The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-17
: ::
y CONAN Y DoYIE

.ss 80 st
2's7 T. CMAPTHA. -I-(Continuea.)is
At the head Of the column there rode
"a "A score or more Of grave. ilcn:faced
men. clad In somber homespdn gar
ments. and armed with rifles. On
halted and held i short council among
Themselves.
1.-THE wells are to ithe right. my,
clean-shAven man with grizzlcd hair.
so we shall reach the Rio Grande,"
said another.
iS'Fear not Tor water" cried a, third.
.sfIc who could draw 1t from the rocks
will not now abandon his chosen peO-
pie" s
amen! Amen" responded the whole
party.
They were about to resume their
Journey when one Of the. youngest and
kct.nest-evci uttered an exclamation
and pointed up to the rugged crag
,lnve them. From Its summit there
ruttcrcd a little whisp of pink, show
ing IN hard and bright against the
gray rocks behind. At the sight there
was u general refining up Of horses and
,mslinginy Of guns. while fresh horse
men came galloping up to reinforce the
vanguard. The word Redskins" was
on every Lip.
"Therc can't he any number of In
Inns here" said the eide 'ly man who
appeared to be inco;nmand. I'VE have
PASSED the Pawnecs. AMI there are no
other tribes until we cross the great
mountains"
..Shall 20 forward and see, Broth
er Strangerson?" asked one OF the
band.
And l." "And l." cried a dozen
voices. W lE Lg
":.I Leave your horses below and we
will await you here" the Elder answer
Ai, In a moment the young fellows
mad dismounteti,, fastened their horses,
mi were ascending the PERCEPTIONS
slope, which led up to the object which
had excited their curiosity. They I'D
vancssl rapidly and uolselessly, with the
confidence and dextcrity. Of practtccd
scouts The watchers from the plain
below could see them fit from rock to
rock until their figures stood out
against tue skyline. The young man
who had first given the alarm was
leading them. Suddenly his followers
INV lin throw up his hands, as though
| overcome with establishment, and on
| Joining him they were affected IN the
.a.ne way by the sight which met their
.yes.
On the little plateau which crowned
ille barren hill there stood single
| giant boulder, and against this boulder
,uere lay tall man, l0ng-bearded
md h:,r,i-featured, but of an excessive
tliilnes,. His placid face and regular
breathing showed that he was fast
asleep. Beside him lay little child,
with her round white arms encircling
| his brown, sInewy neck, and her gold
en-liairei head resting upon the breast
| of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy lips
| were parted, showing the regular line
| VI anow-whitc teeth within, and play
| ful smile played over her infantile fca-
lures. Her plump little white legs,
terminating III white socks snd neat
docs. with shining buckles, offered a
strange contrast to the long, shrivelled
members Of her companion. On the
| tedge of the rock above the strange
l couple there stood three solemn buzz
| Yards who. at the sight of the new
corners. uttered raucous screams Of
disappointment and tapped sullcnly
Awsy.
The cries of the foul birds awoke the
two sleepers. who stared about them
In hewilt!erment. The man staggered
to his feet and looked down upon the
clain which had been SO des0late when
sleep had oyertnken him, and which
was now traversetl by this enormous
body Of mcn and beasts. His face as
sumetI AN expression Of increiulity az
he gazcd, and he passed his ebony hand
over his eyes. "This Is what they call
;lellrium, l g,less" he muttered. The
child stood beside him, holding on the
skirt Of his coat, and said nothing,
but looked all around her with the
wondering, questioning gaze Of child.
hood. EE 49,
The rescuing party were speedily able
to convince the two castaways that
their appearance was no delusiOn. One
of them seized the little girl, and hoist.
ell her upon his shoulder, while two
others supported her gaunt companion
and assisted lin toward the wagons.
NY name Is John Ferrier," the wan.
iercr explained; '.me and THAT little
III, are all that's left O. twenty-one PEG.
pie. The rest Is all dead o. thirst and
hunger aH;ay down in the SOUTH"
rs she your childY asked some one
II guess she is now" the other cried
dctilntly; she's mine cause | saved
her. No man will take her from me,
She's Lucy Fcrrier from this day on,
Who are you, thought" he continued,
gldnclng with curiosity at his stalwart,
sunburned rcscuers; there seems to be
II powerful lot Of vel!
Nigh upon ten thousand" said one
of tile young men; i've are the perse
cutcd children of God-the chosen OF
the Angel Mcr0na."
Il never heard on him." said the
wunderpr. HE appears to have chosen
a fair crowd of ye."
do not Jest Mt that which is sacred,'
said the other, sternly. I'VE are Of
those who believe in those sacred writ
ings, drawn in Egyptian letters on
plates Of beaten gold, which were hand
cd unto the holy Joseph Smith ut Pal
myra. We have come from NauvOo
in the State of Illinois, where we have
founded our temple. We have come
to seek q refuge from the violent mar
and from the goddess, even though il
be i'll the heart OF the desert."s'
The name of Nnuyoo evidently recall
ed rcc0llcctions to John Ferrier. see,
he said; you are the M0rmonss,'
I'VE are the Mormons," answ cred his
companions with one voice.
And where are you going?".
I'VE do not know. The hand OF
God is leading us under the person OF
our prophet. You must come before him
He shall say what is to be done will
you"
They had reached the base Of tn.
hill by this time, and were surrounded
by crowds of the pilg. palc-faccd
meek-looking women, strong, laughing
children and anxious, earuest-eyed .nen
: Many were the cries Of astonishmcn
and Of commiseraton which arose from
them when they perceived the youth o
the other. Their escort did not halt
however, but pushed on, followed by ,
great crowd of Mormons, Until the!
reached wagon, which was consplcu
ol, for its great size, and for the gaudi
ness and smartness of Ito appearance
Six horses were yoked to II, whefea
the others were furnished with two, OF
at most, four Apiece. Beside the drive
there sat man who could not hav
been more than thirty years Of age
but whose massive head and resolut
| exnression marked him M n leade,