The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-09-12
CHAPTER I.

Wind river, at no great distance from the
sourse Of the Green river, that great
western Colorado which pours iu waters
into the Gulf of California.
1t was about seven in the evening; the
traveller rode along, shivering from the
effects Of an icy wind which whistled
mourufully through the canyons. All
around had assumed saddening aspect
In the yacillating moonbeams de rode
on without hearing the football OF bis
horse, as it fell On the winding sheet OF
snow that covered the landscape; 1T times
the capricious windings OF the track ne
was following compelled BIN to pass
Through thickets, whose branches, bent
by the weight Of snow, stood out before
him like gigantic skeletons. and struck
each other after he had passed with
sullen snap.
The traveller continued his journey,
looking anxiously on both sides OF him.
His horse, fatigued by a long ride, STUN
bled at every step, and in spite OF the
repeated encours cement of its rider seem
ed determined to stop short, when after
turning an angle in the track, it suddenly
entered a large clearing, where the close
growing grass formed a circle about forty
yards in diameter and the yerdure formed
a CHEEKY contrast with the whiteness that
surrounded it.
Heaven be praised" the traveller e1-
claimed in excellent French, here is
spot where l can camp for tonight with
out any excessive inconvenience"
While thus speaking the traveller had
stopped his horse and dismounted His
frN attention was paid to his horse, from
which he removed the saddle and bride,
ana which he covered with his sarape, ap-
pearing to attach no Importance to the
cold, which was, however, extremely Sc
we're in these elevated regions. So soon
as it was free the animal in spite of its
fatigue began browsing heartily on the
grass, and thus treasured about his COM
panion. the traveller began thinking about
making arrangements for the night.
Ii was no easy task to find dry irewood
at spot almost aenuded of trees, and
whose soil. covered with snow. except
in the clearing, allowed nothing to be
distinguished; but the traveller was pa
tent, he would not be beaten. and within
an hour he had collected sufficient wood
TO feed through the night two such fires
as he proposed kindling.
"Ah ah," said the traveller, the fire
%fR do, so now for supper"
Then fumbling in the double pockets,
which travellers always carry fastened to
the saddle. he took from them all the re-
quisite elements of frugal meal; that is
70 say, pemmican and tassajo. or meat
dried in the sun. At the moment when,
after shutting up his alforgas, the trav-
eler raised his head to lay his meat on
the embers TO broil, he stopped motion
less, with widely opened mouth. and it
was only through a mighty strength OF
will that he suppressed a cry of surprise
and possibly of terror Although no sound
had revealed his presence, a man. leaning
on a long rife, was standing motionless
before him and gazing at him with pro-
found attention.
At once mastering the emotion he felt,
$he traveller carefully laid the tassajo on
the embers, and then without removing his
eve from this strange visitor. he stretched
out his arm to grasp his rifle, while say
Ing in a tone of the most perfect indif-
fe1hce
come. mate. 'Tis bitter night, so if you
are cold. warm yourself, and if you are
hungry, eat. When your nerves have re
gained their elasticity and your body its
usual strength we will have a frank ex-
planation, such as men of honor ought TO
have"
The stranger remained silent for some
seconds then, after shaking his head sew
eral times. said in a low and melancholy
voice. as if speaking to himself:
Can any human being really exist in
whose heart a feeling OF pity still re-
mains?
Make the trial. mate" the traveller an
swered, by accepting without hesitation
nv hearty offer. Two men who meet in
the desert must be friends. unless private
reasons make them implacable enemies.
Sit down and eat"
This dialogue had been held In Spanish.
language the stranger spoke with
facility that proved his Mexican origin.
FIAseemed TO reflect for moment and
then instantly made up his mind
Il accept" he said, flor your voice is
TOO sympathizing and your glance too
frank to deceive"
THAT is the way to speak" the trav-
aler said gaily "Sit down and eat with
out further delay
The stranger smiled sadly. The two
S<en then attacked with no ordinary vigor
tie provisions placed before them. The
general appearance of the stranger was
most wretched and his ragged clothes
scarce covered his bony, feshless body;
while his pale aud sickly features were
rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick,
disordere6 beard that fell on his chest.
His eyes, inhamed by fever and sur
sounded by black circles, glistened with
skmhre FIRE His weapons were in as bad
condition as his clothes, yet there was
In him something grand and sympathetic
which aroused not only pity but also
respect for torture 50 proudly hidden and
so nobly endured. This man, in short,
ere he fell so low, must have been great.
either in virtue or In vice, but assuredly
there was nothing common about him
and a mighty heart beat in his bosom.
There was rather long silence, during
which the two men INDUCED in thought.
The wind howled iercely over their heads,
the eddying snow was piling up around
them and the echoes of the canyons seem
ed TO utter notes of complaint. 1t was a
horrible night. Beyond the circle of