diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:06:59 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:06:59 -0700 |
| commit | 0c0be9d95e3d2e7c70c660658d4a69b3327061b7 (patch) | |
| tree | 1ce7b4265ee84159aa648063005ef06bdad1897b | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 479648 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/36999-h.htm | 6822 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 38272 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/deco.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3028 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/illus1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 80316 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/illus2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 80139 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/illus3.jpg | bin | 0 -> 58075 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999-h/images/illus4.jpg | bin | 0 -> 77542 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999.txt | 6576 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36999.zip | bin | 0 -> 135329 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
13 files changed, 13414 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36999-h.zip b/36999-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1690aef --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h.zip diff --git a/36999-h/36999-h.htm b/36999-h/36999-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..523b3e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/36999-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6822 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Land Of Lure, by Elliott Smith. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Land of Lure, by Elliott Smith + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Land of Lure + A Story of the Columbia River Basin + +Author: Elliott Smith + +Release Date: August 7, 2011 [EBook #36999] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF LURE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE LAND of LURE</h1> + +<h3>A STORY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN</h3> + +<h2>By ELLIOTT SMITH</h2> + +<h3>Author of "THE BELLS OF THE BOSQUE," "HULL 97."</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/deco.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><i>1920<br /> +PRESS OF<br /> +SMITH-KINNEY COMPANY<br /> +Tacoma, Wash.</i></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1920<br /> +By ELLIOTT SMITH</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"><i>DEDICATED<br /> TO MARIE SMITH—HIS WIFE</i></p> + +<p><i>Although I was one of those who "Tried, failed and went away to try and +forget, if possible," her unfaltering faithfulness, and endurance, made +it possible for me to see and feel the things that I have written in +this—HER BOOK.</i></p> + +<p class="right"><i>—ELLIOTT SMITH.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Misshapen and dwaft by the pitiless rays of the +desert sun.</i></h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INDEX TO CHAPTERS</h2> + +<table width="50%"> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter I. </a></td><td align="right">9</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II. </a></td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III. </a></td><td align="right">29</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Chapter IV. </a></td><td align="right">37</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V. </a></td><td align="right">42</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI. </a></td><td align="right">57</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Chapter VII. </a></td><td align="right">64</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Chapter VIII. </a></td><td align="right">70</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Chapter IX. </a></td><td align="right">80</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Chapter X. </a></td><td align="right">90</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Chapter XI. </a></td><td align="right">96</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Chapter XII. </a></td><td align="right">104</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Chapter XIII. </a></td><td align="right">113</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Chapter XIV. </a></td><td align="right">123</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Chapter XV. </a></td><td align="right">136</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Chapter XVI. </a></td><td align="right">149</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Chapter XVII. </a></td><td align="right">163</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Chapter XVIII. </a></td><td align="right">179</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Chapter XIX. </a></td><td align="right">193</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Chapter XX. </a></td><td align="right">206</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Chapter XXI. </a></td><td align="right">223</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Chapter XXII. </a></td><td align="right">236</td></tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Land of Lure</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The early March wind was blowing with its usual force, and white wisps +of clouds were scurrying across the barren waste that lay between the +rough canyon, through which the raging torrents of the Columbia River +forced its way to the Pacific Ocean, and the range of hills thirty miles +farther south. The clouds seemed to mount higher, and take on greater +speed, while crossing this scene of desolation, and graveyard of buried +hopes, as if anxious to leave behind them the glare of the desert sands, +and the appealing eyes of the few unfortunate homesteaders, who were +compelled to remain on their claims until they had complied with the +demands made by a beneficient Government before they could become sole +owners of the spot upon which many of them were now making their last +efforts for a home of their own.