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Why didnt you say so before? she said, laughing gleefully. You gave me such a fright. Why, of course, now as long as we die well be with mother again. Yes, you will, dearie. And you too. Ill tell her how awful good youve been. Ill bet she meets us at the door of heaven with a big pitcher of water, and a lot of buckwheat cakes, hot, and toasted on both sides, like Bob and me was fond of. How long will it be first? I dont knownot very long. The mans eyes were fixed upon the northern horizon. In the blue vault of the heaven there had appeared three little specks which increased in size every moment, so rapidly did they approach. They speedily resolved themselves into three large brown birds, which circled over the heads of the two wanderers, and then settled upon some rocks which overlooked them. They were buzzards, the vultures of the West, whose coming is the forerunner of death. Cocks and hens, cried the little girl gleefully, pointing at their ill-omened forms, and clapping her hands to make them rise. Say, did God make this country? Of course He did, said her companion, rather startled by this unexpected question. He made the country down in Illinois, and He made the Missouri, the little girl continued. I guess somebody else made the country in these parts. Its not nearly so well done. They forgot the water and the trees. What would ye think of offering up prayer? the man asked diffidently. It aint night yet, she answered. It dont matter. It aint quite regular, but He wont mind that, you bet. You say over them ones that you used to say every night in the wagon when we was on the plains. Why dont you say some yourself? the child asked, with wondering eyes. I disremember them, he answered. I haint said none since I was half the height o that gun. I guess its never too late. You say them out, and Ill stand by and come in on the choruses. Then youll need to kneel down, and me too, she said, laying the shawl out for that purpose. Youve got to put your hands up like this. It makes you feel kind of good. It was a strange sight, had there been anything but the buzzards to see it. Side by side on the narrow shawl knelt the two wanderers, the little prattling child and the reckless, hardened adventurer. Her chubby face and his haggard, angular visage were both turned up to the cloudless heaven in heartfelt entreaty to that dread Being with whom they were face to face, while the two voicesthe one thin and clear, the other deep and harshunited in the entreaty for mercy and forgiveness. The prayer finished, they resumed their seat in the shadow of the boulder until the child fell asleep, nestling upon the broad breast of her protector. He watched over her slumber for some time, but Nature proved to be too strong for him. For three days and three nights he had allowed himself neither rest nor repose. Slowly the eyelids drooped over the tired eyes, and the head sunk lower and lower upon the breast, until the mans grizzled beard was mixed with the gold tresses of his companion, and both slept the same deep and dreamless slumber. Had the wanderer remained awake for another half-hour a strange sight would have met his eyes. Far away on the extreme verge of the alkali plain there rose up a little spray of dust, very slight at first, and hardly to be distinguished from the mists of the distance, but gradually growing higher and broader until it formed a solid, well-defined cloud. This cloud continued to increase in size until it became evident that it could only be raised by a great multitude of moving creatures. In more fertile spots the observer would have come to the conclusion that one of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie |
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