The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-09-26
A STUDY IN SCARLET

BY A. CONAN DOYLE.


throw up his hands, as though over
come with astonishment, and on join
ng him they were affected in the same
way by the sight which met their
eyes.
On the little plateau which crowned
the barren hill there stood a single |
giant bowlder, and against this bowl
der there lay tall man, long bearded
and hard featured, but of an excessive
thinness.
His placid face and regular breath |
ing showed that be was fast asleep. |
4 Beside him lay little child, with
her white arms encircling his brown,
sinewy neck, and her golden-haired
head resting upon the breast OF MS
tunic,. ..
Her rosy lips were parted, showing
the regular line of snow white teeth
within. and playful smile played over
her fnfantile features.
Her plump little white legs, terml-
mating in. white socks and neat SHOES
with shining buckles, offered strange
contrast to the long, shriyeled mem
bers OF her companion.
On the ledge Of rock above this
strange couple there stood three sol
emn buzzards, who, at the sight OF the
newcomers, uttered raucous screams
of disappointment and tapped sulleniy
away. 2w
The cries of the foul birds awoke
the two sleepers, who stared ABOUT
them in bewilderment. :,
The man staggered to his feet and
looked down upon the plain which had
been so desolate when sleep had over
taken him, and which was now trav-
ersed by this enormous body OF men
and beasts.
His face assumed an expression OF
incridulity as he gazed, and he passed
his bony hand over his eyes.
"This is what they call delirium, /
guess" he muttered.>
The child stood beside him holding
on to the skirt Of his coat, and SAID
nothing, but looked all around her with
the wondering, questioning gaze OF
childhood. -
The rescuing party were speedily
able to convince the two castaways
that their appearance was no deluslon.
One of them seized the little girl,
and hoisted her upon his shoulder,
while two others supported her gaunt
companion and assisted him toward
the wagons.
"My name is John Ferrier," the wan
derer explained; "me and that little
'un are all that's left O. twenty-three
people. The rest is all dead o thirst
and hunger away down in the south. "
as she your child?" asked some one,
'T guess she is now!" the other
cried, defiantly; shes mine cause
saved her. No man will take her
away from me. She's Lucy Ferrier
from this day on. Who are you,
thought" he continued, glancing with
curiosity at his stalwart, sunburned
rescuers: there seems to be a power
full lot Of ye."
Nigh upon ten thousand" said one
of the young men; "we are the perse
cuted children of God--the chosen Of
the angel Merona."
"I never heard tell on him." said the
wanderer. "He appears to have
chosen a fair crowd of ye."
DO not Jest at that which is sa
cred said the other, sternly. I'VE are
of those who believe in those sacred
/ writings. drawn in Egyptian letters
on plates of beaten gold, which were
handed unto the holy Joseph Smith, al
Palmyra We have come from Nau
J VOC in the State of Illinois, where We
have founded our temple. We have
come to seek refuge from the violen
) man and from the goddess, ever
though it be in the heart of the des
ert"
| The name Nauvoo evidently re
: called recollections to John Ferrier.
81 see,' he said, you are the Nor
mons"
l 1--WE are the Mormons." answeret
5 his companions, with one voice.
4 "And where are you going?"
D 1--WE do not know The hand of Co
l is leading us under the person of ou
/. prophet. You must come before him
e He shall say what is to be done wit
you"
y They had reached the base of tn
1 hill by this time, and were surrounds
! by crowds of the pilsfims-pale-facet
0 meek.looking women, strong, laugh
ing children, and anxious, earnes
a eyed men.
n Many were the cries of astonisl
e ment and of commiseration whlc
6 arose from them when they perceive
the youth of one of the strangers an
t the destitution of the other
e Their escort did not halt, howeve
but pushed on, followed by a grea
e crowd of Mormons, until they reache
d a wagon which was conspicuous for ii
r great size and for the gaudiness an
smartness of its appearances.
n Six horses we've yoked to it, whert
II as the others were furnished with tw
or, at most, four-apiece.
y Beside the driver there sat ma
1, who could not have been more tina
thirty years of age, but whose massiv
- head and resolute expression marke
!" him as a leader
He was reading brown backed vo
I, ume, but as the crowd approached b
IS laid il aside, and listened attentively
n an account of the episode.
Then he turned to the two cast
le ways.
"If we take you with us" he said
lr solemn words, "it can only be as b
ID levers In our solemn creed. We sha
N have no wolves in our fold, Better I;
g that your bones should bleach in tn
wilderness than that you should prov
T. to be that little speck Of decay whiC
ID in time corrupts the whole fruit. w
d. you come with us on these terms?
al Guess I'll come with you on al
lg terms" said Ferrier, with such Ell
he phasis that the grave elders could n
d. restrain a smile. The leader alone I
ry tanned his stern, impressive EXPIRE
sion.
n Take him, Brother Stangerson@
no said; give him food and drink, al
We the child likewise Let 1t be 20
no task also to teach MIN our holy cree
at We have delayed hong enough. FL
wardl On-on to Zion"
er "On-on to Zionl" cried the crov
Of Mormons, and the words rippl
en- down the long caravan. passing fro
mouth to mouth until they died aw
We In dull murmur in the far distan'
IN With a cracking Of whips and
eTeaking of wheels the great wag
ad got into motion. and soon the WHIT
nd co~,wan mas u-fpdfnu a1nnr on