</p> + +<p>The ever present sage brush and tufts of scant bunch grass, dwaft by the +ages of drouth and the pitiless glare of the hot sun's rays, bowed +before each gust of the sand ladened wind and emitted weird and +unearthly sounds, as if the deported denizens of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> the desert were +warning the white man against the hopeless task of trying to wrest from +the jack rabbit and coyote the haunts over which they had held +undisputed sway for ages.</p> + +<p>Deserted shacks, formerly the homes of earlier settlers, broken fences +posts, with tangled strands of barbed wire, each told their story of a +struggle for existence, defeat and departure, more pitiful than all the +stories of Indian massacres ever written. Here was a battle field, the +opposing forces being poverty, courage and determination, arrayed +against the elements.</p> + +<p>Reinforcements, in the way of hardy homesteaders, were being constantly +drawn into this unequal contest, armed with no other weapon than the +ever abiding hope that nature would so alter her laws as to conform to +this particular locality, lured by the sound of those magic words: "A +home of your own," were ready to come into this deserted territory and +take up the legacies of blasted hopes, equipped with new ideas, and +seemingly fortified by the unfortunate experiences of others who had +made the trial, failed and gone their way to try and forget, if +possible, the ordeal through which they had passed. Trusting that the +touch of the magic wand, in the form of irrigation, would cause the +crystal water to flow, and convert the region into a garden of untold +wealth.</p> + +<p>The winter preceding the March, during which our story opens, had been +an exceptionally hard one in the Central and Middle Western states, +floods and other unfortunate conditions having almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> completely +destroyed the crops and thereby entailing a loss that was keenly felt +throughout the region, and causing a spirit of unrest among the poorer +element; a desire for a chance to throw off the yoke of dependents, as +wage earners, and to seek fields of greater opportunities. The +newspapers and magazines were filled with articles lauding the "Back to +the Soil" movement, and the country was flooded with pamphlets and +folders, in which glowing descriptions of the opportunities afforded the +homeseekers in the far Northwest was given.</p> + +<p>The railroads whose lines reached this vast territory were making +special rates to prospective home builders, and daily homeseekers' +excursions were being run over these routes. Trains loaded with eager +tourists, bound for the land of their dreams, the mecca of their hopes, +the happy land of somewhere; firmly believing that they, at least, had +within their reach the goal for which they, and many of their fathers, +had striven for years. To some, and in fact to a great many, this dream +was to become a reality, and to those whose hardy constitution and +indomitable determination has made such a transformation possible, is +due the development of an Empire in the far Northwest.</p> + +<p>It is with one of these tourist families that our story has to deal. +Travis Gully, a man of middle age, had been born and reared in the +county of Champaign, Illinois, and had lived but a few miles from the +town of that name, he had seen it grow from a small village to its +present state of importance. In the neighborhood where he had lived he +was well known,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> and generally liked. He had taken but casual interest +in things socially, and had mingled but little with the young people of +his set. He had always worked as a farmhand, and had acquired but little +in the way of an education. At the age of twenty-three, he married +Minnie Padgitt, the daughter of a country minister, and had settled down +to the life of a farmer, on a rented farm. At the age of thirty-eight he +was the father of four girls and one sturdy boy, and was still renting, +having made but one change in location since his marriage. Content to +toil for his family, never having had aroused in him a desire for a +better lot in life. The ambition for a home of his own, having lain +dormant for so long, it is not surprising that, when once awakened, it +was all consuming. The awakening came suddenly during one of his regular +weekly visits to town.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, being attracted by a crowd on the station platform, +Gully wandered down toward the center of excitement, and beheld a number +of his friends, shaking hands and bidding goodbye to others of his +acquaintances, who he judged from their dress and excited appearance, +were evidently leaving on the train, that had just pulled in and now +stood with engine panting and clanging bell, waiting for the signal to +leave with its long string of coaches, the windows of which were raised +on the station side, regardless of the cold snow-laden March wind that +came in fitful gusts into the eager faces that peered in twos and threes +from each window. Faces that bore the smile of comradeship, whether +beaming on friend or stranger. Some were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> an enigma; back of the smile +could be seen traces of sadness, sorrow at leaving old homes and +friends, combined with expressions of firm determination to go +brave-heartedly into the great unknown country.