Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-10-24
THE OVERLAND TRAIL

IL AAAAaAAANO AAAAAAAA
In the summer of 1873 / was 30 years
Of age-in perfect health and Of steady
nerve. | was no believer in the uncanny
hardly in the supernatural-and had
always ~poohpoohed at tales of ghosts,
phantOms and visions Of all sorts.
1t is unnecessary to explain how came
to be travelling in the far west without
companions, except for horse and dog
and gun. Following the general route
of the old overland trail, | camped one
night in the edge OF a considerable forest,
and at a point from which 1 could look
forth over a broad, open plain.
1t was already after shutdown. The
good horse was picketed. and having pro-
vided II supper for myself and dog from
a rabbit which my gun had brought
down n hour or two earlier, | disposed
things for the night. and as the stars
came out, lay down to sleep. comfortably
rolled in a blanket.
1t was probably in the small hours of
the night that ! awoke and arose to a sit
ting posture. The moon was climbing
the eastern sky, with not a feather Of
cloud in her course, and every object
stood forth rs clearly as in the day.
But it was not for me to contemplate
in quietude the rare beauty Of the night
In almost the first moment of conscious
ness my eyes fell upon Il slowly moving
object in the distance. 1t was one Of
those canvas covered wagons.t the prairie
s%chooners" so familiar in the early days
of overland travel to California.
It was approaching almost directly to-
ward me, and my curiosity was at once
aroused Why any one should be travel
ing thus. and so late at night, could not
imagine. The movement was heavy. as
if the horses were iaded. and the man
who walked by their side had a weary
step.
Twenty minutes passed. the vehicle
approaching nearer and nearer. Still ON
it came, until when about thirty yards
from me it suddenly stopped, and the
man, looking about. seemed to be con-
sidering the wisdom of making camp.
At this point | suddenly realized that
the approach of the wagon had been
utterly uoiseless. What could this mean?
Was | dreaming? No, | was never more
awake. Was this Authorization? No;
for the dog. who had been aroused by
my movement in awakening, now turned
his head in the direction of the new AZ
rival and uttered a low growl. laid
my hand on him to keep him quiet.
The man now stood by the forward
wheel, looking in at the opening Of the
canvas top. and, though | heard nc voice,
l imagined that he was speaking to some
one within. a womRn's head appeared,
and, after "A glance around, gave a nod
of assent. and the "a proceeded to I'M
harness the horses and turn them loose
to Craze. Then after a moment. in
which he seemed to be anxiously sur
veying the trail over which they had
come, he helped the woman to alight.
And now their movements greatly
puzzled me. Walking to and fro, they
seemed to be searching for SOM par
ticular spot Of ground. Finally the wo
man pointed to Il space between twC
young trees, and the man, after looking
ut it for Il moment. went to the rear enc
of the wagon and brought forth a spade
With the edge of this implement he
marked of a rectangular space abou.
Eve feet by two. and began to dig. Al
this. let it be remembered. was in abso
lutte silence,
By this time my curiosity had turned
to marvel. Here was a contradiction o.
common sensel could not believe tina
what l saw was real; these beings mus
be apparitions. And yet here bymy sid'
was the dog, rs alert as |, and trembling
with an impulse TO investigate. while
1hadfonk D., utv hood "a racfrofp4
The digging proceeded, and, the sol
being soft. some five feet Of depth wa
soon reached, and then the man threw
out the spade upon the ground. Tit
woman. meanwhile. had been pluckinl
branches OF evergreen bringing them il
armfuls and throwing them beside-'thI
grave" | thought. And now, with tn
utmost care and patience. the whole cav
ity was lined with these sprigs Of ever
green held in place by twigs thrust int,
the backs on either side.
This done, the man spTang out. Thu
two surveyed their work for a moment
and then, after gazing once more, as i
in anxiety, over the route by which the!
had come, they approached the wagon
Having rolled up the canvas on one side
they lifted ont u small mattress, deposit
ing it upon q blanket which they haC
spread upon the ground.
This mattress was not without its bur
den. The beams Of the full moon enables
me TO see there a slight form-that of
little girl who had scarcely lived on
three years. The pretty white hand
were folded over the breast. Long colder
curls fell on either side upon the pillow
The face, which / could see with aston
ishing cleaTness, was wonderfully bean
nful la lbs aspect of innocence and Dor
"A hlelse smile, as If ID answer TO the IA
diaut queen Of the sly, who seemed 3