Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-01-07

forces of Lexington were turned In
ward to sustain life itself.
''Is that that / hear thunder?"
Maybe the pulse in your own ears"
answered March.
They staggered up 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 intersecting
lines In the sand. To Con, as he
sprawled near his friend, Ii was like
forcing the solar system back into
place. West and north were again es-
tablished, alm"rt 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 n
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.
1t 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 red 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,
a Ii Ing creature appeared. resembling
somewhat man.
Now others of the SAME species
emerged and stood on a 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 lii> those pictured upon
the ancient walls OF Assyria. Their
canes or slaves proved to be imple-
ments resembling garden hoes. The
f,I, ..t- 81 .lrgf
ed up to the Americans. But this was
drowned in the slow thunder of Cons
temples.
Gave menY' muttered Lexington.
"witches' children"
Aren't they solid? Have my eyes
gone out1"
March did not hear. for he simply
whispered to himself. "What world /"
A dromedary was coming across
from the further hills. Leisurely 1t
followed a slanting 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 1t ap-
peared. The camel-driver was another
of the crooked dwarfs. When the
baskets were full, he led the animal
down by the same path. starting across
the valley toward the opposite barrier
of sand
The little men who had come out of
the hill began to disappear. Their
bare bodies were like rough nuggets of
copper. Levington's eyes twitched, and
he brushed hand across his face.
He wanted to laugh and fling himself
down hill. He would ask them for
water. For nm instant he hated An
drew March for being afraid and an
instant later realized this feeling was
merely his own deep-stlrrlng fear. He
swallowed thickly. A tear stood In
one eye. making humorous the pain In
his heart.
Didn't know. l had 1t in me-" he
said, grlnning.
March did not see the tear He had
grown pale beneath the CRIME.
"Oh, Godl" he mumbled, this isn't
what we came forl'
Suppose we'd better not ask them
for n drink" said Con. "we1l go on
and hunt for 1t, because 1t must grow
natural somewhere around here Shall
we follow the dromedary?"
The little men had gone In. Dust
rose like smoke from the open shaft.
The laden beast was etching his way
across the valley. March had reused
from his apathy. He looked at Con.
who asked:
Can you make it-down hillr'
Boy" said March steadily, you've
got tungsten nervous system"
Commanding their scant energies.
the white men made final play for
life, and walked along the crest of the
ridge, to keep the animal in view with