Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-02-08

the base of the bluff they halted and
held short council among themselves.
''The wells are to the right, my
brothers." said a one, hard-lipped.
elean-shaven man with grizzly hair.
.sTo the right of the Sierra Blanco-
SO we shall reach the Rio Grande, said
another.
"Fear not for water" cried a third.
s'He who could draw it from the rocks
| will not now abandon His own chosen
people,
"Amenl Amen!" responded the whole
party.
They were about to resume their
| journey when one of the youngest and
keenest-eyed uttered an exclamation
and pointed up at the rugged erag
above them. From it's summit there
futtered a little wisp of pink, showing
| up hard and bright against the gray
rocks behind. At the sight there was
| general refining up of horses and un-
singing of guns, while fresh horsemen
came galloping up to reinforce the
vanguard. The word redskins was
on every lip.
"There can't be any number of In.
juns here" said the elderly man who
appeared to be in command. "We
| have passed the Pawnees. and there
| are no other tribes until we cross the
great mountains"
"Shall go forward and see, Brother
Stangerson?" asked one of the band.
"And l." "And l." cried a dozen
voices.
leave your horses below and we
will wait you here, the elder answered.
in moment the young fellows had
| dismounted, fastened their horses, and
| We're ascending the precipitous slope
| which led up to the object which had
excited their curiosity. They advanc
| rapidly and noiselessly, with the con-
| fidence and dexterity of practised
| scouts. The watchers from the plain
below could see them Hit from rock to
| rock until their figures stood out
| against the skyline. The young man
who had first given the alarm was lead
| ing them. Suddenly his followers saw
| him throw up his hands. as though
| overcome with astonishment, and on
| joining him they were affected in the
same way by the sight which met their
eyes.
On the little plateau which crowned
| the barren hill there stood a single
| giant bowlder, and against this bowlder
there lay tall man, long-bearded and
| hard-featured, but of an excessive thin
| ness. His placid face and regular
| breathing showed that he was fast
asleep. Beside him lay a little child,
| with her round white arms encircling
| his brown, sinewy neck, and her
| golden-haired head resting upon the
| breast of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy
lips were parted, showing the regular
| line of snow-white teeth within, and a
| playful smile played over her infantile
| features. Her plump little white
| legs, terminating in white socks, and
| neat shoes with shining buckles,
| offered a strange contrast to the long,
shrive1ed members of her companion.
| On the ledge of rock above this strange
couple there stood three solemn buz-
yards, who, at the sight of the new
corners, uttered raucous screams of dis
appointment and tapped sullenly
away.
The cries of the foul birds awoke the
two sleepers, who stared about them in
bewilderment. The man staggered to
his feet and looked down upon the
plain which had been so desolate wher
sleep had overtaken him, and which
was now traversed by this enormous
body of men and of beasts. His face
| assumed an expression of incredulity
as he gazed, and he passed his bony
hand over his eyes. This is what they
call delirium, I guess" he muttered
The child stood beside him, holding OF
to the skirt of his coat, and said moth
ing. but looked all round her with the
wondering, questioning gaze of child
hood.
The rescuing party were speedily
, | able to convince the two casta way'
that their appearance was no delusion
One of them seized the little girl ant
hoisted her upon his shoulder, while
two others supported her gaunt com
panion and assisted him toward thu
wagons.
my name is John Ferrier," the wan
derer exclaimed; me and the little III
are all that's left o twenty-one people
The rest is all dead O. thirst and hun
ger away down in the south"
! SIS she your child?" asked som,
one.
81 guess she is now,' the other cried
deiantly; shes mine cause 1 save,
her. No one will take her away from
me. She's Lucy Ferrier from this da,
on. Who are you, thought" he con
| tinued. gIancing with curiosity at hi
! stalwart, sunburned rescuers. "Tiier,
seems to be a powerful lot of ye."
Nigh upon ten Thousand" said on
of the young men. "We are the per
| secuted children of God-the chosen 0
the angel Merona.''
II never heard tell on him." said tn,
, wanderer. ''He appears to have chosel
a fair crowd of ye."
, DO not jest at that which is sacred,
said the other, sternly. Eve are o
= those who believe in those sacred writ
ings, drawn in Egyptian letters OF
, plates of beaten gold, which wer,
/ handed unto the holy Joseph Smith a
: Palmyra. We have come from Nau
VOC, in the state of Illinois, where W,
had founded our temple. We havt
corae to seek refuge from the violen
man and from the goddess, even thcugl
it be the heart of the desert"
The name of Nauvoo evidently re
4 ANN'AAN~tADhANp
81 see," he said; you are the MOI
mons.''
''We are the Mormons," answered hi
companions with one voice.
And where are you going?"
''We do not know. The hand O
God is leading us under the person 0
our prophet You must come befor
him. He shall say what is to be don
? | with you"
They had reached the base of tn
hill by this time, and We're stIrrounde
i by crowds of the pilgrims-pale ale-faced
I meek-looking women, strong, laughing
0 children, and anxious, earnest-eye
e men. Many were the cries of aston
? ishment and of commiseration whic
a arose from them when they perceive
1 the youth of one of the strangers an
+ the destitution of the other Thei
G escort did not halt. however, bu
2 pushed on, followed by a great crow
q of Mormons, until they reached a wag
l., on which was conspicuous for its grea
. size, and for the gaudiness and smart
a ness of its appearance. Six horses wer