The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-09-01
HkPTE VII.
In the Sand Desert.

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
ly. by all the signs we're In for a
sane storm by daylight, and that will
cover our tracks so the devil himself
couldn't follow them. Got a water bag
on your saddle.
II reck'n dis am one, sah."
Keith felt of the object Neb held
forth.
Eyes, and a big one, too; fill 1t and
strap it on tight; we've got . long,
dry ride ahead"
"Whar' yo' propose goin'. Massa
Jack?"
ITO the Bar X on the Canadian.
I've worked with that outfit. They'll
gives us whatever we~need, and ask
no questions; l don't know Of anything
in between. It's going to be q hard
/ ride, boy, and mighty little to eat ex.
cept what / saved from supper"
How far am it 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. Conn
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 d~esolation before,
but had never been called upon TO
make such a 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 cut 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, 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 a barren
sky.
They had covered ten miles of 1t by
daybreak, their ponies travelling heavi
ly, fetlock deep, but could advance nc
further. With the first tint of rose in
the east the brooding storm burs!
upon them in wild desert fury, the
fierce 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. Ir
vain they lay fiat, urging their ponie!
forward; the beasts, maddened ant
blinded by the merciless flashing of the
sand, refused to face the storm. Keith
all sense of direction long since lost
rolled weaSily from the saddle, bur
rowed under the partial shelter of
sand dune, and called upon Neb tt
follow him. With their hands and fee
they made a slight wind-break, drag
ging the struggling ponies into 1t
protection, and burrowed thenselve
there, the clouds of sand skurryin,
over them so thick as to obscure tn
sky, and rapidly burying them alto
gether as though in a grave. Within
an hour they were compelled to dil
themselves out, yet 1t proved partia
escape from the pit!lesa lashing. Tn
wind hoWied like Embossed demon:
and the air grew cold, adding to tn
sting of the grit, when some sudde
eddy hurled 1t into their hiding place
70 endeaVor further travel won!
mean certain death. for no n coul
have guided a course for a hundre
feet through the tempest. which seen
ed TO suck the very breath away. T
the fugitives came this comfort;