</p> + +<p>With questioning gaze, Gully approached a group of his acquaintances, +who stood apart from the crowd. As he came up, and before he could ask +the cause of the excitement, he was greeted by one of the party:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Trav! Going with us?" he asked, with outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>Gully seized the proffered hand of his friend, William Gowell. "Going +where?" he asked. "I did not know you were leaving, Bill."</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Gowell, "hadn't you heard about it? Going to the +Northwest to take up a homestead. Lots of the people from here are +going," and he named over several of their mutual friends, who had sold +their possessions and were taking advantage of the homeseekers' rates. +He told him of the great advantages offered by the new country, and +added: "Better come on, Trav."</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, after talking with his friends, was astonished and +bewildered by what he learned. A special car had been sent into Chicago, +loaded with a display of the products of this new country, specimens of +timber, minerals, grain and fruit, apples, pears and peaches, the like +of which had never before been seen. "And just think, such land as +produced this fruit was free, open for settlement. All one had to do was +to live on it for a while, and it was theirs."</p> + +<p>As he listened to these astounding statements, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> asked himself: "Why +was it not possible for him to take advantage of this golden +opportunity? Why could not he, like so many of his friends, sell out and +follow in a few weeks? He would see what could be done." And with this +resolve, fired by this new ambition to possess a home of his own, +prompted by the advice of those of his friends who were casting their +lot with those of the homeseekers, he eagerly sought out each source of +information, even to making inquiry as to the probable cost of tickets +for himself and family, and after bidding those of his friends who were +going goodbye, he watched the train until it rounded a curve that hid it +from view, and promising himself that he would follow at the earliest +possible moment. With pockets bulging with folders, maps and descriptive +literature, he hurried home with the eagerness of a child, to prepare +his family for their first move into the land of unlimited +possibilities.</p> + +<p>Gully, upon his arrival home, was met at the gate by his two eldest +girls, who, after opening the gate, received the few small bundles +brought by their father, and scurried away to the house to announce his +arrival. He watched them as they raced to the door. Ida, the eldest, a +slight girl who had just entered her teens, had been her mother's help +in caring for the younger members of the family, had taken up her share +of the household duties since she could stand upon a chair at the +kitchen table, and wash the few dishes after each meal, and then care +for the ever present baby, while her mother took up the never ending +duties of her sordid existence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> This constant strain on the girl had +robbed her of her natural childhood and aged her prematurely. This fact +was noted by the father in his present frame of mind as it never had +been before. He thought of the advantages of the freedom of the far +Northwest, and pictured to himself the fields of waving grain, and +over-burdened orchards, as shown in the booklets he had hastily scanned, +and thought of them as his own, as a play ground for his children.</p> + +<p>Driving into the barn yard, Gully cared for his team; each little chore, +as it was done, was accompanied with thoughts that heretofore had never +been taken into consideration. As he hung up the harness he viewed it +critically, and wondered how much it would bring at a sale. He walked +around his faithful team and asked himself if their age would impair +their value. When he went to the crib for corn he estimated the quantity +on hand, and calculated its probable worth. Never before had he +considered his small possessions from such a view point.</p> + +<p>So absorbed was he in this new mental activity that he took no note of +time, and he was suddenly aroused by the children, who had been sent to +tell him that supper was ready. On the way to the house, in response to +the summons, his hand constantly clutched the papers in his pocket. +Nervous and abstractedly he entered the kitchen, where his wife was +busily engaged placed the supper on the table. So absorbed was she that +she failed to notice his coming in; not until they were seated at the +supper table did she note the change in his appearance, and then only +after he had made some reference to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> fact that he had seen William +Gowell while in town, and that he was leaving the country; that the +Moodys and Lanes and several others of their acquaintance had also gone +on the same train. He then told her of all he had heard of this great +country to which so many of their friends had gone, of his wish to go +with his family and share the opportunities. He went into detail and +explained what the cost of going would be; what he hoped to realize from +the sale of their possessions, even if sold at a sacrifice.</p> + +<p>He talked on feverishly, forgetting the frugal meal set before him, +forgetting the tired children, who, little knowing the important part +this proposed move was to play in their future, had eaten their supper, +and all but the two eldest were nodding in their chairs. He showed his +wife and the two oldest girls the illustrations in the folders, showing +the pictures of just such farms as the last few hours had convinced him +he might own.