The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-22
DAYBREAK IN THE CAMP.
Life in the Far West When the Dark
ness Begins to Fade.
Forest and

fofeSt auu Stream
1t Is still night.
In the darkness not sound can be heard
save now and then the stamp of a horses
hoof on the frozen ground or, family. their
pucking 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 theit
last hunting rounds before the day shall
come.
Within the lodge it is darker than with
out. On the ground in the middle can be
seen pale shadow-the white ashes OF the
long cold fire; above, through tile smoke
hole Is patch of sky less black than the In
visible inclosing walls. aid in this bit OF
the heavens shine two stars.
In circle about the fireplace are shape
less white masses-the sleeping forms OF
men. They are silent and motonIess.
Now on the still air very family is heard
a distant tone of music; a sweet whistle, at
first low, rising and falling. then gradually
becoming 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 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 paing now. Upon the horizon in
the east lies a line of gray which slowly
broadens and makes twilight where all be-
fore was dark.
The outlines of the tree trunks are seen
standing out like ghosts. reaching out
shadowy arms as if feeling their way through
the dlmDess. The cblrD and hutter OF M
grating birds that through the night slept
in the low bushes begin to be heard.
AS the light grows dusky shapes appear
in the little park behind the camD-the
horses 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 a stir is heard within the lodge.
There are muffiad grunts and groans, a
yawn or two. the rustling of clothing. then
the faint sounds of footsteps, and suddenly
the pale glare Of q match-increaSing to a
little glow as the shavings catch, and then
TO bright flicker which lights up the whole
lodge as the larger sticks take fire and
crackle, and white smoke and few sparks
float from the smoke hole.
Soon the door OF the lodge is thrown back.
A man steps ont and looks about, yawns
and shivers. He breaks the ice in the
water bucket ana pourS some IN basin.
Others OF 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
themselves about the packs aud lash the
bundles. Two of them build 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 uD.
While this is being done the call to break
fast is heard.
Meantime the light has spread itself over
all the heavens In the east the stTeaky
clouds have flushed to deep red and paled
again to richest gold. To the west the snow
clad mountains are wrapped in a garment
of rose. Looking gain toward the east the
sun appears over the prairie ridge.
The day has come.