Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-11

each movement of his fish as il nibbles at the
tempting bait. while either one becoming tired
can find delightful bath of warm water
already prepared and inviting him to a plunge.
Scarcely had We sought our blankets for
another reposeful slumber when the discordant
bsrks and walls Of half dozen coyotes broke
the solemn Stiffness and ere the small hours
had given place to the dawn more than one
half robed figures had wandered out to fire his
revolver into the unofending space, trusting in
his blind luck to murder the disturbers OF the
peace. With the next morning comes the
pleasing knowledge that a short drive will land
us on the other side of the desert.
THE END OF THE JOURNEY.
But we find that the short journey refers to
miles, not hours; for the animals are really suf
fering from the combined ill effects of the out
ing, and the afternoon is nearly over when we
pull up before the home of the hospitable
owner OF Willow Spring ranch and have our
eyes and palates gladdened by artesian wells
pouring forth their water, fresh from the melt
ing SHOWS OF the mountains just above. Then.
too, there are trees and grass and cows and
everything, which, after the hardships of the
past three days, seems almost like entering an
Eden. The hospitable matron of the ranch
sends us a hearty welcome (Which Is accom-
panied by pan of creamy. fresh milk and an
invitation to come to dance during the even
ing.
As soon we had supped and shaken off the
dust of our feet we accepted the madams hos
pltable invitation.
Next morning dawned bright and clear. as
do about three hundred other mornings out of
almost every year. so the outlook seems prom
lsing for the finishing up of our journey. We
wave our hostess of the previous night sad
farewell and are soon going up the easy grades
to the last divide which is to cut US OF from
the desert.
TOWERING PEAKS.
Before US towers Mount Ibapah, grand old
peak among group of rivals, whose tops are
still capped with the almost perennial SHOWS
prevented from being so only by the scarcity
of snow falls throughout the year,, for some of
these peaks reach an altitude of over $4,000
feet; not giants compared with other peaks east
and west of it, but magnificent enough when
you sec them rise abruptly from plain whose
altitude is little over 5000 feet. Near the sum-
NIT OF the divide We find another way station
consisting of a round towering wall, of which
the roof has long since disappeared-a queer
little home fortress where the lonely agent
must have passed many weary moment
These stations were built of rock as protection
against Indians, and their walls will long re-
main as monuments to the old days of the Over
land stage route. At last we have gained the
summit of the divide and we pause moment
to get last look at the desert.
1t seems hard to find anything poetic in such
wide waste. especially when the only souvenirs
one has are the sun burns and parched lips,
but Notwithstanding this there is something
fascinating in the contemplation of its grandeur
and something which inspires admiration in it's
| sublime desolation. 1t is great whited sepul-
cher and is peopled only by the ghosts OF the
vanished lake, which hold high carnival over
the ashes OF that great sea now bleaching and
Sllstening in the MONDAY sun. A turn in the
road shuts out the scene and soon we are going
down into the valley of Ibapah, whose ranches
and store have taken unto themselves the name
OF town" An hour or two more and We pull
up before the store and post Office and the end
OF our journey is accomplished. NJ.