Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-26

L.
He had toiled painfully down the ra-
vine, and on to this little elevation, in
the vain hope of seeing some signs of
| water. Now the great salt plain
| stretched before his eyes, and the dis
tant belt of savage mountains, without
a sign anywhere of plant or tree, which
might indicate the presence of moist
ure In all that broad landscape there
was no CLEAN of hope. North, and
east, and west he looked with wild,
| questioning eyes, and then lie realized
that his wanderings had come to an
end, and that there, on that barren
crag, he was about to die. "Why not
here as we'll as in feather bed, TWEEN
ty years hence" he muttered, as he
seated himself in the shelter Of a
boulder
Before sitting down, he had depos-
tied upon the ground his useless rife,
and also a large bundle tied up in {,
gray shawl which he had carried,
slung over his right shoulder. 1t APP
peared to be somewhat too heavy for
his strength, for, in lowering it, it
came down on the ground with some
little violence Instantly there broke
from the gray parcel a little moaning
cry, and from it there protruded Il
small, scared face, with very light
brown eyes, and two little specAlcd,
dimpled fists.
you've hurt me-" said a childish
voice. reproachfullv.
''Have I thought the man answered,
penitently; Il didn't go for to do il"
AS he spoke he unwrapped the gray
shawl and extricated very pretty lit
tie girl Of about five years Of age
whose dainty shoes and smart pink
frock, with it's little linen apron, all
bespoke a mothers care. The child
was pale and wan, but her healthy
arms and legs showed that she had suf-
fered less than her companion.
How is it now?" he asked, anxious
ly, for she was still rubbing the towsy
golden curls which covered the back Of
her head.
kiss it and make it WE'LL" she said
with perfect gravity, showing the in
jured part up to him. That's what
mother used to do. Where motherw
Mothers gone. guess you'll see
her before long"
"Gone, eh!" said the little girl. 'sFun-
ny, she didn't say good-by; she most
always did if she was just goin' over
to aunties for tea, and now she been
away three days. Say, it's awful dry
amt it? Amt there no water nor moth
ing to eat"
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. It amt easy to talk
when your lips is like leather, but
guess I'd best let you know how the
cards lie. What's that you've got?'
Pretty things! fine thingsr' cried the
little girl, enthusiastically, holding up
two glittering fragments Of mica
"When we go back home I'll give
them to brother Bob"
you'll see prettier things than them
soon," said the man confidently. You
just wait bit. I was going to tell
you, though-you remember when we
left the river?"
ooh, yes"
"Well, we reckoned we'd strike an
other river soon, dye see. But there
was something wrong; compasSes, Or
map, or somethin', and it didn't turn
up. Water ran out Just except a
little drop for the likes of you and
and"
''And you couldn't wash yourself"
interrupted his companion, gravely,
staring up at his grimy visage.
''No. nor drink And Mr.. Bender, he
was the first to go. and then Indian
Pete, and then Mrs. McGregor, and
then Johnny Homes, and then, dearEe,
your mother
''Then mothers 4 deader, too" cried
the little girl, dropping her face i'm her
pinafore and sobbing bitterly.
Yes, they all went except you and
me. Then / thought there was some
chance Of water in this direction. so /
heaved you over my shoulder and we
tramDed it together. It don't seem as
though we'd improved matters.
There's an almighty small chance for
us noww
do YOU know that we are going to
die, too?' asked the child checking
her sobs, and raising her tear-stained
face.
81 guess that's about the size OF it,
"Why didn't you say so befereE she
said, laughing gleefully. You gave
me such a fright. Why, OF course,
now as long rs we die weM be with
mother again"
Yes. you will dearie:"
"And you, too. III tell her how
awful good you've been Ell bet she
meets us at the door of Heaven with
pitcher of water, and lot of buck
wheat cakes. hot. and toasted on both
sides, like Bob and me WAS fond OF.
How long will it be first?
81 don't know-not very long" the
mans eyes were fixed upon the north
ern horizon In the blue vault OF the
heaven there appeared three little
sDecks which increased in size every
moment so rapidly did they approach.
they speedily resolved themselves into
+hree large brown birds, which cIrcled
over the heads Of the two wanderers
and then settled upon some rocks
which overlooked them. They We're
bnzzar7s the vultrrres of the West
whose coming is the forerunner OF
death
Cocks and hens" cried the little girl
cleefully, pointing at their 1ll-omenet
forms, and clapping her hands to make
them rise. Say did God make this
country"