New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-19

Barger had piled IN the rock before the ho-seman
and his bronco dropped az the trail that led on
ward TO the river Nan again IN the saddle
Alert tor possible surprises but assured that his
could ind no adequate cover hereab0uts he emerged
from behind the last OF the turns all eagcrres 10 give
his horse a drink
\ Yell broke suddenly. terribly upon the desert
stiffness, 1t from Barger out IN the river on
the bar, strangely anchored where he stood
Van saw HIM instantly-saw a human gro
tesquerle struggling writing, twisting with mania
cal might, while the horrible quickSaud held him by
the legs and swallowed him inch by inch
For God 5 sake-heIp'" the creature shriI,et IN
his Sickenlng plight He had flung away reyove-s,
cartridges. even his coat reducing his weight when
the stuff had gTpped HIM only by the ankles tie was
buried 70 his Knees He was sinking 70 his Thighs.
and with all of his furious efforts the rightfu sand
was shudderlng as II IN animal ecstasySoEne al. '
nable ecstasy OF hunger voracious from long denial
as II sucked HIM farther down
Fer Gods sake Van Buren-fer God Is sake man
m human being shreked the victim OF the sand
g. m human being''
Van had heSItated by so much as a moment as
to what he meant 10 do. He was OFF his horse IN
leap. He paused for second TO look about for any
accidental means OF assistance the place might afford
IL afforded none The man in the quicksand cou-
tnue 70 veil 70 struggle hopelessly, TO sink in that
Shivering pool of hfe-suggesting stuff
Then the horseman thought of his rope the raw
hide laSso always secured on his saddle He Snatchei
at the knots 10 tear II loose
Don't move-don't struggle" he shouted at the
man. and down toward the edge he came running The
rope moose running out as he sped
lie dared not step beyond the bank and ss IN
NptNe hhllSeH bdrSer was We'll out from the .5e
The throw at best was long and difficult
Hold Your hands above Your head" he He'd
Don't threSh around
The convict obeyed His haggard bearded face
was turned TO Van like a mask OF horror The ewes
were blazing fearfuy. The fellows attitude as he
held up his hands and continued 10 sink was terrible
pose OF supplcatlon, an awful elOquence of PRAYER
WAN threw-and the east fell short B4rger
groaned He had ceased 10 veil He reu'a, ned
mutelv holding up his hands while the cold abvSs
erept upward 70 his waist, the wet sand swallow ing
swallowing in silence
Van Jerked In the rope with one impatient gesture
lie cooled It swiftly, but with nicely Then r1uci
ana round ne swung the gaping loop and threw with
al his strength
For a second the loop hung suakelike in the air.
above the COnvict'S head Then il fell about hi-u
SplaShed the Curdled sand, and pulled up taut,
embracing BargerS waist
Hoist it up under Your arms" called Van Try
20 move Your legs when | pull
lie wasted no time in attempting 10 haul the con
Wet out himself He led his pony quickly 10 the
edge, took two halt bitches of the rope about the
Pomme of the saddle, then shouted once more 20
his man
Ready, Barger, Try to kick Your feet" To the
horse he said. Now, Suvy, a strong. steady pull
and taking the ponys bit in hand he urged him slowly
forward
1t was wonderful the comprehension in the bron-
cos mind. But the pull awful thing. The
rope came taut and began 10 be strained, and Suvy
was sweating as he strained Out on the end OF IT,
bitten by the loop. which slipped ever tighter about
him. the human figure was bent over sharply
between the two COntending forces
lie let out one veil for the pain about his chest
then made no further sound The rawhde rope was
like fiddle string IL seemed absurd that an anchor
small so timber in the sand could hold so hard
against the horse Van urged greater tension. tie
knew what the rope could hold. He did not know
how much the man could bear before something aw-
full might occur. There nothing else 70 do
ed "a time iDfa inn NJ one ma