Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-11
DAYBREAK IN THE CAMP.
Life In the Far West When the Darkness.
Begins to Fade.

Life In the Far West When the Darkness
Begins to Fade.
From Forest and Stream.
1t is still night
In the darkness not O sound can be heard
save now and then the stamp Of q horses hoof
on the frozen ground or, family their plucking
OF the grass, for the horses begin to feed early.
The sounds Of the middle night are hushed
The owls long ago stopped their hooting, and
now on noiseless wing are making their last
hunting rounds before the day shall come.
Within the lodge it is darker than without
On the ground in the middle can be seen a pale
shadow-the white ashes Of the long cold fire.
Above, through the smoke hole, is a patch OF
sky less black than the invisible inclosing walls
and in this bit Of the heavens shine two stars.
In circle about the fireplace are shapeless
white masses-the sleeping forms of men
They are silent and motionless
Now on the still air very family is heard
distant tone Of music; sweet whistle, at first
low, rising and falling, then gradually becom-
ing more distinct. 1t comes nearer and nearer
until it fills the air all about, then passing on.
recedes, grows fainter, till at last the sound is
lost The wild ducks are flying
From the lake comes a far-off trumpet note
and then another-the mellow call OF the wild
geese.
The world is awakening. The day is near
The stars which looked in at the smoke hole
are paling now. Upon the horizon in the east
lies a line Of gray which slowly broadens and
makes twilight where all before was dark
The outlines of the tree trunks are seen
standing out like ghosts. reaching out shadowy
arms US IL feeling their way through the dim
ness. The chirp and futter OF migrating birds
that through the night slept in the low bushes
begin to be heard.
As the light grows dusky shapes appear in
fba L,b;- A. IA
feeding. Close to the lodge door the dogs are
curled up in the grass. still asleep. Their long
black coats are white here and there with frost
and in their sleep their muscles twitch as they
shiver from the cold, yet their rest is sound.
Day is at hand.
Now stir is heard within the lodge,
There are muffled grunts and groans, a yawn
or two. the ru sting Of clothing. then the faint
sound Of footsteps, and suddenly the pale glare
OF notwithstanding to little glow as the
shavings catch, and then to a bright flicker
which lights up the whole lodge as the larger
sticks take fire and crackle and white smoke and
a few sparks float from the smoke hole.
Soon the door of the lodge is thrown back. A
man steps out and looks about, yawns and
shivers. He breaks the ice in the water bucket
and pours some in a basin.
Others in the lodge are getting up. Voices
are heard. The men OF the camp pass in and
out at the door.
Some prepare breakfast, others busy them
selves about the packs and lash the bundles.
Two of shem build a corral OF ropes about
three trees. and then start off to drive in the
horses Soon these are seen coming toward the
camp. The men spread themselves out and
drive the animals into the Enclosure, where
they are caught and tied up.
While this is being done the call to breakfast
is heard.
Meaptime the light has spread itself over all
the heavens. In the east tho streaky clouds
have flushed to deep red and paled again to
richest gold. To the west the snow-clad noun
tains are wrapped in garment OF rose Look
ing again toward the east the sun appears over
the prairie ridge.
The day has come.