The broad ax., 1902-06-28

the Great Dipper do it's slow somer'
Eault around the North Star. When
the campfire died the night before
and we went to bed, the Dipper Was
lying along the tops OF the mountains,
trimming fun Il IL easier to watch
this great hand in the astronomical
clock than TO light unwilling matches
from time to time In the night and ex-
anime q watch; and knew that when
the constellation had nearly reversed
itself, It would be time to start NOV
ing.
A man IN camp sleeps sweetly. yet
lightly. A dozen times through the
dark hours the distant sharp bark Of q
fox. the rustic Of a leaf, the deep sigh
OF q satiated and sleepy horse on a
picket rope. the cracking Of q coal In
the embers OF the campfire, the eaIl
Of q night bird. or the snap OF q twig
under the tread OF some OF the animals
OF our cavaleade, called me with q
gentle thOroughness from slumber.
Each time II seemed as though the
position Of the encircllng attendants
Of the North Star had changed by only
q slight angle; and each time l sank
instantly again Into the perfumed rest
that comes from q bed Of balsam
boughs after q hard days work.
The hush that comes over all nature
Just before the dawn was near being
my undolng. after all. The Dipper
seemed to have made q great sudden
sweep and was dangerously far over
when my eyes opened again. The
canvas was throbbIng with the pulse
Of the morning breeze, but the eastern
was darker than the western sky,
where lowered a faint glow. II took
an effort Of WIN to get out into the
cold air, but necessity compelled haste
and scrambled as gently Is could
over the dewy coverlet, hurriedly put
on the few clothes had taken on the
night before-dressing and undressing
are mutually short operations in a
hastily made camp-found my damp
and clammy shoes, raked together the
Goals In the ashes, famed a flame,
boiled coffee and munched a hasty
breakfast OF bread and some cold trout.
Ny partner, chum, helpmate never
stirred. II Is wonderful how a trustful
woman win sleep In the wilderness,
safe In the superstition that be who
sleeps beside her Is competent to meet
danger which may arise.
dropped half a dozen cartridges
into my pocket, together with a couple
Of biscuit in case the chase should be
unduly long, shouldered the heavy rife
and strobe out through the high grass, |
which was so beaded with dew that
was like wadIng an ice-cold |
stream. The horses were standing on |
widespread legs, heads near the ground, !
asleep, while the burros, weary with |
the long pull with the heavy packs OF
the day before, were huddled together.
lying on the ground.
The morning star was at its bright
est as I started across the valley, but
By the time I had picked q splashing
path across the current Of the little
river and got fairly started I'D the
trail, II was paling. Little decks OF
purple cloud began to appear above
the suns approaching glow, as though
they had been newly created. The
range to the west began to lift its
rugged accents into view IN a purple
radiance. The eastern bills grew from
Ihapeless masses Of gloom into rounded
smlnences with dainty fringes of as
pens and slender mInarets- Of spruces
against the family glowing sky. II
wished l had started half an hour
EARLIER, and quiekened my pace a
little.
In The growing twilight I could see a
furry skunk % his sleek coat OF iet
black and snowy white, treadIng the
Jumps OF bunch-grass, picking up the
insects before the suns
heat might give them the vitality 10
,seaDe. In the trail ahead OF me a fox
rotted. ] was conscious OF tilP faint
presence Of his scent, but did not place
until ] saw the fash OF his fur above
he grass. He knew 1 was following.
'Et knew too that he was safest down
q that sinuous passage between high
walls OF grass and flowers, on whose
ImOOth surface be could make a Tar
afer. swlfter flight than oTer the
ough ground to either side.
A mile or 30 above camp I left the
ran and crossed the stream again,
letting my feet no wetter In Wadlng,
ut feeling the icy chill perTade the
Fater In my shoes which my feet had
warmed IN the comparative dryness OF
he beaten track. Close to the rim
ling sureaee a colder breath moved
nd the scrubby willows had a coating {
( white frost. brushed q furry
moth from a twig In passing, but IL
Eas too cold for more than one very
eeble hutteE. II feli wIde-stretched |
q the water and as the current sweep,
into a quiet eddy Il disappeared 90 I
uietly that one might suppose It had
INK Of its own weight. 1 marked 1
be spot where lay a trout, 90 big that |
d mouth eould take IN an fnua,k - / !