West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-11-29

Across the red plain snalled the herd
like a many jOlnted. prehistoric rep
tile wandering Over the limitlcss spaces
OF some prlmeval world. A cloud OF
red dust hung I'VE them I'm a dense
haze. trailed after them a weary length,
then all was featureless m%onotony.
What were n thousand steers, a hand
full Of men and horses. In the land OF
the red sllenceI IL had seen the com
ings and goings OF many peoples. and
once II had flowed with streams, but
that was before the curse OF God came
upon II, and I'm It's harsh. dry barren
ness IL grew to be n menace to living
things.
The saddle stock had been watered
at some fetid alkall holes hat had
scarce given enough 10 Stake their
thirst. The effect OF the water had
weakened them. and the steers that
had been without water for thlrty-six
hours were being pushed on a course
slightly northwest as rapidly as the
enfeebled condition OF the saddle horses
would permit. Greek after creek that
they had made for proved to be but a
dry bed.
The glare OF the red earth under the
scourge OF the flaming sun tormented
the eyes OF the men into strange illu-
sions. The naked red plain stretched
fiat like the colossal background OF n
screen, over which writhed n huge
dragon spined with many horns, head
less. trailing Its %tortuous way over the
red world. Sometimes It was as I'M
real as a fever haunted dream, a d. az
inspired nightmare. when n Chinese
screen. perchance. has stood at the foot
OF the slecper's bed. Sometimes the
dragon curled itself into a ball, and the
foreman sung out that they were mill
Ing. and the men turned and rode away
from II. then dashed back at Ii, after
getting the necessary momentum, en-
tered like a flying wedge. fought their
way into the rocking sea of surging
bodies. shouted from their thirst parch-
ed threats lmprecations that were lost
In the dull, sullen roar. Then the
dragon would uncoil and again trail It's
way owe the red waste lands.
A red sun had begun to set over n
red earth, and the men who had been
OhN Hlllit nOOh nNOuIiik TIT COuliI1 IOI
water returned to say that none had
been found. and they began to look In
to each others face for the answer
that none could give. At sunset they
made Il dry camp. There was but
enough water left to cook with. Each
man received as n thirst quenching ra-
ton n can of tomatoes. After supper
they consulted, and 1t "a agreed to
trail the herd till midnight. taking ad-
vantage of the GOODNESS to hurry them
on as fast as possible to Green river.
The grave nature OF their plight was
indicated by the fact that no one
smoked after supper. Silent, sullen,
they sat round, waiting for the fore
man to give the order to advance. He
waited for the moon TO come up. Slow
ly Il rose over tho Bad Land hills and
hung round and full like n gigantic Ian
tern.
The watches were arranged for the
night with II double guard. Every
man IN the outfit was beginning to
have "A feeling OF panic hat communi-
Gated itself TO every other man, and as
they looked at the herd, tractable now
40 longer, but n blind force that they
must. take chances with through the
long watches of the night, while the
thirst grew In the beasts parched
threats, they foresaw what would In
all probability happen; they thought of
their women, Of all that most strongly
bound them to life, and they sat and
waited dumbly.