The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-18

mountains was barely discernible. No water
had been seen since leaving camp in the morn
ing, but it had not appeared so to us, as the
mirage of the desert had followed us closely all
day long. 1t seemed to be boundless lake o!
bright and limpid water, upon which might
float large vessels to distant ports
1t is not an unlikely story that weary and
thirsty traveller upon some barren and scorched
desert, seeing mirage of this kind, would be
allured on in hopes OF finding water, until, be-
coming exhausted in the vain pursuit, he would
sink upon the desert aud perish.
1t is remarkable what strange optical illu-
sions sometimes occur. One of the most re-
markable this afternoon was that of the appar-
ent greatness and seeming too great distance
of small objects.
For instance, the scattered bones of an ami
NAL that had wandered out here to die, lay a
few hundred feet in advance of u.s. and looked
like drove of horses or cattle in the distance
But nearer approach dispelled the Illusion.
At another time the head of buffalo Tor that
of some other large animal), weather beaten
and covered with the frost of ages, lay isolated
in advance ofus. For while its dim outlines
impressed the mind that it was some mighty
monster-an elephant or a mammoth of prehis-
torlc times. The cause of such peculiar optical
illusions as these may seldom exist, even there,
in so marked a degree. This is a matter, how
ever, the determination of which may not be
of Importance at present.
Sometime in the afternoon we noticed that
the bed of the lake. which all along had been
dry, was now damp, and before long we came
to water, at first only barely enough to cover
the ground. 1t gradually increased in depth,
however and by the time we had gone mile
it was several inches in depth. 1t yet seemed
to be as much as two miles to the place we
wished to come out
- 81 a. 49,
growing deeper and deeper, until finally we
had 10 hold up our feet on the saddles as we
rode along to keep them out of the water. We
now began TO see large numbers of aquatic
birds, some
CHIRPING AND FLAPPING THEIR WINGS
as they passed in bevies over our heads or sailed
in circles around US, while others were SWIM
ming quietly upon the lake, needing but little
cur approach.
The question was now beginning to be
serious 0ne whether we would get through or
have to retrace our steps 10 the desert and
spend the night there. But all things have to
have an end, and so had our pilgrimage. The
water was just as deep toward the last we
could possibly get through without swimming
our horses, but we all landed safely and were
glad to be on dry land once more.
Here was sloping plain from the mountains
base, covered with as fine grass as the West
streams of clear and sparkling water from the
canyons flowed with rippling murmurs among
the rocks and washed gravel down to the lake.
Along the margins of these streams were will
lows, and here and there were occasional cedar
trees 1t was a beautiful place.
The picturesqueness of the mountain from
this place, its rich and varied scenery its rocks
and timber, its snow-capped peaks, as well as
Its dark and labyrinthian Canyons lent q
peculiar charm to the rich and beautiful plain
skirting its base
Prof. Hayden advances the theory that the
mountains arose gradually from the plain, and
that ages have elapsed since the first beginnings
of their upheaval. Be this as it may, Stems
Mountain Is OF no recent origin. The erosions
OF the elements during the bygone ages have
left their imprint upon it. Change is written
here IN vivid letters npon this, Natures grand
old landmark. When the works of nature are
touched by the finger of time, they, too. like
mans most stupendous prodigies of skill and
power, crumble away. But we are glad that
some things are more enduring than the works
of man. When we see how very transient the
greatest OF human endeavor is, we look with
feelings of reverence upon anything that seems
TO be beyond and above that of man in its
yastness and immutabiIity.
Not long after going into camp here night
came on. Supper over, and when all except
the guard were in bed, someone called atten-
tIoh W OIIghb iight on hlgh prominence
that seemed to be much as % or 30 miles
away. Very soon more of these lights came
into view IN other places and in different direc-
tions from US. These were said by some to be |
signal fires built by the Indians to herald the
of danger Others contended that
they were for the purpose of massng the braves
to make an attack upon our camp. But no
attack was made. and the next morning the
camp was astir as usual
The sun had risen clear and was shining in |
golden splendor upon the mountain crest. |
After breakfast the command moved along to |
lorthward a short distance only, when the ad- |
discovered about dozen warriors |
with their ponies secreted in a depression on |
lie prairie. This was out from the base of the |
about quarter Of a mile.
To be continued