Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-08-30
CHAPTER L


mounted traveller, carefully wrapped up
In the thick folds of a sarape, raised to
his eyes, was following one of the most
precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the
Wind river, at no great distance from the
source OF the Green river, that great
western Colorado which pours its 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
mournfully through the canyons. All
around had assumed a saddening aspect
in the vacillating moonbeams. He rode
on without hearing the football of his
horse, as it fell on the winding sheet of
snow that covered the landscape; at times
the capricious windings of the track he
was following compelled him 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 a
sullen snap.
The traveller continued his journey,
looking anxiously on both sides of him.
His horse, fatigued by long ride, STUN
bled at every step, and in spite of the
repeated encouragement OF It's rider seem
ed determined to stop short, when, after
turning an angle in the track, it suddenly
entered large clearing, where the close
growing grass formed a circle about forty
yards in diameter and the verdure formed
a CHEEKY contrast with the whiteness that
surrounded it.
Heaven be praised ~ the traveller ex-
claimed in excellent French, here is a
spot where l can camp for tonight with
out any excessive Inconvenience"
While thus speaking the traveller had
stopped his horse and dismounted. His
first 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 it's
fatigue, began browsing heartily on the
grass, and thus reassured about his COM
panion, the traveller began thinking about
making arrangements for the night.
1t was no easy task to find dry frewood
at a spot almost denuded of trees, and
whose soil, covered with snow, except
IN the clearing, allowed nothing to be
distinguished; but the traveller was pa
tient, 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 kinding.
"Ah! ! ah," said the traveller, 'the fire
will 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
to 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 notion
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 long rifle, was standing motionless
before him and gazing at him with pro-
found attention.
At once mastering the emotion he felt,
the traveller carefully laid the tassajo on
the embers, and then without removing his
eye from this strange visitor, he stretched
out his arm to grasp his rife, while say
ing in a tone of the most perfect indif-
ference:
whether friend or foe, you are well
come, mate 'Tis bitter night. so if you
are cold, warm yourself, and if you are
hungry, eat. When your nerves have re-
-o;ood tbo;r oIast;o;ty opd your hoJ,, &c
usual strength we will have a frank ex-
PLANTATION, 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 low and melancholy
voice, as if speaking to himself:
Can any human being really exist in
whose heart feeling Of pity still re-
mains?"
MAKE the trial, mate" the traveller an
swered, 'by accepting without hesitation
my 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
q language the stranger spoke with a
facility that proved his Mexican origin
He seemed to reflect for moment and
then instantly made up his mind.
II accept" he said, "for your voice is
too sympathizing and your glance toe
frank to deceive"
"That is the way to speak," the trav.
eler said gaily. "Sit down and eat with.
out further delay"
The stranger smiled sadly. The two
men then attacked with no ordinary vigor
the 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 and sickly features were
rendered more sad and gloomy by thick
disordered beard that fell on his chest
His eyes, inHamed by fever and sur.
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