Page:Weird Tales v01n04 (1923-06).djvu/20

 'A Fanciful Novel of the Red Desert Complete In This Issue'



OR A LONG MOMENT the man surveyed with tired eyes the queer cleft in the canon wall and the beaten trail that led into it.

Finally he addressed the nearest of his two burros in a listless, half humorous voice:

"Well, Archibald, it looks interesting—what say we try it?"

Archibald made no reply. Archibald was asleep. Immediately upon the halting of the little cavalcade the burro had sunk into a state of dejection more apathetic than usual and had promptly gone to sleep. In fact, it is doubtful if Archibald had not been asleep the greater part of the afternoon.

"You don't care, eh, Archibald? Well, for that matter, neither do I. But let's consider this matter, old timer. For the last hundred years, more or less, we've been strolling around this accursed desert, and we have made the acquaintance of a few cottontail rabbits, one or two coyotes, and a rattlesnake. The rabbits showed their distaste for our society by running away; the coyotes did noth-