Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders on the Great American Desert

awakened next morning. The guide had been up since daybreak fetching "bitt

Elfreda. "This loo

n bath day," ag

eft after this journey," added Nora Wingate. "I

t awake or eating," declared Emma ambi

that time," chuckled Hip

's why they put erasers on lead

r, after which he relapsed into silence, whi

," urged Grace. "We ha

eir tents, and this time they ate without com

range where they first camped had disappeared in the distance and they were alone in the burning silence. Ahead, here an

-day, Hi?" questione

," was the brief, bu

the ponies, turning each one over to its rider as it was made ready; then the start was made. Hippy Wingate, the girls observed, held a small package u

lly to Emma, if one were to judge by her bitter complaints. Emma declared that she never coul

rantulas now and then hopped from the path of the ponies, and the "side-winder"-the deadly horned rattlesnake, which gets its name from

en buttes. Grace asked if it would not be possible to find a resting place

up there," he rep

-r!" shiv

es and burros, but there was only a small quantity left for each animal, not more th

er eyes observing the operation. The girls gasped when he threw the wrapping paper

ladies find you are being overcome by the desert heat, you ar

iderate. We thank

!" rebuk

e observed, appeared always to be in a listening attitude, as if he were expecting something or some one. Grace asked

, breaking in crusts of alkali, putting an ear to the ground to listen for the murmur of an underground strea

ced. "There ought to be a tank

ng spot was reached, and the guide and Hippy began to dig for

d get enough for their ponies. There was but little water left in the canteens, none at all

" warned the guide. "Be caref

girls assisting in the operation, and the supply was getting alarmingly low when Grace, r

rl wondered if it was a wind-squall, such as she had heard was quite common on the desert. Aft

s," said Elfreda, ste

u thin

ow it

swered Grace. "I suppose it is some party

who was standing over the hole

rsemen coming

's right, Hi," said

unch of them, to

im of the water hole and he gazed sea

im on the water." Hi returned to his work and Hippy resumed passing water to the gi

an awful lot of dust, it seems

us," answered Anne. "I have swallowed abo

ad swallowed a lot of dust-so much of it that a good

laything of the winds in t

e no heed. He wished to get all the water out of the tank that he possibly could before

They were not a prepossessing looking lot, and the eight men of the p

he one who appeare

li beverage on hand this evening." Hippy handed up a partially filled bu

buckets now," a

?" demanded Hi, straightening up an

question of you. Who's them

business who they or w

te st

ng for trouble?!" deman

ket to me!" co

rider. Then, quick as a flash he emptied the

her right hand above her head, a signal that Emma, Anne and Nora understood. It was the Overland

sert rider was violently yanked from his saddle and stood on his head in the sand. So quick had Lieu

ary eye on the progress of affairs above. He did not think best to take a hand until hostilities actually began, knowing

tt of his revolver. At the same time Hi observed something else in the opposite direction. Grace Harlow

the tenseness of the moment, Hi Lang found himself keenl

aging. Hippy Wingate, now close to the man, push

ath he added in a savage tone: "Keep your hand away from that gun!" emphasizing his c

y saw their leader turn his back on Hippy. They did not know that he was doing this in obedience to Lieutenant Wingate's order, nor that the leader's rev

aid Hippy, incisively. "I've changed

the goal, he kicked the desert leader into the water hole. Hi Lang was not so considerate. As the fellow scrambl

wo parties of desert tra