The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-01-05

TO the Bar X ON the Canadian.
I've worked with that outfit They'll
give US whatever we need, and ask
no questions; don't know of anything
In between. It's going to be 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. Come
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 desolation before.
but had never been called upon to
make such 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 out OF the path Of ralding
parties, while this desert country was
Stunned by Indian hunters. 1t CON
sisted OF sand hill after sand hill,
drear waterless waste, where nothing
grew, and mid the dread sameness of
which 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 barren
sky.
They had covered ten miles OF 1t by
dnybreak, their ponies travelling heavi-
ly, fetlock deep, but could advance no
further. With the first tint of rose in
the east the brooding storm burst
upon them in wild desert fury, the
fierce wind buffeting them back, lash
Ing their faces with sharp grit until
they We're unable to bear the pain.
The flying sand smote them In clouds,
driven with the speed OF bullets. In
vain they lay fat urging their ponies
forward the beasts, maddened and
blinded by the merciess lashing 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 a
sand dune. and called upon Neb to
follow him. With their hands and feet
they made a slight wind-break, drag
ging the struggling ponies into its
protection, and burrowed themselves
there, the clouds OF sand skurrying
over them so thick as to obscure the
sky, and rapidly burying them alto
sether as though In a grave Within
an hour they were compelled to dig
themselves out. yet It proved partial
escape from the pitiless lashing. The
wind howled like unloosed demons,
and the air grew cold, adding to the
sting OF the grit, when some sudden
eddy hurled 1t into their hiding place.
To endeavor further travel would
mean certain death, for no one coulo |
have guided a course for hundred |
feet through the tempest, which seem.
ed to suck the very breath away. To
the fugitives came this comfort-if
they could not advance, then no one
else could follow, and the storm was
completely blotting out their trail.
It was three O'Clock before 1t died
sufficiently down for them to venture
out Even then the air remained fun
IF sand, while constantly shifting
ridges made travel difficult. Only
grim necessity-the suffering of the
ponies for water, and their own need
.or soon reaching the habitation of
nan and acquiring food-droye them
o the early venture They must at
ain the valley of the Salt Fork that
light, or else perish in the desert
here remained no other choice. ny
ng neckerchiefs over their horses
yves, and lying fat themselves, they
ucceeded in pressing slowly forward,
Winding in and out among the shift
ms dunes, with only the wind to guide
hem. 1t was an awful trail, the hoofs
linking deep in drifting sand, the
ponies becoming so ex.
austed that their riders finally dis
lounted, and staggered forward on
Dot leading them stumbling blindly
fter Once the negros horse
ropped, and had to be dashed to its
eet again; once Keiths pony stun
led and foil nm him hurlinv hin, fooa
own into the sand, and he would
ave died there, lacking sufficient
trength to lift the dead weight, but
,r Nebs assistance. As II was he
'ent staggering blindly forward.
rulsed and faint from hunger and
Itigue. Neither man spoke; they had
D breath nor energy left to waste;
'ery ounce OF strength needed to be {
for the battle against ma I
ire, They were fighting for life;
ghting grimly. almost hopelessly, and r
one. .a r
About them night finally closed in, h
ack and starless, yet fortunately '
it'll a gradual dying away OF the I
orm, For an hour past they had S
en struggling on, doubling their d. {
etlon, wondering dully.if they were y
It lost and merely drifting about in I
circle. Thet had debated this s
rcely once, the ponies standing de- t.
otedly, tails to the storm, Neb argu- o
z that the wind stu blew from the s.
Nth, and Keith contending It had Il