Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-04-26
CHAPTER I.

c2JD"' 'rct folds of sarape, raised to
ID. ~, was following one of the most
b e s' sIoncs of the Sierra of the
f'.aP .,.ar nj no great distance from the
N2o "a - the Green river, that great
9if" Colorado which pours it's waters
'a, %s Gulf Of California.
;o IT,. ohovt seven in the evening; the
u VS. S~ roda along, shiyering from the
a'"' # IN icy wind which whistled
%"~ a,rr through the canyons. All
S''.rI Ind assumed a saddening aspect
'' .s, Facilitating moonbeams. He rode
u ..Loof hearing the football of his
# fell on the winding sheet of
Y. ,. ,bor covered the landscape; at times
s'" ,nririous windings OF the track he
N forroving compelled him to pass
y" ,,b thirkcts. whose branches, bent
.D, wv, woight of snow, stood out before
lila gigantic skeletons, and struck
'r ~, othor after he had passed with a
'' Nh. traveller continued his journey,
,.t:n, anziously on both sides of him.
~. horse fatiguod by a long ride, STUN
~J at every step, and in spite of the
',,,,tol encouragement of its rider seem
" 5,tcrminod to stop short, when, after
,,rrfnr an angle in the track, it suddenly
,,,,r,I large clearing, where the close
,.,rinr rrass formed a circle about forty
',r.. in diameter and the verdure formed
, CHEEKY contrast with the whitcness that
grrOundod IT.,
Heaven be praiscd!' the traveller ex-
claimed in excellent French, here is a
s-or where | can camp for tonight with
m.t onv excessive inconvenience"
While thus speaking the traveller had
,oYpcd his horse and dismounted. His
fr,t attention was paid to his horse, from
rbch he removed the saddle and bride,
s,d which he covered with his sarape, ap-
nearing to attach no Importance to the
od, which was, however, extremely Sc
r,rp in these elevated regions. SO soon
IS it was free the animal, in spite Of it's
fatigue. began browsing heartily on the
rass. and thus reaSsured about his COM
anion, the traveller began thinking about
akng arrangements for the night.
Il was no easy task to find dry firewood
i spot almost denuded of trees, and
those soil. covered with snow, except
D the clearing, allowed nothing to be
Niuguished; but the traveller was pa
0t, he would not be beaten, and within
D hour he had collected sufficient wood
} feed through the night two such fires
he proposed kindling.
All, ah,' said the traveller, "the fire
i'll do. SO now for supper"
Then fumbling in the double pockets,
Mch travellers always carry fastened to
n saddle he took from them all the re-
ljSjto elements of a frugal meal; that is
say, pommican and tassajo, or meat
led in the sun. At the moment when,
Ter shutting up his alforgas, the tray
or raised his head to lay his meat on
e cmhors TO broiI, he stopped motion
IS, with widely opened mouth, and it
rs only through Il mighty strength of
IL that he suppressed a cry of surprise
ID possibly of terror. Although no sound
d revealed his presence, a man, leaning
long rifle, was standing motionless
fore him and gazing at him with pro-
ind attention.
At once mastering the emotion he felt,
traveller carefully laid the tassajo on
emoorS, and then without removing his
from this strange visitor, he stretched
his arm TO grasp his rifle, while say
IN tone of the most perfect indif-
vnca:
Whether friend or foe, you are well
ne, mate. lis bitter night, so if you
cold warm yourself, and if you are
lSry, eat. When your nerves have re-
ned their elasticity and your body it's
Ia. strength we will have a frank ex-
nation, such as men of honor ought to
;o"
HE stranger remained silent for some
onds; then, after shaking his head sew
j times, said in a low and melancholy
&c, as if speaking to himself:
Tan ony human being really exist in
oS2 heart feeling Of pity still re-
ms"
Make the trial. mate" the traveller an
tod by accepting without hesitation
hearty offer. Two men who meet in
desert must be friends, unless private
sons make them implacable enemies.
down and cat"
his dialogue had been held in Spanish,
2nguage the stranger spoke with a
1Iy that proved his Mexican origin.
seemed TO reflect for a moment and
Il instantly made up his mind.
! accept he said, ''for your voice is
Sympathizing and your glance too
Iii TO deceive"
HAT IS the way to speak," the trav-
Sa'i sally. sit down and eat with
further delay"
De stranger smiled sadly. The two
Then attacked with no ordinary vigor
provisions placed before them. The
''AI appearance of the stranger was
, "F'.ohcd and his ragged clothes
". covered his bony, Aeshless body;
.' his pale and sickly features were
''.Nd more sad and gloomy by thick,
F"ered beard that fell on his chest.
eyes, inhamed by fever and sur
1'ed by black circles, glistened with
Ore fire, His weapons were in as bad
mutton as his clothes, yet there was
Inn something grand and sympathetic
So aroused not only pity but also
ecJ Tor torture so proudly hidden and
molly endured. This man, in short,
lie Tell so low, must have been great,
T IN virtue or in vice; but assuredly
g was nothing common about nm
" mighty heart beat in his bosom.