The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-04
THE SHADOW.
What means this .


Are these men crazy? 1t is the
DAYS OF the Overland Trail, before
the widest fnancer dared predict Il
highway OF iron rails across that
great track OF cOuntry-almosta con-
tinent OF itself-which we used to
call the Far West
A caravan has been picking its slow
way along over the green prairies and
sterile plains for days and weeks,
every mans face was turned toward
the El Dorado more than mile OF
white-topped wagons, more than
three hundred men, women, and chill
dren. There have been Jcalousies
and heart burnings, even IN the pres
ence of the hostile Indians moving
swiftly about by day and crawling
and lurking like deadly serpentS by
night. Two wagons haul out OF the
long line at mid-afternoon and start
away at right angle, Two wagons
two wives, eight children, three
men. IL is fool-hardy dangerous.
They drive away in the shadow Of
death, the children crying and the
women pleading.
'Come back Come back There
are Indians all about us Every one
of you will he butchcred before morn
ing /"
The three men will not even look
back. They feel that they have been
wrunged and insulted, and their pride
is at stake. Men will listen to no ar
gumcnt at such time me-stubbOrnly re-
fuse TO reason with those they love.
These mcn realize their danger, and
tomorrow, when they have grown
calmer and when something like an
apology Is borne to them from the
main party they will return to the
line, satisfied with having shown
their Independence.
Did you ever see the yulturc of the
plains the repulsiye, cowardly bird,
which follows a wounded man or a
iimping animal as the rayenous shark
follows % death-ship? He sails high
IN air so long ~ he sees that all is
well below At the first sign Of dis
trcss he drops through the air TO be
closer 10 his prey. Let dying man
but raise his hand and the cowardly
bird will hasten away, but only to re-
turn and again resume his circles in
the air until he sees that death has
come His long, ragged wings have
famed the faces OF hundreds OF dying
men, his strong beak and sharp talons
have helped to make hundreds Of
skeletons along the trail of olden
days. ntH
Evil omen The two wagons had
scarcely separated themselves from
the line when the vultures appeared
and hovered above them as they
moved away. From their eyry they
had looked down on savages rejoicing
at the separation spot OF ground
miles away over which gaunt wolf
was already bowling and snuhing
earth and air for scent OF murder.
Study the picture we'll 1t is night.
The little band has gone into 'dry
camp'-nO water TO be had for man or
beast Three miles further on there
is plenty but they could not travel
in the darkness. 1t has been long,
hot day, and man and beast are suf-
fering, but no one complains Even
the children choke over their bread
and do not ask for drink. The tired
horses have neither grass nor water,
but they are not restless and impati-
ent, as might he looked for. On the
contrary they hang their heads
and now and then lick the rocks out
cropping from the sterile soil and thus
secure little Of the falling dew, just
enough to moiSten their parched
tongues. There is "A something which
weighs all down, the dumb brute as
well as human beings. 1t is unde-
fined, but nevertheless menace 1t
is unseen and unheard, but ncycrthe-
less creeping horror which chlls
them TO silence.
By and by, all bur the sentinel close
their eyes in sleep. A single sentinel
TO watch camp In whic there are
SO many precious lives menaced by
such fierce enemies, over which great
vultures had circled even as dark
ness came down! No, all did not
sleep. There was two wives who lay
listening To the songs ot the cricketS.
to the rustling OF the night breeze.
to the dismal voices OF the coyotes
circllng about the camp There was
a threat TO them in every sound, n
warning OF evil in every gust OF wind.
And there were children who did not
sleep, though they were rs quiet as
the dead. They had hea'd OF the
tomahawk and scalping-knife. OF the
lack OF mercy IN the heart OF an In.
dian warrior. They shut their eyes
and tried to close their ears, and