Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-16

Then frequent halts Of the caravan were
taken to rest the cattle
Deeper grew the snow, and as the
darkness began to settle down realised
the responsibility had unwittingly
taken ON my shoulders I had four deli
cate women and very sick man under
my charge, and we stuck fast in the
midst of q snowstorm. I recognized one
blessing, however, and was profoundly
grateful-the air was calm-and though
the snow fell thick and fast it was not
driven by storm.
Num- proved to be thoroughly relia-
BILE, helpful and full Of cheer. Between
us we kept up the spirits Of the party.
But all hands began to grow hungry.
Fortunately had in my baggage a large
pate de foie gras-that is, fat goose !
liver pie-and it was fat, happily so, as
it went further Then I got rugs and
wraps out of my trunks for the women
and q couple of bottles of brandy and |
administered liberal doses all round II
soon had them happy and full Of cour-
age. 1t was certainly better to have them |
full of Dutch courage in a FOOLS para
disc than to have them awake to their
position, for I quite expected it would
end in night camp out in the snow and
sending an empty cart for supplies |
Two hours after dark we came to dead
halt, and my guides were beauties
said they could go no farther; the
oxen could not pull the carts There
was fonda, they said, two miles away,
but did not show any disposition to help
to get there, and for that matter did not
seem to care whether we did or not. Il
ordered them to leave the middle cart
behind and divide the teams, one team
to be added to the front cart and one to
be hitched in front of the mules Our
interpreter was one of the Portuguese
women, but we did not get on very
well, the Spaniards Directing to any
thing being done, all of them apparent
~ waiting for the Virgin or some of the
saints to come to our aid.
Num- and I were exasperated and
finally took the matter in our own
hands. By my orders, despite the ener-
getic protests of the driver, he unhitched
the oxen from the middle team, and be-
tween us we got them to the mule cart,
hitched them in front of the mules and
pulled out and past the other carts.
Here the Spaniards halted us, and after
an angry alteration in the dark, and it
was dark, they agreed to go on. So,
taking yoke of oxen from our cart,
they were put in front of the four of the
first cart, and off we started.
Mum volunteered to stand by and
guard the stranded cart, SO giving him
two blankets and little brandy we
drove off in the darkness, but not until
in sight of all had given him a re-
volver and each of the unlucky 10 q
good nip Of brandy. My anxiety about
serious results was over as soon as we
started, and in 1 4 hours we halted in
front of wretched inn, patronized by
muleteers, with the first story for q
stable, but none of us was disposed to
be particular. A supper of Spanish
beans was soon ready, and then bed
was made up on the floor, and the wom-
en- were soon asleep. After seeing that
the mules and oxen were fed took half
an hours nap. Then, with two drivers,
we started back, taking three yoke of
oxen. What q tramp had back through
the snow and storm! I was very happy,
however, for I knew my wife and party
were safely sheltered, and the excite
ment Of action kept me from being
gloomy.
In due time we found our stray,
hitched to and started, but it was hard
pulling, and the exhausted oxen had to
fn t,ol re a
Twas beginning to feel tired, we came
to the fonda.
The snow had slackened, but the wind
was beginning to blow, SO Num- and
carried all the luggage and traps into a
corner Of the stable below, and tumbline
down into the hay we were soon in the
land of dreams. In my dreams I was OF
a shoreless sea in a bark that silently
and swiftly circled around. Dark cloud,
} closed in, the horizon drawing in on al
sides, while my boat sailed in an evel
} narrowing circle, the clouds still closing
in, until a giant hand grew out from I
. ragged edge Of the cloud wall, which
Selling the prov of my boat, pulled i
into the gloom and darkness. felt tn
, clouds brushing my cheek. heard tn
I roar of falling water and felt that m.
, deem was sealed. thought of my wife
} and, trying to call her name, was dumb
I looked behind. Far off and far u
, there was a glow of rosy light, an
, within the aureole was her face, full @
5 sorrow, looking at me with pity in ev
t cry feature. As looked her face wa
3 slowly eclipsed by cloud. Then wit
o one cry plunged into the sea an
r awoke. 80 -.-.
8 That dream would easily have joine
o the long procession Of forgotten dream:
o but it was recalled many time durin
n many years. And, try as might, I fe
t it to be portent and prophecy.
When / awoke in the morning W.
i dumfounded to find blizzard BLOWN
!. that the cattle would not face and wit
Z every appearance of continuance. In r.
n ply to my inquiries learned they SOM
times blew in those ATTITUDES for a weel
) This was pleasant news for me, and IL
% prospect made me nervous. 1t was no
"a ThnrSdav the fonrth dav since Our Il