The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-02-06

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 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 couple Of bottles of brandy and
administered liberal doses all round. l
soon had theIn 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 a dead
/ halt, and my guides-they 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. 1
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
we'll, the Spaniards Directing to any
thing being done, all Of them apparent
ly 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 a little brandy we
drove off in the darkness, but not until
in sight of all I had given him a re-
volver and each of the unlucky 10 p
good nip of brandy. Ny anxiety about
serious results was over as soon as we
started, and in q hours we halted in
front of wretched inn, patronized by
muleteers, with the first story for a
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 a tramp had back through
the snow and storm! was very happy,
however, for 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
come to frequent halts At last, just as
Twas beginning to feel tired, we came
to the fonda.
The snow had slackened, but the wind
was beginning to blow, so Num- and I
carried all the luggage and traps into a
corner of the stable below, and tumbling
down into the hay we were soon in the
land Of dreams. In my dreams was on
a shoreless sea in bark that silently
and swiftly circled around. Dark clouds
closed in, the horizon drawing in on all |
sides, while my boat sailed in an ever
narrowing circle, the clouds still closing
in, until giant hand grew out from a
ragged edge Of the cloud wall, which,
Selling the prov Of my boat, pulled it
into the gloom and darkness. felt the
clouds brushing my cheek. heard the
roar Of falling water and felt that my
doom was sealed I thought of my wife,
and, trying to call her name, was dumb.
I looked behind. Far off and far up
there was glow Of rosy light, and
within the aureole was her face, full of
sorrow, looking at me with pity in ev-
cry feature. AS I looked her face was
slowly eclipsed by cloud. Then with
one cry I plunged into the sea and
awoke.