickening swirl obliterated his tracks
as swiftly as heavy snow.
Speckled eyebals stood out OF a
sanded face as Vanheimert saw himself
adrift and drowning in the dust. He
was huge young fellow, and it was
great smooth face, from when the
gaping mouth cut slice from jaw to
Jaw Terror and rage, and an over
towering passion of self-pity, convulsed
the coarse features in turn; then, with
the grunt of wounded beast, he raj
lied and plunged to his destruction,
deeper and deeper into the bush,
further and further from the fence.
The trees were few and mostly
stunted, but Vanheimert crashed into
more than one upon his headlong course.
The sense was choked out Of him
already; he was fleeing on the wings OF
the storm; Of direction he thought no
more. He forgot that the run he had
been traversing was at the best aban-
doned by man and beast; he forgot the
"spell' that he had promised himself
at the deserted homestead where he had
once worked as lad. He might have
remembered that the paddock in which
he was burying himself had always been
the largest in the district. 1t was
ten-mile block without subdividing
fence or drop of water from end to end.
The whole station was bowling desert,
oSSoiA>e
time by enlightened man. But this was
the desert $ heart, and into it sped Van
heimert, coated yellow to the eyes and
lips. the dust-fend himself in visible
shape. Now he staggered in his stride,
now fell headlong to cough and sob In
the hollow of his arm. The unfortunate
young man had the courage Of his des-
perate strait. Many times he arose
and hurled himself onward with curse
or prayer; many times he fell or flung
himself back to earth. But at length
the storm passed over and over his
spent members; sand gathered by the
handful in the folds Of his clothes;
the end was as near as end could be.
It was just then that two riders, who
fancied they had heard a voice, struck
an undoubted trail before it vanished
and followed it to the great sprawling
body in which the dregs Of life pulsed
feebly. The thing groaned as it was
lifted and strapped upon a horse; it
gurgled gibberish at the taste of raw
spirits later In the same hour. 1t was
HIGH noon before Vanheimert opened
a seeing eve and blinked 1t in the I'm
yelled sum-
He was lying on blanket in tree
less hollow in the midst Of trees. The
ground had been cleared by no human
hand; it was little basin Of barre1
clay, burnt to brick, and drained b.
the tiny water-hole that sparkled thru
it's thatch Of leaves and branches II
the center Of natural circle. Van
heimert lay on the eastern circum
ference; it was the sun falling sheer OF
his upturned face that cut short hi
sleep Of deep exhaustion. The SIX.
was dark and limpid blue; but ever.
,o ,icio hop
it's little load of sand, and the san'
was clotted as tho the duststorm ha'
ended with the usual shower. Van
heimert turned and viewed the sylvia,
amphithea on it's far side were tw
small tents, and a man In fold1n
chair reading the Australian. He close
the paper on meeting Vanhelmert
ewes, went to one Of The tents, stoo
moment looking in, and then cam
across the sunlit circle with his news
paper and the folded chair.
EsAnd how do you feel nowY' sal
he, setting up the chair beside tn
blanket, but still standing as he SUI
veyed the prostrate man, with dar
eyes drawn together In the shade OF
great straw sombrero.
''Fine!' replied Vanheimert, husl
lily. "But where am I, and who al
YOU chapsa Rabbitersa'
AS he spoke, however, he searched Il
the inevitable strings Of rabbit-skir
festooned about the tents, and foun
them not.
"If you like" replied the othe
frowning a little at the immediate cur
osity Of the rescued man.
'fI don't ike,' said Vanhe1mer
staring unabashed. *tI'm a rabbit'
myself, and know too much. 1t ain
no game for abandoned stations, an
you don't go playin' It in top-boo
and spurs Where's r your nv skins far an an
Plucky rabbiters, you two!'
And he gazed across the open iowa!
the farther tent, which had just di
gorged a long body and black bea'
not wholly unfamiliar to Vanhelmel
The dark man was a shade darker
he followed the look and read It's pa
tial recognition; but grim light can
with quick resolve, and it was wi
sardonic deliberation that an eyegla
was screwed into one dark eye.
:'Then what should you say that
ares"
CHOW do I know7' cried Va
heimert, turning pale; for he had be-
one of the audience at Mrs. Clarkson
. T..