</p> + +<p>Seizing a teaspoon from his untouched cup of coffee, he used the handle +to point out rows of—to them meaningless—figures, compiled to show the +millions of feet of timber, tons of grain and fruit produced. To him it +was equally meaningless, except in a vague way. His untrained mind was +incapable of grasping the extent of the information conveyed, but he had +accepted it all as simple facts, for had not Gowell, Moody and Lane +acknowledged their faith in it by going. Thus he talked on until +exhausted. The family retired at an unusual hour, the wife and children +to wonder what it was all about, and he to toss restlessly from the +effects of an over exhausted mind.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>He arose early the following morning, having formulated his plans during +the restless night, and immediately began to put them into execution. He +had decided to hold a public sale the following Saturday, and if +successful, would be on his way to his future home the next Monday, on +which date he had learned another homeseekers' excursion would come +through his home town. To accomplish this would require rapid work, and +before breakfast on the morning following this resolve, he was up +assembling his few belongings, getting them in shape for the sale. Old +farming implements were pulled from long forgotten nooks and corners, +incomplete sets of harness and bridles were being over hauled and made +fit to bring the best possible price, the flock of poultry was counted +and an estimate made of their probable value, the two cows, with their +calves, the three pigs, kept over to provide the following winter's +supply of meat, his team, wagon and harness, together with his household +goods, constituted his earthly possessions.</p> + +<p>The few days following the hastily made plans were filled with incidents +that tried the patience of the tired wife and mother. To her it was all +like a dream. It was the first time she had ever been taken into her +husband's confidence or been consulted as to his plans for the future. +She did not realize that she was expected to express an opinion as to +the wisdom of the proposed move; if he said it was advisable the matter +was settled.</p> + +<p>The constant demand on both her and the older children for assistance in +assembling the various<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> articles intended for the sale was met with +unquestioning silence, and not until her aged father and mother came to +see if the rumors of their departure which had reached them were true, +did she realize to the fullest extent what her going away really meant; +that it meant the leaving behind those aged parents, from whom she had +never been separated except for a few miles; that it meant the severance +of all the ties and scenes with which she had been associated from her +earliest recollection to the present time.</p> + +<p>The realization of this fact came upon her with a sudden shock that +stirred within her the first semblence of rebellion that her simple +nature had ever shown. To this feeling of remonstrance she gave way but +for a moment, then with violent weeping she threw herself down at her +mother's knee, and with her head buried in the aged woman's lap, the +cradle of comfort she had always known, she vowed she would not go. +"Travis was wrong; they were doing well enough where they were; father +must stop him, and not let him sell everything and go away," but when +the aged mother placed her trembling hand upon the bowed head and +assured her that "Travis knew what was best, it was probably a wise +move, she and father had talked the matter over as soon as they had +heard that they were going, and regretted that they were not at an age, +to accompany them. She must do as her husband said for his and the +children's sakes, and then too," she added, "perhaps father and I can +come later, after you are settled in your new home." With this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +assurance the kind old mother comforted her weeping daughter, who, after +recovering from her first and only outbreak, arose and resumed her +duties with such an attitude of utter indifference that her husband and +father, who had been looking over the articles arranged for the sale the +following day, saw no evidence of her grief upon returning to the house +a few moments after the occurrence.</p> + +<p>Gully's enthusiasm, as he discussed with his wife's father and mother +the advantages of the new country to which he was going, knew no bounds. +He had acquired from his constant reference to the descriptive +literature he had in his possession a fund of facts and figures that +were most convincing, and he referred them unhesitatingly to persons who +had seen this exhibition car while on its tour, and who could verify the +statements as set forth in the circulars. Thus he talked on until long +after the supper, to which the old people had stayed, was over, and +after promising to return the following day to be present at the sale, +they had driven home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>The notices of sale, which had been posted throughout the neighborhood, +was held the following day. The attendance was good, and its success, +financially, exceeded Travis Gully's expectations, bringing him a much +larger amount than he had hoped to realize. This was no doubt due to the +spirited bidding of numerous relatives and friends, who chose this +method of aiding the departing family.