Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-08-31

black and starless, yet fortunately
with gradual dying away OF the
storm. For an hour past they had
been struggling Oh, doubling their di-
rectfeu. wondering duly II they were
not lost and merely drifting about In
a circle. They had debated this
fierceIy once, the ponies standing de-
jectedly, tails to the storm. Neb argu.
ing that the wind still blew from the
south, and Keith contending Il had
shifted into the westward. The white
man won his way, and they staggered
on uncertain. the negro grasping the
first pony,s tail to keep from being
separated from his companion. Some
instinct of the plains must have guild
ed them, for at last they dragged
themselves out from the desert, the
crunching sand under foot changing
into rock. and then to short brittle
grass, at which the ponies nibbled Gag.
erly. The slope led gradually down
ward, the animals seeming water. and
struggling to break away. Swaying
In their saddles. the riders let them
go, and they never stopped until belly
deep In the stream, their noses buried,
The men shivered in their saddles,
until, at last satisfied. the ponies con-
scented to be forced back up the bank,
where they nibbIed at the short tufts
of heritage. but In manner express
sive Of WEAKNESS, Keith flung him
self on the ground, every muscle Of
his body aching. his exposed flesh still
smarting from the hail of sand.
He had not the slightest conception
as to where they were, except he
knew this must be the Salt Fork. Ut
terly confused by the maze of shifting
dunes. through whose intricacies they
had somehow found passage, the black
ness Of the night yielded no clue as to
their point OF emergence. The vol
ume OF water In the stream alone
suggested that In their wanderings
they must have drifted to the east
ward. and come out much lower down
than had been originally Intended. II
so, then they might be almost directly
south Of Carson City. and In section
with which he was totally unacquaint-
eo. one lnlng was, however, certain
-tney would be compelled to wait for
daylight to ascertain the truth. and
decide upon their future movements.
Keith arose reluctantly. and remoy-
ed the saddles from the animals, hob
bling them SO they could Craze at
will Neb was propped up beneath an
out-cropping Of the bank. which partly
protected him from the wind, mere
hulk Of shadow. Keith could not
tell whether he slept or not, but made
no effort to disturb him. A moment
he stared vacantly about into the
black silence. and then lay down. pill
lowing his head upon saddle. He
found 1t impossible to sleep. the chill
of the wind causing him to turn and
twist, IN vain search after comfort.
while unappeased hunger gnawed IN.
cessanlly- HIS eyes ranged about over
me dull gloom q the SKIES until tney
teil So ~ ealen a..u sasn
- sauy q. ~, n1la Deaaes.ne n.s...
90, e. :. : - - - - e 49,.
.laaaaa !. as s9u'u naI, NJ a 1,sht =
seaea asas sesaa ~ semis az ns ~. -
= a;naS ata.;anon,, e,,,po, = - sta.
could be SO low and large.Snor did he
recall any with that popularity OF
color. II such miracle was possible
in the heart of that sandy desert he
would have sworn it was lamp shin
ing through a window. But he had
never heard of any settler on the Salt
Fork. and almost laughed at the
Thought. believing for the instant his
brain played him some elfish trick.
Yet that light was no Illusion: he rub
he'd his ewes. only to see itsnore clear-S