Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-03-28


wheels?"
'I'm not saying"
Their path touched another, smaller
ruin, more deeply sunken. One of the
great blocks of stone remained on top,
unbroken. This ancient city had been
builded upon a river, for the course or
it was still outlined between erosions.
A gray skull. retaining all its teeth,
was perched upon point of rock, and
the dusty sockets stared forever east
ward. Andrew March regarded 1t
thoughtfully.
"This Mongol was q good boy, but
he's a modern compared to the rest OK
this"
ST said we weren't always alone"
Only a few stones were here In
view, and a river-bed long dry; yet
Con peered about uncertainty. Old
violence lurked in the sunshine.
The sand was changing in tint as
they rode westward, and to the north,
showing patches Of rust color. Small
cliffs raised above the shadows, their
strata bronze and flaky blue.
Through long days they traced out
the route indicated upon the map
The moon diminished and darkened
again, and still they were able to cross
off the angles of the parchment only
bit at a time.
On certain evenings the northern
horizon seemed to shift and crawl.
Far flying shapes peopled the hills ON
the worlds rim. Smaller presenceS,
too, darted away from the watch-ire,
like shadowy butterflies. Con never
quite saw these things. They always
moved just out of range of vision, and
he could never turn sharply enough.
They were like the nimble hands OK
old Chinese Bill.
"Why are you staring at meT ne
asked of March.
"What do you see?" countered the
other
Nothing" said Con.
That's what / thought" laughed
March.
But his laughter was empty, and 1T
seemed oddly to be caught up by the
breathing of the camels, and then toss
ed out overhead.
81 suppose that rushing cloud Off
there is the dust" said Lexington af-
ter a while.
mo doubt" replied March, 'but !
don't see it,"
In the fifth week they found water,
little greasy marsh. Thus far there
had not been one glimpse of Chez
Ming, and there were no signs here.
Eight more days westward, some
times to the north, and they reached
spring of clear water. The beasts
cried and sucked and trembled. Other
camels had been here before them, re-
Gently: their marks we're in the mud
If the map had been gagged properly,
Con perceived that they were nearing
the end.
A starving wolf sided in toward
the water-hole. He had never learned'
fear. He stalked the led camels and
lazily found his position to leap, when
they shot him. The camels were liz
frenzy.
Beyond, there were no more ruins
above the surface. The sky belonged
to another world. These plains and
ridges of red sand were the husks Of
the planet. Levington's eyes ached
with the distances in the glare of day
sun. Two of the camels were killed,
to provide suStenance for the others,
and the two men shared with the
beasts.
Now the high winds came in bruis-
ing torrent. as if the elements had
turned enemy, and this was their
threat. The beasts gave up, and were
driven into q roaring gully where the
blast was broken somewhat. 1t whined
and rushed overhead and began to-
bury them with sand.
In this choking confusion the cap"
ture came quickly-a brief affair in
which the white men were too late
with their guns. Riders were down
/ upon them, an avalanche of ferOcity.
The storm had obscured their coming.
On horses demoniac and primal they
had sped down through the sandstOrm
as if it were an April rain. These
were monster men With silvery eyes.
Their boards were hanging mats of
sand, their mouths caked with dust.
Close-ftting leather helmets enlarged
their heads.
Leather thongs whipped out and
circled Cons arms, and he was help
less. In a moment strong hands were
undressing the white men. The
frightened camels were being driven
away. The strangers worked in
nervous heat, chanting song or prayer,
their voices mingling with the savage
wind. Everything was taken from the
prisoners, and dagger points were sent
ripping through their garments.
March was shouting, pleading with
rich offers, but he received no reply
only his ruined clothing. Then the re-
mainder of the party leaped and spur
red their hairy beasts up the slope.
The showering sand hid them again.
Levington's face and shoulders were
numb with the pelting of little stones.
n mac oil 6nichod in q YnOmpnt