The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-09-14
CHAPTER xxxlv.
Again at the Cabin.

again az tNc Sdp'H.
They were two weary days reach
ing Carson City, travelling along the
open trail yet meeting with no one,
not even a mail coach passing them.
Evidently the Indians were so trou-
blesome as to interrupt all traffic with
Santa Fe and the more western forts.
The slowness of their progress was
on account of the General, whose con-
dition became worse in spite of Fair
bain's assiduous attentions. With no
medicine the doctor could do but little
to relieve the sufferings of the older
man, although he declared that his
illness was not serious one. and
would yield quickly to proper medical
treatment. They constructed rude
travels from limbs of the cottonwood.
and securely strapped him thereon,
one man leading the horse, while the
doctor tramped behind.
Keith, fretting more and more over
this necessary delay, and now OBJ
sessed with the thought that Hawley
must have rejoined his party on the
Arkansas and gone south with them,
uudliy DTOhc away lIOH thc OthCi
and rode ahead, to gather together the
necessary horses and supplies In ad
vance Of their arrival. He could not
drive from his mind the remembrance
of the gamblers attempted familiarity
with Hope, when he had her, as he
then sappos ed, safe In his power once
before in that lonely cabin on the Salt
Fork. Now, angry with baffied ambi
ton, and victim of her trickery.
there was no guessing to what ex'
tremes the desperate might resort.
The possibilities of such situation
made the slightest delay In rescue an
agony almost unbearable. Rhching
Carson City, and perfectly reckless as
to his own safety there from arrest,
the plainsman lost no time in perfect
Ing arrangements for pushing for
ward. Horses and provisions were pro-
cured, and ne very fortunately dis"ov.
cred In town two cowboys belonging
to the Bar X' outfit. their work there
accomplished and about ready to re-
turn to the ranch on the Canadian
who gladly allied themselves with his
party, looking forward to the posi-
bilities of fight with keen anticipa
ton. Keith was more than ever de-
lighted with adding these to his outfit
when. on the final arrival of the 9th
ers, the extra man brought from Sher
idan announced that he had had
enough, and was going to remain
there. No efforts made revealed any
knowledge OF Hawley's presence II
Carson City; either he had not beer
there, or else his friends were very
carefully concealing the fact. The ut
ter absence of any trace. however, lee
Keith to believe that the gambler hat
gone elsewhere-probably to For
Larned-for his new outfit. and thi!
belief left him more fully convinced
than ever of the fellows efforts Il
conceal his trail.
The party escorting Waite reached
the town In the evening. and In thu
following gray dawn the adventurer
forded the river. and mounted on fresl
horses and fully equipped. heade'
forth into the sand hills. The littl'
company now consisted OF Keith. Fair
balm, who, in spite of his rotundit.
OF form had proven himself hard ant
ft, Ne0, having charge of the singh
pack-horse, the scout Bristoe, and tn
two cowboys of the Bar X" rough
wiry fellow. accustomed to expo
sure and peril. II was emphatically
fighting outfit, and to be trusted u
emergency.
They followed the cattle trail sout
toward the Salt Fork. as this cours
would AFFORD them camp at the pnl
water-hole In all that wide desert |,
ing between. With this certainty @
water, they ventursd to press thel
animals to swifter pace. although tn
sand made travelling heavy. and tn
trail itself was scarcely discernibl'
II was hard. wearisome ride, hou
after hour through the same dull
dreary landscape OF desolation. II
hot, remorseiess sun beating dow
upon them, rejecting up into thel
blistered faces from the hot surface {
sand. There was scarcely breath {
air, and the bodies of men and horse
were bathed In Precipitation. Not
cloud hung in the blue sky; no win
OF " bird broke the monotony OF di
lance, no living animal crept acros
the blazing surface Of the desert. o
cssi0nally a distant mirage attracte
the eye, making the dead realty eve
more horrible by lis semblanos to W,