The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-19
THE WHITE VALLEY

News out of Egyptw said the Hon.
Just Trafford. ''lf this is true. 1t gives a
pretty finish to the season. Yen think it
possible. Pierre? 1t is every mans talk
that there isn't 4 herd OF bufaloes in the
Whole country; but thls-eh?"
Pretty Pierre, the halt-breed, did not
answer He had been watching mans
face for some time; but his eyes were now
idIv following the smoke of his cigarette as
il flOated away TO the ceiling IN fading
circles. lie seemed to take TO interest IN
Trafford's remarks nor In the tale that
Shangi, be Indian, had told them. though
Shangi and his tale were both sufficiently
uncommon to justify attention
Shon McGann was more impTessionable.
His eyes swan; his feet shifted nervOusly
with enjoyment; he glanced frequently at
his gun in the corner OF the nut; he mad
watched TraffoTd's face with some anxiety
and accepted the result of the tale with de-
light Now his look was occupied with
Pierre.
Pierre was pretty good authority in all
matters concerning the prairies and the
north he also had an instinct for detect
ing yeracitv. having practiced on both sides
of the equation. TratfOrd became impatient
and at last the half-bresd, conscious that ne
had tried the temper OF MS chleI SO Iat as
was safe lifted his eyes, and, resting them
casually on the Indian, replied: res,
know the Mace. No, | have not been there,
but was told-ah it was long ago. There
Is a great valley between nils the hImash
INNS. the Hills Of tie Mighty den.
The woods are deep and dark; there
is but one trail through them and It IS
old. On the highest bill is a vast mound.
In that mound are the forefathers OF
nation that is gone. Yes, as you say, they
are dead, and there are none of them alive
in the yalley--which is called the White
Nalley-wheTe the buffalo are. The valley
is green in summer, and the snow Is not
deep in winter; the noses of the buffalo can
find the tender grass. The ludtan speaks
the truth, perhaps. But of the number or
butfalOes one must see. Tie eye or the red
Trafford looked at Pierre closely. "You
seem TO know the place very well 1t IS
long way north wherein yes ycu said you
had never been there; you were told. Who
The halfbreed raised his eyebrows
slightly as he replied: Il remember long
time, and my mother, she spoke much and
sang many songs al the camp-hTeS' Then
he pulled his cigarette SO that the smoke
clouded his face for a moment, and then
went on: 1T think there may be bnffaiOeS."
Its along the barrel of me gun | wish |
was lookin' at thin now said MeGann.
'Eh, you will go?' inquired Pierre Of
Trad0rd.
TO nave a shot at the only herd Of wild
bufaloes on the continent! OF course III
20. I'd 20 10 the North Pole for that.
Sport and novelty / came here to see; buf-
falo-hunting did not expect I'm IN luck
that's all. Wen start tomorrow morning
If We can get ready, and Shangi here viii
lead Us: eh, Pierre
The half-breed again was not polite. In
stead Of replying he sang almost below bis
breath the words Of a song unfamiliar to his
companions, though the Indians eyes
showed a fash OF understanding These
were the words:
They ride away With waking wind away,
with Is1ghing lip ana with jocuad mind a: break Of
A rattle Of hoofs and snatch OF song, they ride.
The piatns are wide and the path IS long so long,
so wide!
Just TraffOrd appeared ready TO deal with
this lnSOlence, Tor the hall-bTeed was after
all a servant Of lis. paid retainer. He
waited, however. ShOn saw the difficulty,
and at once volunteered a reply. 1T
aisy enough in the mUrnin', but it's a Ques-
ton how far we Will be able 10 90 with the
horses. The year is late, but there's dogs
beyand, l suppose. and, bedad, there y
areP'
The Indian spoke slowly: at is far OF.
There is no color yet 10 the leaf Of the larch.
She TiyeT-hen still swims nOTthWarj. 1t IS
good that we 90. There Is much buffalo ia
The White Valley"
Again TaffOrd looked toward his follower.
and again the half breed, as if he were max
ing an effort TO remember, sang abstractv:
They follow, they follow lonely trail, by day by
By distant sum- aud by FREELY pale, and northern
They ride TO the hills Of the Mighty Men. so swift
Where buffalo feed in the winding glen in sun and
"Pierreg' said Traford. sharply, Il want
an answer to my question"
MATS, pardon. [ was thinking-well we
can ride until the deep SHOWS come, then
we can walk, and Saangi lie can get the dogs
maybe, one team Of dogs"
But was the reniy, 4'One team of dOrs
viii not be enough. Wen bring meat and
hides, you know as We'll as pemmicau. We
won't cache any carc3ses up there. What
would be the use? We shall have TO be
back in the Pipi Valley by the spring time"
Nv ell, said tile half-bTeed with a cold
decision, zone team Of dogs VIII be enough,
and we viii not cache. and We shall be back
IN the Pipi Valley before the spring, per-
haDs but this last word was spoken under
bis breath.
And now the Indian spoke, with his deep
voice and dignifed manner: Brother, it is
as 1 have said-the trail is lonely aud the
woods are deep and dark. Since the time
when the world Vas young no white man
hath been there save one, and behold sick
ness tel on him; the grave was his end. Il
rs pleasant land. for the gods have blessed
IL 10 the Indian forever. No heather shall
nossess It. But y0u shall see the White
alley aad the buffalo Shangi viii lead,
because you have been mefciful to him, and
have given him TO sleep in your wigwam
ana to eat Of your wild meat There are
dogs 10 the forest l have spoken"
Ira1ord was Impressed and annoyed,
too. He thought too much sentiment was
being sQuandered on a very practical aud
sportiVe thing. He dislik6d functions.
Speech-making was TO him a matter for
prayer and fasting The Indians address,
therefore, was more or less gratuitOus and
he fastened to remark, Thank you,
Saangi; that's very good, and you've put
Il POLITICALLY. You've turned a shooting ex-
CuTsiOB into medieval romance. But wen
get down 10 business now, If you please,
and make the romance a fact, beautiful
enough to send TO the Times or the New
1ork sun. Let's see. how would they put
i ID the Sun: Extraordinary Discovery
Herd Of Buffaloes Found in the Far North
by an Englishman and his Franc0-Irish
Party - Sport for the G0ds-ExOdus Of
Brules TO White ValIeyp and so Oh,
schreeching to the eDdp'
ShOn laughed heartily. THE fun Of the
world is il the thing" he said. "and day
IL would be for a notch on stick and n TaSp
Of gin in the throat. And If / get the sight
OF my eve on bUfalO-ruck, its down on
me knees II go, and not for pTayin' aithel
And here's both hands up for a start in the
normal"
Long before noon next day they were
well on their way TraffOrd could not
understand why Pierre was so reserved,
ana when speaking SO irOnical. 1t was
noticeable that the half-breed watched the
Indian closely, that he always rode behind
him, that be never drank out OF tue same
cup. The feador set this down 70 the natural
uncertainty Of PieTre's disposition. He had
crown to like Pierre, as the latter had
gone IN course to respect him. Each
was man OF value after his kind. Each
also had recognized N the other qualities Of
force and knowledge having their genera
tion IN experiences which had become indi-
Viduality, subterTanean and acute, under a
cold surface. II was the mutual recognition
Of these equivalents that led the two men to
mutual trust, only occasionally disturbed as
has been shown; though one was regarded
as the most faStidiOus man OF his set in Lon
dor. ~. I.---..