</p> + +<p>After the last of those who had bought had taken their purchases and +departed, and but a few of the idle curious remained, viewing the small +pile of articles that had proven unsalable, the reaction came to Travis +Gully in a manner that fairly staggered him. As he beheld this remnant +of his years of accumulation of personal effects laying discarded and +rejected by all, he glanced in the direction of his huddled wife and +children, who were awaiting the departure of the vehicle which was to +carry them to her parents home. Haggard and dejected they looked. He had +not counted on the effect on them, and it smote him. "Oh, well, they +would soon be settled again, and in a home of their own, where every +nail that was driven, every tree that was planted, would be for them, +and would be theirs." With this consoling thought, he thrust his hand +into his pocket and walked toward the barn. He started<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> as his finger +tips came in contact with the money, the proceeds of the sale. Drawing +it forth, he held it for a moment and stared. This, then, was the price +of his wife and children's content; t'was for the acquirement of this +that he had dispoiled their poor little home, and they were, at that +very moment, looking regretfully at the little pile of rubbish, each and +every article of which, though refused by others, could be associated +with some pleasant moment of their lives.</p> + +<p>Returning the money to his pocket, and with such thoughts as the above +filling his mind, he entered the barn. There, too, he was overcome with +a feeling of loneliness; the empty stalls where for years his team had +stood, the unfinished feed of hay in the manger just as they had left it +when those faithful creatures had been led away by the hand of new +owners; the cobs from which the corn had been eagerly bitten were still +damp from contact with the mouths that had yielded so willingly to his +guiding hand. Noting each little detail as it gnawed its way into his +soul, he broke down, and with bowed head he wept as only a grief +stricken man can, and thus they found him when he was sought, to tell +him that they were ready to take him and his family, for the last time, +from the home they had occupied for so many years.</p> + +<p>The few unsold articles of household goods and those reserved to be +taken on the trip, together with the family, were taken to the home of +Mrs. Gully's parents, where they were to remain until final preparations +for the journey were completed. The evening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> after and the day following +the sale were both long to be remembered periods in the lives of those +concerned. At intervals friends or relatives would call to bid farewell, +and to wish the Gullys Godspeed on their journey. At such times the +subject of the trip was taken up and discussed, but was referred to at +other times as seldom as possible.</p> + +<p>The term "The Northwest" was usually applied in a general way. None of +those directly interested seemed to appreciate the vast area comprising +this territory. Their conception of it was confined to an area about the +size of the county in which they lived, or at best, a portion of their +home state. They readily received and promised to deliver messages to +those of their neighborhood who had preceded them on the journey.</p> + +<p>The selection of a final destination was the question of most +importance. The states of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon each +offered exceptional opportunities to the homesteaders with limited +means. So after deciding to buy through tickets to a coast point, with +stopover privilege, there was nothing to do but await the day of +departure.</p> + +<p>At last the Monday came that was to be an epoch in the lives of Travis +Gully and his family. It being but a few miles to the station, an early +noonday meal was eaten, bounteous supplies of lunches were stored neatly +away for the travelers who, with their various trunks, satchels and +bundles, were loaded into a wagon and sent to the village earlier in the +day, the family following after lunch. The intervening time between +their arrival at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> station and that of the train upon which they were +going was one of intense excitement. The unaccustomed ordeal of +purchasing tickets, reserving berths in the tourist sleeper, and +checking the baggage, together with constant interruptions with offers +of well meant advice and suggestions from their friends, kept nerves +strained to the breaking point.</p> + +<p>At the sound of the whistle of the incoming train, hearts throbbed +wildly, or missed a stroke; the children were hurriedly embraced, the +parting kiss and tender final pat given; the mother and father came +forward to bid Gully and his wife goodbye; then pent up feeling broke +their bonds and mother and daughter wept in each others arms. Amid this +scene of sorrow, excitement and flurry the train, with grinding brakes, +hissing air valves and clanging bell, drew up to the station and +stopped.</p> + +<p>The time between the stopping of the train and the conductors deep, +gutteral, "All aboard," seemed but the briefest, yet 'twas ample, and +with final good-byes said and tears hastily dried, they were bundled +helter skelter into their seats, and with the waving of many hands from +the station platform, they were on their way.</p> + +<p>As the train's speed increased and familiar objects were being rapidly +left behind, with new and strange landscapes being reeled off, the +children, with eager faces pressed closely to the car windows, gave +joyous expressions of childish delight, while the mother sat silent, +oblivious to her surroundings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Travis Gully, with his newborn spirit of independent manhood struggling +within him, sat stolidly awaiting the approaching conductor, as if +uncertain of the fact that he was really going, until he had submitted +the mass of yellow and green strips of cardboard, which he was firmly +clutching in his hand, to that official for inspection.