The Mena weekly star., 1911-07-13
CHAPTER VII.
In the Sand Desert.

rising, hurlfng clouds or sand into their eyes, and the plainsman held one hand before his face.
 "There's no need of keeping up 6 water trail any longer he said quiet ly. "By all the signs we're in for a eand storm by daylight, and that will cover our tracks so the devil himself couldn't follow them. Got water bag on your saddle.
 q reckn dis am one, sah." Keith felt of the object Neb held forth
 'Yes, and big one. too; fill it and
 strap 1t on tight; we've got a long. dry ride ahead"
 "Whar' yo' propose goin', Massa Jack?"
 "To the Bar x on the Canadian. I've worked with that outfit They'll
 give us whatever we need, and ask
 no questions; I don't know of anything
 in between. It's going to be hard
 ride, boy, and mighty little to eat ex-
 cept what saved from supper"
 How far am 1t to dis yere Bar X?'"
 "A hundred and fifty miles as the crow flies, and sand all the way. ex. cept for the valley of Salt Fork. Come on now, and keep close, for it's easy to get lost in these sand hills"
 Keith had ridden that hundred and fifty miles of sandy desolation before, but had never been called upon to make such journey as this proved to be. He knew there was little to fear from human enemies, for they were riding far enough east of the Santa Fe trail to be out of the path of raiding parties, while this desert country was Shunned by Indian hunters. It con. 1isted of sand hill after sand hill,
 trear waterless waste. where nothing grew, and mid the dread sameness of which a traveller could only find pass age by the guidance of stars at night or the blazing sun by day. To the eye mile after mile appeared exactly alike, with nothing whatever to dis tinguish either distance or direction the same drifting ridges of sand stretching forth in every direction, no summit higher than another, no sem blance of green shrubbery, or silver sheen of running water anywhere to break the dull monotony--a vast sandy plain, devoid of life, extending to the horizon. overhung by barren sky.
 They had covered ten miles of 1t by daybreak, their ponies travellng heavi- ly, fetlock deep. but could advance no further. With the first tint of rose in the east the breeding storm burst upon them in wild desert fury. the herce wind buffeting them back. lash Ing their faces with sharp grit until they were unable to bear the pain. The flying sand smote them in clouds, driven with the speed of bullets. In vain they lay fiat, urging their ponies onward; the beasts. maddened and blinded by the merciless flashing of the sahu, refused to face the storm. Keith, all sense of direction long since lost. rolled wearily from the saddle, bur ro"ed under the partial shelter of sand dune, and called upon Neb to iolioW him. With their hands and feet they made slight wind-break. drag sihg the struggling ponies into its protection, and burrowed themselves 'here, the clouds of sand skurrying over them so thick as to obscure thy SKY, and rapidly burying them alto sether as though in grave Within ah hour they were compelled to dig themselves out. yet 1t proved partial escape from the pitiless flashing. The wind howled like unloosed demons, and the air grew cold. adding to the sung of the grit, when some sudden eady hurled 1t into their hiding place. ID endeavor further travel would mean certain death, for no one could nave guided course for a hundred rect through the tempest, which seem ea 10 suck the very breath away. To the fugitives came this comfort-if tney could not advance, then no one else could follow. and the storm was completely plotting out their trail.
 II was three o'clock before it died sunlciently down for them to venture out Even then the air remained full ol sand. while constantly shifting rldges made travel difficult Only grim necessity--the suffering of the ponies for water, and their own need ior soon reaching the habitation of man and acquiring food--drove them .o the early venture. They must at tan the valley of the Salt Fork that nishl, or else perish In the desert-- .nere remained no other choice Ty- ihg neckercniefs over their horses eyes, and lying fiat themselves, they succeeded In pressing slowly forward. "ihdlng in and out among the shift ing dunes, with only the wind to guide enem. It was an awful trail. the hoofs slhklns deep in drifting sand, the suusgiing ponies becoming so ex hausted that their riders finally dis mounted, and staggered forward on 1ooe leading them stumbling blindly si'er. Once the negro's horse dropped. and had to be lashed to it's iset again; once Keith's pony stun pied and fell on him. hurling him face eo"n into the sand. and he would nave died there, lacking sufficient strength to lift the dead weight, but TUT Neb's assistance. As 1t was he vent staggering blindly forward efuised. and faint from hunger and .Ausnes Neither man spoke; they had