The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-11-13


cat couldn't fiEd anything there but
there's firm sand. Wait minute !;
I've got a pocket compass"
He struck a match Sheltering the
suffering blaze with one hand. The
light illumined his face for an in
slant, and then went out, leaving the
night blacker than before.
That's SOUTH" he announced, snap
ping the compass case shut, "and this
blame wind Is southeast that ought to
keep us fairly straight"
THE ponies will do that; they'll
keep where the travelling is good. Shift
this bag back Of your saddle, Dan. You
ride lighter, and my horse is begin
ming to pant already; that will ease
him few pounds"
The transfer was made, and the two
men rode out into the rear desert,
| urging their animals forward, trust
! ing largely TO their natural instinct
| for guidance. They would follow the
hard sand, and before long the scent
! of water would as certainly lead them
directly toward the spring.
Yet it was not long until dawn be
gan to turn the desert gray gradually
revealing its forlOrn desolation. West
colt lifted his head, and gazed about
with wearied eyes, smarting still from
the whipping of the sand-grit. On
every side stretched away a scene of
utter desolation, unrelieved by either
I t-I,,,, t1xv
ocean of sand, in places leveled by the
wind, and elsewhere piled into fan
| tastic heaps. The breeze slackened
somewhat as the sun redeemed the
east, and the ponies threw up their
heads and whinnied slightly, increas
ing their speed. Westcott saw the
marshal arouse himself straighten in
the saddle, and stare about, his eyes
still dull and heavy.
zone HI of view, jim" he said
dlsgustedly, but | reckon we can't be
great ways from that spring. We've
been ridin' right smart"
ITS not far ahead; the ponies sniff
water All! there's a bunch o. green
ahead; that1l likely be Badger
springs"
Assured they were beyond pursuit,
the two unsaddled and turned the
ponies out to crop the few handfuls
of wire grass which the sweet water
bubbling up from slight depression
had coaxed into stunted growth. There
was no wood to be had. although they
found evidence Of several camp-fires,
and consequently they We're obliged to
content themselves with what they
could find eatable in their bag. Except
for a few sentences neither spoke, I'M
til Brennan, having partially satisfied
his appetite, produced the note given
him by Miss La Rue, and deliberately
slashed open the sealed envelope.
"In the name of the law" he said
grimly, hauling out the Enclosure
"Now we'll see what's the row. Holy
smoke it's in Spanish Here, Jim, do
you read that lingo?" a
81 know words here and there" and
Westcott bent over the paper, his
brows wrinkling. Lets see; it's not
quite clear, but the sense is that Men
dez will be paid thousand dollars for
something-I can't make out what,
only it has to do with prisoners. Lacy
says he'll be there to confer with him
some time tonight"
Lacy write itf
''Yes; at least he signed IT.
well, If Lacy aims to meet Mendez
tonight, he ought to be along here
soon after nightfall. How'd it do to
hide in these sand hills and waltz
I'VE can do that, Dan. If we don't |
hit any TRAIL" said Westcott, leaning
over, his hand on the others knee |
but If we can get there earlier, I'd
rather not waste time. There's no
knowing what devil like Mendez may
do. Let's take scout around, any
how"
They started, the one going east, the |
other west, and made a semicircle I'M
til they met, hundred yards or so, |
south of the spring, having found moth |
ing. Again they circled out, blowing |
their way through the sand, and all at
once Brennan lifted his hand into the |
air and called. Westcott hurried over |
TO where he stood motionless, staring |
down at the track of wagon wheel. |
IT had slid along a slight declivity, and /
left mark 50 deep as not yet to be |
obiterated. They traced it for thirty |
feet before it entirely disappeared.
"Still goin' SOUTH affirmed the mar
shall, gazing in that direction. Don't |
look like there's nothin' out there, but |
we might try. Let's saddle up"
1t was blind trail, and progress |
was slow. The men separated, riding |
back and forth, leaning forward in the |
saddles, scanning the sand for the
slightest sign. Twice they encoun-
tered an undoubted wheel mark, and |
once traces of the whole four wheels |
were plainly visible. These could be |
followed easily for nearly quarter of |
mile, but then as quickly vanished as |
the wagon came again to an Outcrop- |
ping of rock. Yet this was assured |
the outfit had headed steadily south |
ward.
This was desperately slow work, and |
beyond that ridge of rock they discov-
cred no other evidence. An hour
passed, and not the slightest sign gave |
encouragement. Could the wagon have |
tnrpod in some othpr 6irantinnc Tn |