A moment he stared vacantly about into the black silence, and then lay down, pillowing his head upon a saddle.
He found it impossible to sleep, the chill of the wind causing him to turn and twist, in vain search after comfort, while unappeased hunger gnawed incessantly.

His eyes ranged about over the dull gloom of the skies until they fell again to the earth level, and then he suddenly sat up, half believing himself in a dream--down the stream, how far away he could not judge, there gleamed a steady, yellowish light.

It was no flicker of a camp fire, yet remained stationary.

Surely no star could be so low and large; nor did he recall any with that peculiarity of color.
If such a miracle was possible in the heart of that sandy desert he would have sworn it was a lamp shining through a window.

But he had never heard of any settler on the Salt Fork, and almost laughed at the thought, believing for the instant his brain played him some elfish trick.