Semi-weekly herald., 1911-07-31

heltn TO Douevo tnAt thS kaiupior n6u
gone elsewhers-probably to Fort
Larnsd-for his new outnt. and this
belief left him more fully convinced
than ever of the fellows efforts to
conceal his trail.
The party esoorting Waite reached
the town In The evening, and in the
following gray dawn the adventurers
forded the river. and mounted on fresh
horses and fully equipped. headed
forth into the sand hills. The little
company now consisted of Keith, Fair
balm, who, in spite of his rotundity
of form had proven himself hard and
ft. Nsb. having charge Of the single
pack horse, the scout Bristoe, and the
two cowboys of the Bar x" rough,
wiry fellow, accustomed to o1po-
sure and peril. 1t was emphaticaliy a
lighting outnt, and to be trusted in
emergency.
They followed the cattle trail south
toward the Salt Fork, as this course
would afford them = camp at tho only
water-bole in all that wide desert ly-
ing between. with this certainty OF
water. they vsntured to press their
animals to swifter pace. although tho
sand made travelling heavy. and the
trail itself was scarcely discsrnible.
It was a hard, wearisome ride, hour
after hour through the same dull,
dreary landscape of desolation, the
hot, remorseless sun beating down
upon them. rejecting up into their
AItataraa f.c.s fror, thu No, .urfa,o ~
sand. There was scarcely breath of
air. and the bodies of men and horses
were bathed in perspiradon. Not q
cloud hung in the blue sky; no wing
of bird broke tho monotony of dis
tance, no living animal orept across
the blazing surface OF the desert. Oc-
casionally a distant mirage attracted
the eye, making the dead reality oven
more horrible by its Ssmblapce to wa
ter. yet never tempting them to stray
aside. After the first mile conversa-
ton ceased. the men riding grimly,
ering all the distance possible. Late
that night they camped at the water
hole, sleeping as best they could.
scourged by the chill wind which
swept over them and lashed grit into
exposed faces. With the first gray of
dawn they swung stiffened forms into
the saddles and rode on. straight as
the crow flies, for the Salt Fork They
attained that stream at sundown. gray
with sand dust, their faces streaked
from perspiration, feeling as though
the sun rays had burned their brains,
with horses fairly reeling under them
According to Keiths calculation this
cattle-ford must be fully ten miles be-
low where the cabin sought was stu
ated; two hours rest, with water and
food, would put both horses and men
again in condition, and the travelling
was easier along the bank OF the
Fork. With this in mind. cinches were
loosened, the animals turned out to
Craze, and the men. snatching a hasty
bite, flung themselves wearily on the
ground.
Keith aroused them once more, q little
before nine. unable in his impatience
to brook longer delay. Within ten min
utes horses were saddled, weapons
looked to carefully, and the little party
began their advance through the dark.
ness. moving cautiously over the un-
even ground. assisted greatly by the
bright desert stars cleaning down up
on them from the cloudless sky over
head. The distance proved somewhat
less than had been anticipated, and
Keith's watch was not yet at eleven.
when his eyes revealed the fact that
they had reached the near vicinity OF
the lonely island on which the cabin
stood. Refining In his horse sharply,
he swung to the ground. the others In
stantly following his example. realiz-
Ing they had reached the end OF the
route. Hands instinctively loossnsd
revolvers In readiness for action, the
younger OF the Bar X" men whistling
softly in an effort to appear uncon-
cerned. Keith, with 4 gesture, gather
cd them more closely about him
IF Hawley is here himself" he said
quietly. watching their faces in tho
starlight. "he will certainly have a
guard set, and there may be one any
how. We can't afford to take chances,
for there will be five men, at least, on
the island. and possibly several more.
II they are looking for trouble they
will naturally expect 1t to come from
tho north-conaequenuy we'll make
our attack from the opposite direction.
and creep in on them under the shad-
ow of tho corral The drst thing