</p> + +<p>Settled down at last for the long journey over new country, the constant +change of new scenes and experiences kept the family entertained and +their minds diverted from their personal discomforts, and they soon gave +evidence of interest and delight. The wife's spirits being thus revived, +she viewed the panorama of passing scenes with ever increasing interest, +and discussed her future plans and hopes with feverish eagerness. As +their first night as tourists approached, and the outer world was shut +out by darkness, the berths were made ready by the deft hands of the +train porter, and both upper and lower sections were huddled full of +drowsy and fretful children. The unaccustomed noise and noisome +atmosphere gave but little promise of rest for the tired father and +mother. Long into the night they lay awake, their minds filled with +hope, fear and uncertainty, that crowded their way to the front with +such rapidly changing sensations that exhaustion finally overcame them, +and with the constant rattle of the train, as it crossed the joints in +the rails, dinning its way into their benumbed brains, they sank into +unconsciousness.</p> + +<p>Morning found them but little refreshed, but after partaking of the +steaming coffee, prepared on a stove with which the car was equipped for +the purpose,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> and eating a hearty meal, they took note of the changed +appearance of the country through which they were passing. Miles and +miles of flat level country, partially covered with snow, drifted by the +winter wind, with an occasional spot swept bare, which showed the brown +stubble of the wheat field or plowed ground made ready for the spring +planting. Fences were rare, and looking out across the country, the home +could be seen, and they appeared miles apart; straw stacks, around which +frowsey haired horses and cattle stood, dotted the landscape.</p> + +<p>The afternoon of their second day out the blue foothills of the Rockies +could be seen in the distance, and as they gradually drew nearer, they +were whirled through miles of barren waste of sage brush, the shrub that +was to play an ever active part in their future lives.</p> + +<p>The three days following were much the same; over mountains, valleys, +plains and steams they were speeded until, becoming inured to the +constant changes, they ceased to comment. The grandure of the scenery +did not appeal to their undeveloped finer senses; they were simply awed +by its vastness.</p> + +<p>The morning of their arrival at Wenatchee, Washington, the point chosen +for their first stop, was bright and clear. The fresh mountain air swept +down from the pine covered slopes of the hills that surrounded one of +the most fertile valleys in the state, in the heart of which nestled the +little city, justly famed for its magnificent fruit. Miles of splendid +orchards, starting at the very threshold of the business blocks, +extended back to the hills on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> both sides of the valley. The low drone +of the bees as they swarmed forth among the fast swelling buds in quest +of the first sip of nectar, mingled with the roar of the turbulent +Columbia river, and made music that soothed the tired travelers as +nothing else could.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was impressed with the signs of plenty that were visable at +every hand. By inquiry, he learned that hundreds of acres as valuable as +that contained in the surrounding valley were available for +homesteading. All it needed was water. He soon made the acquaintance of +a professional "Locator," a human parasite that hovers around the border +of all Government land. In this particular instance the "locator" was a +venerable patriarch, with flowing white beard and benign countenance, +who assured Gully that "He had just the place for him. It was about +fifty miles back over the route he had come. Did he not remember that +beautiful stretch of rolling land through which he had passed? That was +the place. Thousands of acres of this fine land was now being taken up +by homesteaders. He must act quickly or his opportunity would be gone." +After listening to a glowing description of this paradise, Gully agreed +to accompany him to see the land, which he did the following day.</p> + +<p>There are times when it seems that fate plays into the hand of the +trickster, and on this particular day nature was extremely lavish with +her blessings. Never had the spring sun shone more brightly, the balmy +air was laden with the elixir of good will and contentment, every +soothing draught taken into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> the lungs spread like an intoxicant, +filling the brain with dreams of success and achievements that danced +just ahead, almost within reach, yet still to be striven for.</p> + +<p>Gully, whose mind was filled with the contents of the circulars he had +read, and who had seen the statements made therein, verified in the +locality he had chosen to make his first stop, firmly believed in the +possibilities of the land shown him, and made filing on it immediately +upon his return to the town. He did not question the possibilities of +irrigation or take into account its remoteness; neither did he +investigate the results of past efforts put forth by others in this +conquest of the desert. It was not a desert to him. The winter's snow, +that had just disappeared, had left abundance of moisture in evidence. +Grass was springing up in profusion, and countless wild flowers attested +the fertility of the soil.