The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-10
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to aunue'S Tor ten apd now she been
away three days. Say, it's awful dry
amt It? Amt there no water nor moth
ing to eat?" 4. .fs
mo. there amt nothing, dearie.
You'll Just need to be patient awhile,
and then you'll be all right. Put your
head up agin me like that, and then
you'll feel better. II amt easNfo talk
when your lips Mike leatheie but
guess I'd best let you know how the
cards lie. What's that you've gotY'
pretty thingsl fine thingsy cried the
littlo girl, enthusiastically, holding up
two glitterlng fragments OF mica.
"When we go back home Ill give
them to brother Bob"
you'll see prettier things than them,
sOon," said the man confidently. "YOu
Just wait bit. was going to tell
you, though-you remember when w0
left the Rivera"
"Oh, yes" ~
"Well. we reckoned we'd strike an-
other river soon. dye see. But there
was something wrong; compasses, or
map, or somethill, and 1t didn't turn
UP. Water ran out. Just except Il
little drop for the likes Of you and
and"
"And you couldn't wash yourself"
interrupted. his companion, gravcly,
staring up Mt his grlmy visagc.
mo. nor drlnR: And Mr.. BENDER, he
was the first to go. and then Indian
Pete, and then Mrs. AicGrcgor. and
then Johnny HOAes, and then, dcaric,
your mother"
"Then mothers deatler, too" cried
the little girl, dropping her face in her
pinafore and sobbing bitterly.
Eyes, they all went except you and
me. Then l thought there was some
chance Of water In this direction. SO I
heaved you over my shoulder and we
tramped 1t together. 1t don't seem us
though we'd improved matters.
There's IN almighty small chance for
us now"
do you know that we are going to
die. tOo?" asked the child. checking
her sobs. and raising her tcar-stained
face.
II guess that's about the size of it."
"Why didn't you say so bcforc?' she
snid, laughing gleefully. "You gave
me such a fright. Why, of course,
now as long rs we die we'll be with
mother again."
Eyes. you will. dearie."
"And you, too. I'll tell her how
awful good you've been. I'll bet she
meets lis ut the door of Heaven with
n pitcher of water, and n lot of buck
wheat cakes. hot, and toasted OH both
sides. like Bob and me was fond of.
How long will it be first?"
II don't knOw-nOt very long" The
mans eyes were fixed upon the north
In I'm Of t1f,
heaven there appeared three little
specks which increased in size every
moment, SO rapidly did they approach.
They speedily resolved themselves into
three large brown birds. which circled
over the heads Of the two wanderers,
and then settled upon some rocks
which overlooked them. They were
buzzards. the vultures Of the West.
whose coming IL the forerunner Of
death.
Cocks and hens" cried the little GIL.
glecfully, pointing ut their ill-omened
forms, and clapping her hands to make
them rise. "Say did God make this
country" X
I'm course He did," said her com.
paniOn rather Slartied ny THIS uuex.
pected question. ,..s-,s. j,
HE made the country down IA Min
DIS and He made the Missourt;N sthe
little girl continued. II guess some
body else made the country in these
parts. It's not nearly SO well done.
They forgot the water and the tree"
what would you think of Offering
up prayerY' the man asked, diffident-
ly.
ut amt night yet" she answered.
ut don't matter. 1t amt quite regu-
Lar, but He won't mind that, you bet.
You say over them ones that you used
to say every night in the wagon when
we was on the plains"
"Why don't you soy some yourself? p
the child asked, with wondering eyes.
II disrcmembcr them," he answered.
II hain't said none since was half the
height o that gun. guess it's never
too late. You say them ont, and Ill
stand by and come in on the clloruses."
"rhen you'll need to knael down,
and me, too" she said, laying the
shawl out for that purpose. you've
got to put up your hands ike this. It
rel en- you feel kind Of good" Is.
1t was strange sight had there been
any thing but the buzzards to see it.
Side by side on the narrow shawl knelt
the two wanderers, the little, prattllng
child, and the reckless, hardened nd
vcnt,lrer. Her chubby face, and his
llnggard, angular visage were both
turned up to the cloudless heaven In
heartfelt cntreaty to that ,lraad being
With whom they were face to face,
while tie two notes.-the one thin and
clear, the other deep and ha.sh-unitc1
In the entreaty for mercy and forgive
rtss. The prayer finished, they re-
s,lmed their seat in the shadow of the
boulder until the child fell asleep, mes.
thing upon the broad breast of her pro
tectci He watched over her slumber
for some time, but nature proved to BIZ
too strcng for him. For three days
and three nights he had allowed him.
self neither rgN0tSrepoae. Slowly the
eH clitls droopeseN the tired ey es
and the head sunk lower and lower
upon the bre2st Euntil the mans griz
lied beard "a mfxed with the gold
tresses Of the hiSacDmpani0n, and both
slept the SANG deep and dreamless
slumber.
Had the wanderer remained awake
for anotaher half hour q strange sight
would have Mik his eyes. Far away
on the extremes erga Of the alkali plain
there rose uG6 little spiay Of dust
| very slight dle8fst,S III hardly to be
distinguished from the mists of the dis
lance, but gradually growing higher
and broader uneil Il formed a well de
fined cloud. Mis- cloud continued t.
increase In size until 1t becs.pe evident
that 1t could only he, raised BY q great
multitude Of mqire" creatures. In
more fertile spot thsy observer would
have come tJoS c0HclusiOn that one
Of those great ds Of bisons which
Craze upon the 6Fairie land was an
preaching him. Tits was obviously I'M
possible In these Grid wilds. As. tht
whirl of dust ~ neare: to. the soil
1 tary blu3 upon which the two casta
ways were rep0slng, the canyas-c6y
cred Tits Of W1rfhgs nndtthe figures Of
armed horsenil began to show uI
through IT, Pna tas ., aP es4aSo.
upon its journey for the West Dut
r wes Se a ns nsaG q s..
rear was not ID idble on the horizon
Right across Fhe enomods plair
stretched the st (ggling array, wagons
and carts, men horseback, and Mer
on foot In hsrable women, Whs
staggered sals14 under burdens. and
children who tSgdlAls bfside the wan
ons OF pespeA fFom under the whit
coverings g r. evidently M 9F