The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-11-23

toward the Salt Fork, as this course
would AFFORD them a camp at the only
water-hole in all that wide desert ly.
ing between. With this certainty OF
water, they ventured to press theif
animals to swifter pace. although the
sand made travelling heavy, and the
trail itself was scarcely discernfbls
1t was a hard, wearisome ride, hour
after hour through the same dull.
dreary landscape of desolatlon. the
hot, remorseless sun beating down
upon them. rejecting up into their
blistered faces from the hot surface OF
sand There was scarcely breath OF
air, and the bodies OF men aud horses
were bathed In perspiration. Not q
cloud hung In the blue sky; no wing
of a bird broke the monotony OF dis.
lance. no living animal crept across
the blazing surface Of the desert. 90
casionally distant mirage attracted
the eye, making the dead reality even
more horrible By its semblance to va
ter, yet never tempting them to stray
aside. After the first mile converse
ton ceased, the men riding grimly,
silently forward, intont only on Gov
ering all the distance possible. Late
that night they camped at the water
mole, sleeping as best they could
scourged by the chill wind which
swept over them and dashed 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 shutdown, gray
with sand dust their faces streaked
from perspiration, feeling as though
the sun rays had burned their brains,
with horses fairly Keeling under them.
According to Keith's calculation this
cattleford 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 coDdition. and the travelling
was easier along the bank of khe
Fork. With this in mind, cinches were
loosened the animals turned out to
Craze, and the men, snatching a hasty
bite, flung themselves YEARLY on the
ground
All but Fairbaln were asleep when
Keith aroused them once more. little
before nine, unable In his Impotence
to brook longer delay. Within ten min
utes horses were saddled, weapons
I0nkaA 10 Full r.,
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-
fng they had reached the end of the
route Hands instinctively loosened
revolvers in readiness for action, the
younger Of the Bar X" men whistling
softly In an effort to appear uncon
cerned. Keith, with a gesture, gather
- them more closely about him.
IF Hawley is here himself" he said
quietly, watching their faces In the
starlight "he will certainly have a
guard set, and there may be one any
he,a We can't afford IN take chances
for there will be five men, at least, on
the island, and possibly several more
If they are looking for trouble they
will naturally expect 1t to come from
the north-consequently we'll make
our attack from the opposite direction
and creep In on them under the shat
ow of the corral. The first thing