Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19

L
Barger had piled in the rock, before the horseman
and his bronco dropped again in the trail that led
ward to the river. Y an was again in the saddle.
Alert for possible SURPRISES but assured that his
could find no adequate cover hereabOuts he emerged
from behind the last of the all eagerness give
his horse drink.
Stiffness 1t came from Barger, out in the river.
the bar, strangely anchored where he stood
Van him instantly-Saw a human gro
tesquerie, struggling, wrhng, twisting with mania
cal might, while the horrible quicksand held him by
the legs and swallowed him inch by inch.
For Gods sake-help! the creature shrilled in
his sickenng plight. He had flung away revolvers,
cartridges even his coat reducing his weight when
the stuff had gripped him only by the ankles He was
buried to his knees. He sinking to his thighs,
and with all of his furious efforts the frightful sand
was shuddering if in animal ecstasv-some abomi
nable ecstasy of hunger. voracous from long denial
it sucked him farther down
Fer Cod sake, Van Buren-fer Gods sake man!
I'm human being!" shrieked the victim of the sand.
I'm a human being!'
to what he meant to do. He off his horse in
leap. He paused for second to look about for any
accidental means of assistance the place might afford
1t afforded none. The man in the quicksand con-
tnued to YELL to struggle hopeessv to sink in that
shivering pool of life-suggesting stuff
Then the horseman thought of his rope, the
hide lasso always secured his saddle He snatched
at the knots to tear 1t loose.
Don't move-don't struggled" he shouted at the
man. and down toward the edge he running the
rope running out he sped.
He dared not step beyond the bank, and SO in
volve himself Barger was we'll out from the edge
The throw at best was long and difficult.
Hold your hands above your head.' he called.
Don't thresh around!
The convict obeyed. His haggard bearded face
turned to Van like mask of horror. The eyes
blazing fearfuy. The fellows attitude, as he
held up his hands and continued to sink terrible
poise of supplicaton, awful eloquence of prayer.
WAN threw-and the cast fell short Barger
groaned He had ceased to yell He remained
mutely holding up his hands, while the cold abyss
crept upward to his waist, the wet sand swallowing,
swallowing in silence.
Van erked in the rope with one impatient gesture,
He cooled it swiftly, but with nicely. Then round
and round he swung the gaping loop and threw with
all his strength
For second the loop hung snakelike in the air,
above the convict's head Then it fell about him,
splashed the curd1ed sand and was pulled up taut
embracing Bargers waist
Z" Hoist it up under your arms!" called Van Try
to move your legs when pu!''
He wasted no time in attempting to haul the con-
vict out himself He led his pony quickly to the
edge took two haf-hitches of the rope about the
pommel of the saddle, then shouted more to
his
Ready, Barger! Try to kick your feet" To the
horse he said Now, Suvy, strong, steady pull
and taking the pony 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 to be strained and Suvy
sweating as he strained. Out on the end of it,
bitten by the loop which slipped ever tighter about
him. the human figure bent over sharply
between the two contending forces.
He let out yell for the pain about his chest
then made no further sound. The rawhde rope was
like fiddle string. 1t seemed absurd that anchor
small, SO timber, in the sand could hold so hard
against the horse. Van urged greater tension He
knew what the rope could hold. He did not know
how much the could bear before something
full might There nothing else to do.
1t seemed time intermnable. No made
sound The queer distorted figure out in the stream
could have uttered sound to save his life. The 81