Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-04-04
CHAPTER vi
reSpasS.

This shred of a chance, half humOr-
Gus, was deep-set in anger and loss.
Sand was a rasp to their bodies, and
the slashed clothing gave scant protec-
ton Already, in imagination, Con was
in need of a drink. The thought of
brandy was horror now, and the idea
of clear, cool water like a knife in the
throat. Andrew March sat down and
studied the bottom of his foot.
"How much do you think" Con H.
Quired, Sin miles?"
ooh, not so very far. If we only
had one camel"
"Yes-One with milk in her."
Don't talk like that!" said the elder
man, sharply.
The subject of drinkables was thus
dismissed by the veteran, and Con
bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Late in the day the sand-stOrm pass
ed, and the air cleared. They went up
along the vanes of sand, fresh drifted,
out Of the gully, to gaze at large upon
their world-a prison as vast as the
horizon circle.
1.-THE white race could wander in
here and get lost" said Andrew
March.
Lets not talk about getting lost,
either" said Lexington.
1t was the elder mans turn to nod
agreement.
The country was fantastic in forma-
ton and color, reddish hills running
in rows ahead, like the spine OF a
world monster showing through. Al
intervals were cuts, showing the deep
err layers of rocky blue and blood-color.
Not so much as a dead twig anywhere
or a bird. The skyline was notched
with tilted rocks. Lexington could
not help wondering how soon he would
wither and dry up, to bleach Desloe
some colOrful boulder.
Pain was gripping him. 1t was
neither grief nor illness, but the cur
rent of life, deeper than many are
called to feel. He met it silently, WIN
a fortftude that perhaps his mother
and father before him helped to inte-
CRATE. Death had small part in thls
bitterness. It was matter OF me-
Help me to keep sane,' he said TO
March.
THAT is mutual" said his FRIEND.
s'But you are not in any danger
watched YOU a long while before
choosing you for this task. You are
not a materialist, and only materlailsts
go insane"
eyes, I suppose all the others are
born with a touch of some kind.
$50 I've heard" replied March,
They walked through the sanu;
Sometimes their feet sank deep anu
threw them backward, but perhaps til9
next step would find smooth ana Sollu
rock Progress was a rack of physical
strain. and pitifully slow. Inc hlils
ahead. SO hard to reach, were on "
diagonal across their route. IL stai,
fled Lexington to find that this dlagonai
straightened out every hundred pae1e'
This was simply the effect Oh Ie
landscape upon their eyes. me MS
were distinctly misleading, having
tendency to defect the course 'ia'
should lie at an angle over tneA.'
WIFI ont strict attention to their silau-
,ows the two pedestrians must GER
tainly have wandered off into san lts
oblivion. The perennial hanos VI ~
ages had wrought cunningly 10 cur
fuse. 4hosa
"Our path should lead across 'n no;d
hio lnmns to the southwest" salu
March. e cxroxv-
They suffered the illusion OIL st1m
ino smaller. since there was nothlns
onygbora 70 renew familiar assocla-
lions and comparisons. - nod
Night drew down before they r mau
made any noticeable progress. Con
bod nillow of proper shape, restIul
to the eve in its imitation, aitaous nous
+ was solid rock. A dull SUBSTITUTE