Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-01-25
PROLOGUE

A face haunted Cameron-a wom-
ans face. 1t was there in the white
heart of the dying campfire; i hung
in the shadows that lowered over the
pickering light; it drifted in the dark
ness beyond.
This hour, when the day had closed
and the lonely desert night set in with
its dead silence, was one in which
Cameron's mind was thronged with
memories of a time long past-of
home back liz Peoria, OF woman he
had wronged and lost, and loved too
late. He was prospector for gold,
a hunter of solitude, a lover Of the
dread. rock-rfbbed infnitude, because
ne wanted to be alone to remember.
Then a sharp click of metal on
stone and soft pads OF boots in sand
prompted Cameron to reach for his
gun, and to move out of the light of
the waning campfire.
Figures darker than the gloom APP
preached and took shape, and in the
light turned out to be those of white
man and a heavily packed burro.
"HelIo there" the man called, as
ne came to a halt and gaSed about
him. 81 saw your fire. May I make
camp hereT"
Cameron came forth out of the
shadow and greeted his visitor, whom
he took for a prospector like himself.
Cameron resented the breaking of his
lonely campfire vigil, but he respect
ed the law of the desert.
The stranger thanked him, and then
slipped the pack from his burro.
Then he rolled out his pack and began
preparations for a meal The camp
fire burst into bright blaze, and by
its light Cameron saw a man whose
gray hair somehow did not seem to
make him old, and whose stopped
shoulders did not detract from an i'm
preston Of rugged strength.
Another of those strange desert
Drospectors in whom there was some
relentless driving power besides the
lust for gold! Cameron felt that be-
tween this man and himself there was
a subtle affinity, vague and underlined,
perhaps born of the divination that
here was desert wanderer like him
self, perhaps born of deeper, an un-
ineligible relation having its roots
back in the past A long-forgotten
sensation stirred in Cameron's breast,
one so long forgotten that he could
not recognize it. But it was akin to
pain.
When he awakened he found, to his
surprise, that his companion had de-
parted. A trail in the sand led off to
the north. There was no water in
that direction. Cameron shrugged his
shoulders; it was not his affair; he
had his own problems. And straight
way he forgot his strange visitor.
Cameron began his day, grateful for
the solitude that was now unbroken,
for the canon-furrowed, cactus-spired
scene that now slowed no sign of
life. While it was yet light, and he
was digging in a moist white-bOrdered
wash for water he was brought
sharply up by hearing the crack of
hard hoofs on stone. There down the
canon came a man on a burro. Cam
eron recognized them.
"Hello, friend" called the man, halt
ing. "Our trails crossed again-that's
good"
Hello" replied Cameron slowly.
<'Any mineral sign today?"
mo"
They made camp together, ate their
frugal meal, smoked a pipe, and rolled
In their blankets without exchanging
many words. In the morning the same
reucence, the same aloofness charac-
terized the manner of both. But Cam
eron's companion, when he had packed
his burro and was ready to start, faced
about and said "We might stay to-
gether. if it's all right with you"