The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-02-16

In their saddles, the riders let them go, and they never stopped until belly deep in the stream, their noses buried The men sh1vered in their saddles, until, at last satisfied, the ponies con sented to be forced back up the bank, where they nibbIed at the short tufts of herbage, but in a manner expres- sive of weariness. Keith flung him his body aching, his exposed flesh still smarting from the hail of sand through which they had passed.
 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 drtfted to the east ward, and come out much lower down than had been originally intended. If so, then they might be almost directly south of Carson City, and in a section with which he was totally unacquaint- ed. One thing was, however, certain they would be compelled to wait for daylight to ascertain the truth, and decide upon their future movements. There was another barren. sandy stretch of desolation lying between this isolated valley and that of the Canadian. and their horses would never stand to be pushed forward without both rest and food. As to themselves-they had eaten their last crumb long since, but this was not the first time both had known starva- tion
 Keith arose reluctantly, and remov- ed the saddles from the animals, hob bling them so they could graze at will. Neb was propped up beneath an out-cropping of the bank. which partly protected him from the wind, mere hulk of a 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 a saddle. He found 1t impossible to sleep, the chill l of the wind causing him to turn and twist, in vain search after comfort, while unappeased hunger gnawed in- cessantly. His eyes ranged about over | the dull gloom of the skies until they fell again to the earth level, and then he suddenly sat up, half believing him. self in dream-down the stream, how far away he could not judge, there gleamed a steady, yellowish light. It was no flicker of a camp fire, yet re- mained stationary. Surely no star could be so low and large; nor did he recall any with that peculiarity of color. If such a 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 l brain played him some zelf1sh trick. Yet that light was no illusion; he rub bed his eyes, only to see 1t more clear 1y, convinced now of its reality. He strode hastily across, and shook Neb into semi-consciousness, dragging him bodily up the bank and pointing down the stream.
 Do you see that?" he inquired anx- iously. There, straight ahead of you?"
 The negro stared, shaking with cold, and scarcely able to stand alone.
 Maybe 1t am de moon, Massa Jack, he muttered, thickly, "or a goblin s lantern Lawd, I don't jest like de looks ob dat ting"
 Well, do," and Keith laughed un- easily at the negro's fears. "An wanted to know was if you saw what I saw That's a lamp shining through a window, Neb. What in heaven E name it can be doing here I am un able to guess, but I'm going to find out It means shelter and food, boy, even ii we have to fight for 1t. Come on, the horses are safe, and we'll discover what Is behind that light yonder."