Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER val.
In the Sand Desert.

Suddenly Keith halted, bringing his
pony's head sharply about, so that the
two faced one another. The wind was
rising. hurting clouds of sand into
their eyes, and the plainsman held one
hand before his face.
There's no need Of keeping up a
water trail any longer" he said quiet
~. by all the signs we're in for
sand storm by daylight. and that will
cover our tracks so the devil himself
couldn't follow them Got water bag
on your saddle.
Il reck'n dis am one, sah.7
Keith felt Of the object Neb held
forth.
Yes. and big one, too; AL It and
trap 1t on tight: we've got long.
Try ride ahead"
''Wha1' yo' propose goin'. Massa
Jock?"
ITO the Bar X on the Canadian.
We worked with that outfit. They'll
give us whatever we need, and ask
no questions; don't know Of anything
n between. It's going to be a hard
ride, boy, and mighty little to eat ex-
rept what saved from supper"
How far an it 10 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
10 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 q journey rs this proved to
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
stunned by Indian hunters. 1t con-
| sisted of sand hill after sand hill, q
| drear waterless waste. whore nothing
| grew, and mid the dread samene ss Of
which a traveller could only find pass
age by the guidance OF stars Mt night
| or the blazing sun by day To the
eve 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 tho 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 travelling heavi'
y. fetlock deep, but could advance no
further. With the first tint of rooe In
the east the brooding storm burst
upon them in wild desert Jury, the
tierco 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 olouds
driven with the speed OF bullets. In
vain they lay fat, urging their ponies
forward the beasts. maddened and
blinded by tho merc!less flashing OF the
sand, refused to face the storm. Keith
all sense OF direction long since lost
rolled YEARLY from the saddle, bur
rowed under the partial shelter Of q
sand dune, and called upon Neb u
follow him. With their hands and feet
they made slight wind-break, drag
ging tho struggling ponies into III
protection, and burowed themselves
there. tho clouds of sand skurryins
over them so thick as to obscure tn,
sky, and rapidly burying them alto
gether as though IN Il grave, Within
an hour they were compelled 10 dig
themselves out. yet 1t proved partia
escape from tho pitiloss flashing, The
wind howled like Embossed demons
and the air grew colo. adllns e ths