</p> + +<p>So after the necessary arrangements had been made, he came with his +family, all eager to do their part in the preparation of their future +home. Kind neighbors, though few there were, came with offers to help +erect the house. The family was provided with shelter until such time as +the structure was habitable, and they were happy under these new +conditions; they who had never known a harsher fate than the demands of +an exacting landlord for his annual toll, the regular routine of +settling the yearly account with the trusting merchant in the nearby +village, and a frugal existence through the winter on what remained of +the year's yield. Oh!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> happy renter, there; should his yield be scant or +insufficient, there was someone to appeal to for assistance, which was +gladly given. The homefolks were there, and others to extend help and +sympathy at the time of misfortune, but on the desert, what? A home of +your own.</p> + +<p>At last the home was completed; just two rooms, with a board roof, the +outer walls adorned with tar paper held in place with laths, and when +they moved in joy reigned in this primitive home. A rough board table, +two benches and a cook stove, cooking utensils, still shining with the +burnish of new tin, shone upon the walls just outside the kitchen door, +a shelf with new tin basin and water pail were provided. The remaining +room was furnished with two beds, built of scraps of lumber, the corners +of the room forming one side and the head, discarded balewire, woven +across, took the place of springs; three family portraits, done in +crayon, a gaudy calendar of the year before, bearing the general +merchandise advertisement of the faithful old merchant at home, a nickel +alarm clock upon a shelf, and the home was furnished. But it was a home +of their own.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>The journey of thousands of miles, the excitement of getting settled, +and cool fresh breezes that swept down from the snow capped peaks of the +Cascades, made sleep easy, and no thought of the morrow disturbed the +rest of this emancipated renter. Morning came, and with it the bright +sunshine and oppressive silence of the desert; not a dog to bark, nor a +noisy fowl to break the stillness. As the sun rose from the horizon, and +before it assumed its brassy glare, a mirage formed across the level +plain, magnifying the humble homes of the neighboring homesteaders into +palatial mansions, and the sage brush into forests, and glistening lakes +with twinkling waves upon their surfaces. Travis Gully, with his family, +stood awed by the magnitude of the panorama unrolled before their gaze, +and looked with feverish expectancy into the vista of possibilities the +future held in store for them. The sun mounted higher into the blue +dome, the mirage passed, and objects assumed their normal proportions, +while the faithful wife told of the hopes for good this vision foretold.</p> + +<p>The weeks that followed, each day of which was fraught with hours of +patient toil, clearing away the brush for the first spring planting, the +honest father hewing a spot in the wilderness of sand and sage brush, +the eager children rushing in at each stroke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> of the mattock, seizing +the uprooted particles of brush and bearing them triumphantly away, to +be placed on one of the many piles of rubbish that marked the path of +this industrious toiler; the patient mother, appearing at the doorway, +looking out across the miles of unchanging gray toward the far east with +that indefinable expression of homesickness depicted upon her face. Of +such scenes as this is the material made of which the everlasting +monument, in the form of a prosperous farming district is built. <i>Every +fruit tree that grows in the far famed Northwest should be looked upon +as a sprig in the laurel wreath with which to crown the brows of the +sturdy homesteaders—those departed and yet to come.</i></p> + +<p>At the close of each day, and after the evening meal, huge bonfires were +lit in the clearing, around which the children danced gleefully, their +shadows casting fantastic shapes in the background, where the gaunt and +hungry coyote lurked, and at intervals mingled its voice in discordant +note with their merry laughter, as if in vain endeavor to impress upon +their minds the narrowness of the space that lay between their joyous +anticipations and deepest gloom.</p> + +<p>Planting time arrived with all its hopes for a bounteous yield. Each day +was devoted to preparing the ground and planting. The winter just passed +had afforded sufficient snow and moisture to produce perfect planting +conditions, and many were the plans made for the expenditure of the +proceeds of this first harvest for a good home, farming implements, and +other necessities for successful farming.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>The grain was sown, and the kitchen garden planted in precise rows and +nicely shaped beds. A wagon load of scabrock was hauled from a dry +coulee that wended its way diagonally across this vast area of sand and +sage. These were used to form the border of prim walks and flower beds, +each stone being placed in position and carefully embedded in the soft +sand, <i>each a cornerstone for the castle of hope</i>, soon to be displaced +by an inexorable nature, and to allow the upper structure of dreams to +fall about the builder, a pall of utter disappointment.</p> + +<p>Just a few days of alluring sunshine, only a few balmy nights, and the +tiny plants were raising their tender shoots above the surface of the +sand, which through its ages of shifting now refused to remain under +control of mere man, and was growing restless, rolling in fiendish glee +down the sides of the nicely formed flower beds and rollicking in +sparkling bits across the walks, filling, with maddening persistance, +every opening made in its surface by the upspringing plants.