Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER I.


in the thick folds Of a sarape. raised to
his eyes. was following one Of the most
Irecipitous 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 It's 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 whistied
mournfullg through the canyons. All
around had assumed a saddening aspect
in the Facilitating moonbeams. He rode
on without hearing the football of his
horse, az ii fell on the winding sheet of
snow that covered the landscape; at times
tie capricious windings Of the track he
was following compelled him TO pass
through Tickets. whose branches, bent
b. the weight Of snow. stood out before
him like gigantic skeletons. and struck
each other after he had passed with a
sulen snap.
The traveller continued his journey,
looking anxiously on both sides of him.
His horse fatiguad by a long ride, STUN
blcd at every step and in spite Of the
repeated encouragement of its rider seem
ell 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 vprdure formed
CHEEKY contrast with the whiteness that
surrounded it.
Heaven be praised :" the traveller ex-
claimed in excellent French. here is
sfot whore | 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
aad which he covered with his sarape. APP
pearing to attach no Importance to the
cold which was, however extremely Sc
we're in these elevated regions. SO soon
as 1t was free the animal. in spite of it's
fatigue, began browsing heartily on the
grass. and thus treasured about his com
panion. the traveller began thinking about
making arrangements for the night
il was no easy task to find dry frewood
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
ai'A'tF ~ NouId LOb be DtdItI. ana WltnlH
an hour he had collected sufficient wood
to feed through the night two such fires
as he proposed kindling
All 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 tray
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 IL 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 tassai 10 on
the emberS, and then without removing his
eye from this strange visitor. he stretched
out his arm 10 grasp his rife, while say
ing in tone of the most perfect indf-
ference:
Whether friend or foe, you are well
come. mate. It's 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 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 q 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
a language the stranger spoke with
facility that proved his Mexican origin
lie seemed to reflect for a moment and
then instantly made up his mind.
Il accept" he said. for your voice is
too sympathizing and your glance too
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 viror
the provisions placed before them. The
general appearance of the stranger was
most wretched and his ragged clothes
scarce covered his bony, fleshless body:
while his pale and sickly features were
rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick,
disordered beard that fell on his chest
His eyes. infamed by fever and sur
rounded by black circles, glistened with
sombre fire. His weapons were in as bad
a condition as his clothes. yet there was
in him something grand and sympathetic
which aroused not only pity but also
respect for torture so proudly hidden and
SO nobiy 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 mighty heart beat in his BOSOM
There was a rather long silence during
which the two men INDUCED in thought
The wind howled fiercely 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
light produced by the pickering flame of
the watch fire all was buried in dense
gloom.
Now that the ice is broken between
IS" the traveller said in friendly voice,
for we have been sitting at the same
fire and have eaten tosether-the moment
has arrived. | fancy. for us to become
thoroughly acquainted
The stranger nodded his head silently.
It was gesture that could be inter
nreted atirmatiyely or negatively, at
pleasure.
For twenty years | have been trav
srsing the prairies and great savannahs
u every direction. and | shall probably
continue to 10 so till an Indian bullet
comes from some thicket to stop my wan
behring's forever. Towns are hateful to
me. And now, mate, you know me as
we'll rs | do myself | will merely add,
in conclusion nv mama nD,opr fba