The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-31

pour mad not been recent, for the HrSt
muddy flush had run off, and the tor
rent was clearly, darkly brown.
AS I neared the shepherds cottage
the ascent became easier, and wide
patches Of smooth grass land began to
spread out on both sides of the stream.
Opposite the house, but on the farther
bank, I saw a child playing. a boy of
perhaps 6 or Z a old. He saw me
at the same moment and. at sight OF a
stranger. bolted for the house like a
rabbit for it's burrow.
The only bridge was a bender trunk
thrown across the stream, and half way
he slipped and fell. Springing down,
marked track which I was just cross
ing, n which led. as 1 expected, to a
ford. Here the stream ran across a
level belt Of living rock, without a bub-
BILE or swirl.
1t was my first experience Of such a
brook, and I never dreamed of the ter
rible force hid in that 12-inch race of
flying water. The child was now with
in half a dozen yards Of where I
stood, and I leaped into the middle of
the stream. OF the next few minutes
I have the most confused idea. I
know that my feet failed to touch the
bottom, but at once were swept from
under me, and down 1 went, whirling
and houndering, to a pool below, to
find myself and the child floating in a
DaCkWater, and q mountain ASH sweep
ing my face.
AS I was now in some three feet Of
fairly quiet water and had in some
wonderful fashion shot through the
whirling eddies between the rocks
without q single blow, l swung the lit
tie boy On the bank and climbed after
him. AS I blinked the water out Of
my eyes, I saw a swiftly running figure
bearing down on us, a woman in short
ragged petticoats, and, by the way she
Rugged and kissed the child, who had
escaped as luckily as myself, l judged
her to be the mother.
She poured forth to me a flood of
language Of which 1 understood no sin
gle word, to her great surprise, as she
showed plainly when she discovered
that I was English. When she a
me wringing the water from my
clothes, she pointed to the house and
pulled my coat.
We We're reduced to signs, as I have
req Of merchant adventures anon
savages, but plain and common wants
are easily understood, and I stepped
away briskly toward the fire to which
she invited me.
Whitesock was standing just where
I had left her and l saw her safe under
cover of q shed before I entered the
house..
The latter was the rudest and sim
plest construction, built of rough, I'M
shapen stones, their chinks plastered
with mud, and rooted with a thatch Of
rushes. But inside, at one end of the
house. was a great turf fire glowing
redly on the hearth, the smok escaping
through a hole above.
The shepherds wife drew a stool to
the fire, n fairly thrust me down
upon it, talking all the while with ner-
vous energy. patting me every
now and then, and pressing my arm
as If she could not make enough Of me.
There seemed no sign Of any one about
the HOUSE but herself and the child, who
had placed himself on the other side
Of the fire. and within a moment the
steam began to rise from 10Th Of us
in clouds.
The omar busting about with
great activity. placed a small table at
my side, loaded it with what she had
a barley loaf, a cheese, a pitcher of
milk, and a wooden dish containing a
food which I had never seen before.
but have since found it to be a very
nourishtng preparation of oatmeal,
called in their tongue, uwd.
With many words, Of which I knew
not one. but also with many striking
and expressive gestures which, being
the language of nature and the heart,
I understood very well, she begged of
me to accept the best that she could
offer.
1 made shift to thank her in the
same manner, and fell to without de-
lay, for the mountain air sharpens ap-
petite. With much natural delicacy
she busted herself about other matters
while I ate, yet glancing from time to
time to see If h could mark n want
which she had the means of supplying.
When 1 had finished my meal, 1 was
still loath to start, for I was by no
means dry, and the wind would be keen
after sitting by this noble fire. My
hostess had disappeared, carrying a
huge pitcher, and, as l ppo about
some household task. when I heard a
rattle of hoofs on a stony patch near
the house. I looked up, n as I il
SO. a head thrust itself into the patch
of sky commanded by the little win
dow. The latter was a mere hole In
the wall, unglazed, and closed at night
by a wooden shutter, now hanging
back.
The head was thai of a man of IS
to 40 years of age, with fiery red hair,
mustache and. beard. His Y was
blue-gray. and bright and hard as a
falcons, his nose vas slightly hooked,
his mouth shut like g. spring-trap. But
1t was more the general expression Of
his features which impressed me thar
any special point among them.
HIS race was purely Roman in its
outline. Ny grandfather, who was
curious In such matters, formed at But
ley Croft a collection of ancient coins,
and often to my delight he had shown
me the contents Of his cabinet and told
me the stories connected with them.
Twelve hundred years or more had
passed since that great conQuering
race had left our island and yet here
was their impress stamped as strongly
and freshly as If this mar had marched
with sword and shield and plum un-
der the "a Of the eagle standard.
I a ample time to make NV ohserya-
tons, for the horseman remained per-
fectly still. his eye fixed as If watching
the far distance.
Then he started forward, and paused
again before the open door. He was
riding a small pony Of the mountain
breed. and, d~ismountins, he tied HIS
reins to a wooden peg fastened In the
wall, then entered the house without
ceremony. He was a tall, straight fell
low, six feet high at least, spare and
sinewy. He advanced directly to the
fire, and spread bis hands to the
warmth