The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-27
HER
ATONEMENT.
BY Herbert Haywood

James L. Ferguson, in gray hunt
ing suit. stepped off the train at the
little station of Hot Springs. in the
heart OF the Colorado Rockies.
AS re made a rapid turn up ami
down the platform his clear blue eyes
took in the whole inspiring scene OF
that upper world The dazzling white
cliffs rising 1000 feet straight up from
the narrow canyon OF Chalk creek
threw back the echoes from the raging
cascade at their feet.
Yes. it is all here Just as when L
was young adventurer, all except the
big horn. that used TO herd at the loot
OF the cliffs" The traveller uttered the
words thOughtidlly as he turned TO
mountain man who stood with folded
arms leaning on the butt of his rife.
well, sir, the big horn is pretty nigh
gone now: We don't see no more Oi
'em from the railroad track. These en-
gines putting and screeching up over
Alpine pass has scared 'em all out OF
sight. these fifteen years. They are
the widest and scurcest things IN the
mountains. but L know where 20 md
EN- yet"
Then you're my man. for I have
GONE all the way from New York to
get another crack at them, and carry
a pair OF horns back with me- said
Ferguson.
a youth into mature man, to revisit
the scene of his first strike in the st
Elmo mine-and the scene, too, OF his
love and romance.
With the guide he was seen on his
way to the Businesses of the Chalk
cliffs, that jut out from Mt Prince
toms southern slope. That night they
spent in the hut of an abandoned mine
far up on the mountain Some time
after Ferguson had fallen asleep ne
rose on his elbow with a start, and
glared ct the open doorway.
Il surely saw her" ne muttered, 'as
young and fair as when they called heT
the belle OF the valley, and was hex
lover. But that was twenty years ago,
and I am dreaming about woman
who must have been n wife and mothe-
many year. and he settled himSelI
again to sleep. But in spite of his ef-
forts he could not rid his mind OF that
vision OF a pretty mountain girl stand
ing in the doorway Of the cabin, he
whole form Illuminated by a htful flash
OF the lying fire.
1t was the twilight OF dawn wher
the guide aroused him and they crept
outside. Cropping among the scrut
cedars and copses Of quaking ash, tbs
two hunters made their way TO the up
per ridges. Below them was an abyss
so deep that its foot was still dark II
the gloom of night, while the tint Of
dawn was on the crags above.
We're on the Chalk cliffs now
where only the big horn live, SatC
the guide. as he dropped on his hand!
and knees. Look out, for the ground
-1ighty shifty here" and he started
cautiously along the tOpmOst ridge o
the cliff. Ferguson followed his ex
ample.
CHANGING downward on either sid
he shuddered. and became Si7zy at tn
fearful black depths below him. H
luoked upward to throw off the sick
ening vertigo. ITS on this ridge tn
herd comes to their feedin grounds,
shouted back the guide; he ready witt
your gun. If they once get a Whit o
us your see no more big horn here 70
2 month"
Every moment the ridge was narrow
ing. AS Ferguson crept along on hi
hands and knees, he saw, few rod
ahead. his guide kneeling with his gu
i'm position. and peering intently at tn
crest OF the ridge. It's the herd
comm but I can't think what make
'e-~ HEAT So. less a lions after en-"
The crack of a rife cut through tn
still air and echoed among the cliff!
The guides bronzed face turned
siCkly yellow
My God," he cried. there's a hunt
er on their trail. In another minut