The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-12-30

solid and bnslc,--a relation of man %
the earth and sun--where the heats Of
sex are but new zero. All the moist
forces of Lexington were turned in
ward to sustain life itself.
"Is that that hear thunderp
"Maybe the pulse In your own ears"
answered March.
They staggered up n third series Of
hills, which were spread fan-shape In
the midst OF the world. Looking back,
they noted that the first range appear
ed TO have turned partly about since
they passed that way. The sun of
afternoon showed in the wrong quar-
ter OF the sky. March sank to his
knees and began to draw intersectlng
lines In the sand To Con, as he
sprawled near his friend, It was like
forcing the solar system back into
place. West and north were again es-
tablIshed, alm"~t against conviction.
They dragged across the third range,
but the instructive flutter of hope In
their hearts died quickly, when they
saw that had miscalculated. Across a
deeper valley was another monster
bank of dust. another range.
Abruptly Con stopped and pointed
down the slope. Directly below them
something was moving.
Stones were rolling down the hill.
Il was not clear from what point they
started. Perhaps n dragon had bur
rowed into the hill and was kicking
out the earth from his nest. Clods
of req clay went flying down, below
the two watchers. Lexington peered,
forgetting the awful sun. 1t was like
recovery from blindness. to find some
thing In motion In the dead world.
At length, from hole in the hillside,
II ing creature appeared, resembling
somewhat man.
Now others of the SAME species
emerged and stood on sandy ledge,
halfway down the slope. They SEEM
ed like fat, misshapen children, thin
legged, hunched of shoulder, with
heads set close. Their caps were coils
of their own hair. The arms Of all
were dwarfish. They had come out to
take the air after their labors within
the hill. The falling clay had stopped.
More and yet more Of these demi-
humans came out into the sunlight,
until the slope was darkly patched
with their leathern bodies.
March shook his head. Lexington
noted the first sign of fear in the elder
man, who remained silent
From that distance they determined
that the creatures were naked above
| the waist, but that they wore short,
dark skirts liR' those pictured upon
the ancient walls OF Assyria. Their
canes or slaves proved to be imple-
ments resembling garden hoes. The
faint sound OF their conversation drift
| ed up to the Americans. But this was
drowned In the slow thunder OF Cons
temples.
'Cave menY muttered Lexington.
"Witches' children"
"Arent they solld7 Have my eyes
gone out?'
March did not hear, for he simply
whispered to himself, "What world T.
A dromedary was coming across
from the further hills. Leisurely II
followed n slantlng way up to the
cluster of creatures around the pit
on the beast were strapped -four
baskets. Now many hands set about
filling these with pebbles, or so II ap
peared The camel-driver was another
of the crooked dwarfs. When tn,
baskets were full, he led the anima
down by the same path. starting across
the valley toward the opposite barIie
OF sand.
THE little men who had come out a
tho hill began 20 disappear Thei
bnre'b0tiies were like rough nuggets %
copper. Eevlngton's eyes twitched, an,
he brushed hand across his face
he wanted to laugh and fling himsel
. down hill He would ask them 70
water. ,Gor an instant he hated An
drew March for being afraid, and ~
instant later realized this feeling wa
merely his own deep-stirring fear. II
swallowed thlckly. A tear stood Il
one eye, making humorous the pain Il
his heart.
Didn't know had II in me-" h
said, grinnlng. 's"r
March did not see the tear He ha
grown pale beneath the CRIME.
"Oh. Godr he mumbled, "this ism
what we came for"
Suppose we'd better not ask ther
for n drink" said Con. "Well go o
and hunt for II, because II must gro'
natural somewhere around here. Sha
. we follow the dromedaryT'
The little men had gone In. Dus
rose like smoke from the open shat
y The laden beast was etching his wa
e across the valley. March had rouse
r from his apathy. He looked at Coz
e who asked;
: "Can you make it-down hillr
@ "Boy," said March steadily, "you'y
I gotta tungsten nervous system"
d Commanding their scant energie
| the white men made n final play ff