The Washington times., 1901-07-07
a Plain Of Evil Spirits

ly paying guest Their official purpose
was to report on the geology. fora, and
fauna along the boundaries Of Arizona
and Sonora.
The fora did not interest Mainwaring
and the fauna. which consisted mainly of
rattlesnakes, tarantuIag, and centipedes,
hardly attracted him. He was, however,
profoundly impressed by the stupendous
and impossible works that Nature has
scattered broadcast throughout those
lands. Tremendous canyons mountains
piled on mountains, hills glittering like
gold, gigantic sandstone columns Of
shapes the most fantastic, black. and saw
age precipices, cliffs bright with trans
verse bands of scarlet and orange and
blle, the coIors fresh as on the day they
left the hand Of the Creator-aH these
gave constant employment to his palette
and camera.
The first to speak was Hiram, the head
cowboy. His remark, like the man, was
eminently practical
THE crik's thur" he said. pointing to
the left. IT'S as far es I've been down
yur, and what's more. it's es far as l want
10 GO
"Our friend" whispered Mainwaring to
Bernstein, evidently shares the local OBJ
lection to crossing this plain. However,
wen pump him later. Supper is the first
consideration"
In few minutes the packs were unsad-
died and arranged. the horses turned out
to pasture on the scanty herbage, and two
large fires lit. for, in spite of the intense
heat of the day, the cold at night on those
high plateaus is often very severe. This
done. the party settled themselves down
TO a Homeric neal.
But when" like the old Greek heroes,
they had put away the desire oil eating
and drinking Ulysses, /. G., Hiram, was
called upon to relate his adventures.
"Wa-al," he commenced, "ez ] said. I've
been no further than wur We are, ana l
don't want to. It's a burned long ride 10
get 10 the kenyon. It's just on the side
OF the hills and thur s only one place you
can cross it, and the water thur ain |
drinkable uohow. There's a spring about
ha'f a mile to the suthard though, ! be-
iieVe. After that, it, only a short day
work to get through the hills and strike
water. The best way is round by the hills
10 the northard same as we an the In
juns 90. Ez TO supersteetions, the yarn
Is that they're evil speerlts around eZ
comes down nights and wipes out hui
mans. rOu'H laugh, Mr.. MainWaTing, IN
course; so did ] afOre ! knew better
The cowboy paused, but Mainwaring,
though young. was discreet, and did not
resent the implied structure on his mex
''Wa-aI." resumed Hiram, thurs some
thin in it, ez / was saying. Some years
back there Wur party Of fellers foolin
around after stones and suchllke nonsense
no offence, Prof.-(his courtesy utle for
professor.D They sent their men round
the north road whilst they went straight
ahead. ] seem 'em week before. Thur
was a boss: his name waS-let me see-his
name was Stainforth, and thur was a lit
tie chap called Brinkman-"
"A fair-haired, stout man, with specta-
cles2' interrupted Bernstein.
Il knew him well, Mainwaringr eX-
claimed the professor. with some excite
ment. Go IN, Hiram. What became OF
themT'
That's exactly what / can't tell you,
Prof They started and never got across
and never came back. The Injuns said ez
they spent days searchin for them. but
couldn't find a trace, nary trace"
It's a very odd thing, Mainwaring."
said Bernstein. Il knew Brinkman well,