The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-11-15

Of the Platte river under the auspic-
ious shine Of an April sun. A better
route was along the south bank
where grass was more plentiful and
the Indians less troublesome. But
along the south bank parties OF
Gentiles might also be met,
and these sons OF perdition were to
be avoided at any cost-"at least for
the present." said Brigham, in tones
OF sage significance.
And so for 200 miles they broke a
new way over the plains, to be known
years after as "the old Mormon TRAIL"
to be %broadened later by the gold.
seekers of forty.nine, and still later
to be shod with steel, when the mira.
Gle Of a railway was worked in the
desert.
Joel Rae, walking beside his wagon,
meditated chiefly upon the manner in
which his Witness would first mani
fest itself. The wonder came, in a
way, while he thus meditated. Late
one afternoon the scouts thrown in
advance came hurry1ng back to re-
port q large band of Indians strung
out in battle array a few miles ahead.
The wagons were at n formed five
abreast, their one cannon was wheeled
to the front, and the company ad.
vanced in close formation. Perceiv-
ing these aggressive maneuvers, the
Indians seemed to change their plan
and, instead of coming on to attack,
were seen to be setting fire to the
prairie.
The result might we'll have been
disastrous. as the wind was blowing
toward the train. Joel Rae saw 1t;
saw that the time had come for a
miracle If the little company Of Saints
was to be saved a serious rebuff. He
quickly entered his wagon and began
to pray. He prayed that the Lord
might avert this calamity and permit
the handful of faithful ones to pro-
coed in peace to fashion His temple
on earth.
When he began to pray there had
been outside a woeful confusion OF
sounds,-scared and plunging horses,
believing oxen, excited men shouting
to the stock and to one another, the
barking of dogs and the rafting Of
the wagons. Through this din he
prayed, scarcely hearing his own
voice, yet feeling within himself the
faith that he knew must prevail. And
then as he prayed be became con-.
scious that these noises had subsidized
to a wonderful silence. A moment
this lasted, and then he heard it
broken by a mighty shout of gladness.
followed by excited calls from one
man to another.
He looked out in calm certainty to
observe in what manner the Lord had
consented to answer his petition. He
saw that the wind had veered and,
even as he looked, large drops of rain
came pounding unsteady upon his
wagon-cover. Far in front of them a
long, low line of flame was crawling
to the west, while above it lurid
clouds of smoke rolled away from
them. In another moment the full
force Of the shower was upon them
from a sky that half an hour before
had been %cloudless. Far off to the
right scurried the Indians, their feath-
cry figures lying low upon the backs
OF their small ponies. His heart
swelled within him, and he fell again
to his knees with many earnest words
Of thanksgiving for the intercession.
They at nee made camp for the
night, and by Brigham's fire later in
the evening Joel Rae confided the
truth of his miracle to that good man,
taking care not to utter the words
with any delight or pride in himself.
He considered that Brigham was un-
duly surprised by the occurrence;
almost d%ispleased in fact; showing a
tendency to attribute the days good
fortune to phenomena wholly natural.
Although the miracle had seemed to
him a small, simple thing, he now felt
a little ashamed of his performance.
He was pleased to note, however, that
Brigham became more gracious to
him after q short period Of reflection.
&4O "a oAOOO AA4AA AAuOOu AOI Lu0 ucilL
which he seemed to have gained in
the Lords sight; taking occasion to
remind him, however, that he, Brig
ham, had meant to produce the same
effects by a prayer OF his own in due
time to save the train from destruo-
ton; that he had chosen to wait, how.
ever, in order to try the faith of the
Saints.
BY the first of June they had
wormed their way over 500 miles of
plain to the trading post of Fort Lar
annie. Here they were at last forced
to the Platte and to take up
their march along the Oregon trail.
They were now in the land Of alkaline
deserts, of sage brush and grease.
wood, of sad, bleak, deadly stretches;
a land where the favor of Heaven
might have to be called upon If they
were to survive. Yet it was a land
not without inspiration.-a land OF
immense distances, of long, dim per.
snectives. and Of dreamy visions ip
the far, vague haze. In such a land,
thought JOel Rae. the shirt of the