The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-09-26
PART II--chapier I--continued.

make this country"
"In course he did" said her COM
panion, rarner startled by this unex-.
pected question. -
HE made the country down in ILL
nois, and He made the Missouri, the
little girl continued. 81 guess some
body else made the country In these
parts. It's not nearly SO well done.
They forgot the water and the trees"
what would ye think of offering up
prayer?" the man asked diffidently.
1T amt night yet" she answered.
1T don't matter, 1t amt quite regu'
lar, but He won't mind that, you betl
You say over them ones that you used
to say every night in the wagon when
we was on the plains"
why don't you say some yourseltY"
the child asked, with wondering eyes.
81 disremember them" he answered,
81 hain't said none since was half the
height O. that gun. | guess it's never |
too. late. You say them out, and I'll
stand by and come in on the choruses."
Then you'll need to kneel down, and
me, too" she said, laing the shawl out
for that purpose. you've got to put
your hands UP like this. 1t makes you
feel kind of good"
It was a strange sight, had there
been anything but the buzzards to see
1t. Side by side on the narrow shawl
knelt the two wanderers--the little
prattling child and the reckless, hard
ened adventurer.
Her chubby face and his haggard,
angular visage were both turned up to
the cloudless heaven in heartfelt en-
treaty to that dread being with whom
they were face to face, while the two
notes.-the one thin and clear, the
other deep and harsh-united in the
entreaty for mercy and forgiveness.
The prayer finished, they resumed
their seat in the shadow of the bowl
der until the child fell asleep, nesting
upon the broad breast Of her protect
or.
He watched over her slumber for
some time, but Nature proved to be
too strong for him.
For three days and three night he
had allowed himself neither rest nor
repose.
Slowly the eyelids dropped over the
tired eyes, and the head sunk lower
and lower upon the breast, until the
mans grizzled beard was mixed with
the golden tresses of his companian,
and both slept the same deep and
dreamless slumber.
Had the wanderer remained awake
for another half hour a strange sight
would have met his eyes.
Far away on the extreme verge OF
the alkali plain, there rose up little
spray of dust, very slight at first, and
hardly to be distinguished from the
mists of the distance, but gradually
growing higher and broader until it
formed a solid, well-defined cloud.
This cloud continued to increase in
size until It became evident that 1t
could only be raised by great multi
tude Of moving creatures.
In more fertile spots the observer
would have come to the conclusion
that one of those great herds of bisons
which Craze upon the prairie land was
approaching him.
This was obviously impossible In
these arid wilds LAS the whirl of dust
drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon
which the two castaways were repos
ing the canvas-covered tilts of wagons
and the figures of armed horsemen be
gan to show up through the haze, and
the apparition revealed itself as being
a great caravan upon its journey fol
the West.
But what a caravan When the heaG
of 1t had reached the base of the noun
tains the rear was not yet visible OF
the horizon.
DluLt oorosS tba annrunOuS nIaiT
stretched the struggling array, wagons
and carts, men on horseback, and mel
on foot. Innumerable women whit
staggered along under burdens, ant
children who toddled beside the wag
ons or peeped out from under the whit
coverings.
This was evidently no ordinary part.
of immigrants, but rather some nomat
people who had been compellet
through stress of circumstances t
seek new country.
There rose through the clear air
confused clattering and rumbling from
this great mass of humanity, with tn
creaking of wheels and the neighin
horses.
Loud as 1t was, 1t was not sufficien
TO rouse the two tired wayfarers abov
them.
At the head of the column there rod
score or more of grave, Ton-face
men clad in sombre homespun gal
ments and armed with rifles.
On reaching the base of the blu
they halted and held short counc
among themselves.
"The wells are to the right, m
brothers" said one a hard-lippeC
clean-shaven man with grizzly hair.
ITO the right of the Sierra Blanco-
so we shall reach the Rio Grande
said another.
Fear not for water" cried a thirC
"He who could draw 1t from the rock
will not now abandon His own chose
people"
"Amen! Amen!" responded tn
whole party.
They were about TO resume the
Journey when one Of the youngest an
keenest-eyed uttered an exclamatio
and pointed up at the rugged era
above them.
From it's summit there futtered a II
tie wisp Of pink, showing up hard an
bright against the gray rocks behin
AZ lht slElAt NutlN was SOhGAi
refining up of horses and unslingir
Of guns, while fresh horsemen can
galloping up to reinforce the vanguar
The word Redskins" was on eyel
lip. %
There can't be any number OF |
dians here" said the elderly man, wi
appeared to be in command. I'VE ha'
passed the Pawnees, and there are /
other tribes until We cross the gre
mountains" ...
Shall go forward and see, Broth
Stangerson?' asked one Of the band.
And l." "and l." cried doz'
voices.
Leave your horses below and Y
will wait you here the elder a
swered.
In a moment the young fellows h
dismounted, fastened their horses, al
were ascending the precipitous slo
which led up to the object which h
excited their curiosity.
They advanced rapidly and noiseleI
", with the confidence and dexterity
praCticed scouts.