The Ely miner., 1911-09-01

with gradual dying away of the
storm. For an hour past they had
been struggling on. doubling their di-
rection, wondering DULY If they were
not lost and merely drifting about in
circle. They had debated this
f1ercely once. che ponies standing de-
jectedly, tails to the storm, Neb argu-
ing that the wind still blew from the
south, and Keith contending it had
shifted into the westward. The white
man won his way, and they staggered
on uncertain, the negro grasping the
first pony's tail to keep from being
separated from his companion. Some
instinct of the plains must have guild
ed them, for at last they dragged
themselves out from the desert, the
crunching sand under foot changing
into rock, and then to short brittle
grass, at which the ponies nibbled eag-
erly. The slope led gradually down
ward, the animals scenting water. and
struggling to break away. Swaying
in their saddles. the riders let them
go, and they never stopped until belly
deep in the stream, their noses buried.
The men shivered in their saddles.
until, at last satisfied. the ponies con-
sented to be forced back up the bank,
of herbage, but in manner expires
sive of WEAKNESS. Keith flung him.
self on the ground, every muscle OF
his body aching, his exposed flesh still
smarting from the hail of sand.
He had not the slightest conception
as to where they were, except he
knew this must be the Salt Fork. Ut
terly confused by the maze of shifting
dunes, through whose intricacies they
had somehow found passage, the black
ness of the night yielded no clue as to
their point of emergence. The vol
ume of water in the stream alone
suggested that in their wanderings
they must have drifted to the east
ward, and come out much lower down
than had been originally intended. II
so, then they might be almost directly
south of Carson City. and IL. section
with which he was totally tracquaint-
ed. One thing was, however, certain
they would be compelled to wait for
daylight to ascertain the truth. and
decide upon their future movements.
Keith arose reluctantly, and remov-
ed the saddles from the animals, hob
bling them so they could Craze at
will. Neb was propped up beneath an
out-cropping of the bank, which partly
protected him from the wind, mere
h,111y 0f oh
tell whether he slept or not. but naae
no effort to disturb him. A moment
he stared vacantly about into the
black silence, and then lay down, pill
lowing his head upon saddle. He
found it impossible to sleep, the chill
of the wind causing him to turn and
twist, in vain search after comfort,
while unappeased hunger gnawed in.
cessantly. His eyes ranged about over
the dull gloom of the skies until they
fell again to the earth level, and then
he suddenly sat up, half believing him
self in a dream-down the stream, how
far away he could not Judge, there
cleaned a steady, yellowish light. It
was no flicker of camp fire, yet re-
mained stationary. Surely no star
could be so low and large; nor did he
recall any with that popularity Of
color. If such miracle was possible
in the heart of that sandy desert he
would have sworn 1t was lamp shin
ing through a window. But he had
never heard of any settler on the Salt
Fork, and almost laughed at the
thought, believing for the instant his
brain played him some elfish trick.
Yet that light was no Illusion; he rub
bed his eyes, only to see it more clear
ly, convinced now Of, its reality. He
strobe hastily across, and shook Neb
into semi-consciousness dragging him
bodily up the bank and pointing down
the stream.
do you see that?" he inquired dnx-
iously. There. straight ahead Of
your"
The negro stared, shaking with cold.
and scarcely able to stand alone.
Maybe it am de moon, Massa Jack"
he muttered, thickly, "or goblin's
lantern. Lawd, don't Jest like di
looks OBJ dat ting"
well, do," and Keith laughed un
easily at the negros fears. "All
wanted to know was II you saw wha!
saw. That's lamp shining through
a window, Neb. What in heavens
name it Ca be doing here I am un-
able to guest. but I'm going to find out
1t means shelter and food, boy, even II
we have to fight for 1t. Come on, the
horses are safe, and we'll discover
what is behind that light yonder."
(TO BE CONTINUED1