Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-04-10
MIDNIGHT WALK,
Written for the TRIBUNE.

to an extent alost unlimited, in Il
. very heart Of the Rocky Mountain
J last summer. Both of US were for
of Diana's sylvan sport as we'll az al
ject devotees to the creed and ereel
good old Isaac Walton. The doctt
considered himself first rate natu
alist, while I was equally proud {
my botanical abilities. ] was at th;
time particularly in search Of all kind
medicinal plants, and kept my weathe
eye open for plants not known to th
medical world, but which had bee
found of value by the Indians, miner
and travellers Up to the time M
story commences [ had had great sue
cess and had discovered quito a mum
Der of specimens entirely new t;
science. Among the many medica
herbs I had found was one of peculia
interest, inasmuch that the plant az
a whole had peculiar and odd ap
pearance and possessed marvelou:
curative properties. Its leave:
were thlck, green and pointed at bott
ends Ihey were sparngly covered
upon the upper surface with rather
coarse halrs, and at the base of each
halr was a gland from which little
resin dot exuded. These leaves upon
beng che"ed gave at first spicy,
aromatic flavor, but afterwards prov
ed to be acrld and bitter, parching the
mouth and throat unmerclfulIy. The
plant evidently contained strong aka
lold5 and other powerful agents.
Upon applying t1ia te4#cs either c!3tesv
ed OF oitilSs'G It 2s1t EFo":.d 9F"n:
which tlis otoofi zis"S.1t, - mates.
40" i1ee!., 52a juice #f .t.a i@#s ~
seemed to stop the iio# u 2lus}st IL
most immediately At tirst the effect
they produced was smartlng, burning
sensation but soon followed by cool
ana soothing 1eei1ng IN the injured
parts. Well, one day we struck camp,
packing everything on our pack ami
mals' and securing all by carefully
adjusted diamond hitch, we JourneEed
sun 1aftiler INTO the silent solltudes
OF those mighty mountains. We
travelled all day, tolllng wearlly over
"lhd1alls ana rough masses OF rock,
ever ana anon fordlng TINS mountain
torrent OF that' until at last night
overlook US at the base OF a towering
preclplce. Inc WIND sighed sadly IN
the Tree tops overhead, the night
plrds came forth, adding their dismal
notes TO the desert ar, and the little
at our 1eet loaned, splashed
and eddled IN 1mplsh fantasy, ever
Keeping up Its Wlerd murner, while
the moon half hid by the rifted clouds
looked down upon the scene with a
wlstful' p'tylng eye. Our pitch pine
camp fre brightly blazed, casting a
lurld glow upon the surrounding veg
citation. My companion was inclined
TO De merry as he smoked his pipe by
the warm rays OF the fire, but [ was
silent An lnexpressable solemnity
srept into my heart. | felt as if some
hing was happening or about to hap
oen. At last Woodward turned in
and was soon IN the land of dreams.
STILL l sat by the fire, deeply ponder
ng. Presently | arose and wandered
away, thinking OF many things con-
lected with my past. Here was I, in
he bosom OF the wilderness, where
laught but nature reigned supreme,
linking ofsthe many dear ones left
'ehlnd IN the heart of civilization.
y hat were they doing now? Did
hey ever think of me? Did they
nlss me? just at that moment [ en-
cred grove OF stately pines (Pinus
'onderosa); their thick trunks stand
ng rigid and erect like the grim SEN
lnels we read of in stories of the days
chlvalry. Or like monster pillars ,
Importing the dome of some vast .
smple, and truly they might be SO '.
onsidered. for on that nart;o,1.r t
:.,. ~ W 'na, p'f.lc''iar {