</p> + +<p>The age worn battle between the Goddess Flora and the relentless desert +was being fought over. She with all her garlands, was trying to wreath +the brow of this gray monster, while he, with his withering sunrays and +constant battering with tiny particles of sharp, flinty sand, was +repulsing her every advance.</p> + +<p>The Gods, Jupiter, Pluvius and Boreas, standing sponsors for the +contending forces, intervened and changed at times what seemed certain +victory. One with his gentle showers or torrential downpour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> would rush +to the scene of the fray, settling the tiny grains of sand and thereby +quelling the galling batteries that were assailing the tender plants, at +the same time administering to their bruised and quivering stems and +foliage; then, conscious of a kindly act, he sails away, seated upon his +fleecy crafts of air, emitting an occasional growl, warning his enemy, +the wind, against his return. Scarcely has his frown disappeared over +the brow of the hills to the south, followed by his majestic guard of +chariots, with billowing gold and silver plumage, when a faint whisper +is heard in the grass. Hark! 'tis louder! See the tops of the bunchgrass +moving restlessly; Old Boreas is stalking his enemy. He creeps prone +upon the ground, like a serpent he raises his head with a hissing sound; +on, upward to the top of the tallest reeking sage brush he crawls; +maddened by the presence of those hated sparkling drops of crystal water +that bedecks this misshapen shrub, he shakes them in myriads to the +ground and laughs with glee. But in so doing he is restraining one of +the arch fiends of the desert, the sand. At this discovery he shrieks +with anger, and seizing the precious drops, hoists them into the air, +scattering them in misty spray and hurries them miles through space, +back to their natural haunts, where they are left to assemble themselves +and await another call. Thus left to their own, again the sun and sand +renew the attack, and wear down, by constant onslaught, every particle +of vegetation not originally intended to laugh to scorn their every +effort.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the fortitude of those alien plants was noble; gallantly they +withstood the siege. For days and weeks, constantly scorched and +blistered during the day, they came up smiling in the morning, with +heads erect, to greet the same sun their parent plant had known and +throve under, but stung, whipped and tortured by the never ceasing, ever +shifting myriads of cutting particles of sand, bleeding to the last +infinitesimal mite, they had to die; they hung their noble heads, became +discolored and withered, and when the morning sun shone forth it was +upon the same dwarfed sage brush and hissing bunchgrass it had always +known. The scabrock border, the horned toad that sought shelter beneath +the protecting edges, all one color, gray, monotonous gray.</p> + +<p>Small indeed would be the area of reclaimed land in the great northwest +if each homesteader had given up hopes and abandoned his dreams with his +first disappointment, and had he not awakened to renewed effort at each +stroke of misfortune administered by what seemed to be a relentless +fate.</p> + +<p>Nature, in her lavish distribution of blessings, had not wholly +forgotten this seemingly neglected spot. The nights were cool and +refreshing, the air pure and uncontaminated, and both he and his family +being blessed with rugged health. Travis Gully looked upon the havoc +wrought with undaunted courage and determination. He submitted to the +loss of his first planting with resignation, and hastened to seek means +whereby he might provide food and other necessities for his family. To +the north lay the never failing wheat fields of the Big Bend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> country; +east, the Couer d'Alene mining district; and west of the Cascade +Mountains the lumbering industries of the Puget Sound region. These each +offered a solution of a means of livelihood, ample employment and good +wages; but with the departure of the family from the homestead went the +cherished dream of a home.</p> + +<p>Often at night when the children, now grown sunburned and inured to the +intense heat and blistering sands, were on their pallets, enjoying the +peaceful sleep of tired but happy childhood, Gully and his wife would +sit for hours and try to devise means whereby the coming winter might be +lived through with some semblance of comfort. During these heart to +heart talks, while seated before the door of their humble home, Gully's +gaze would wander out across his broad acres, which under the pale +starlight in this clear desert air, could easily be transformed, in +vision, to fields of waving grain; conversation would cease; a restless +move made by one of the children would attract the attention of the +watchful mother, who, upon entering the house cautiously stepping with +stealthy tread among the little sleeping forms, would approach the +table, give the flame of the one small kerosene lamp a gentle turn +upward and throw into bold relief every evidence of abject poverty +within the confines of that one sparsely furnished room. With wide +staring eyes she would hastily scan the face of each sleeping child as +if in dread of finding the fiendish hand of hunger clutching at some +innocent throat; but all is quiet. Passing a trembling hand across her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +weary forehead, she slowly turned, and as she did so, read in every +object that met her gaze one word, <i>sacrifice</i>. The little blue +overalls, with their numberless patches, and frayed and tattered hem, +the little gingham aprons, worn threadbare by the constant nipping, +picking and catching on the scraggling branches of the despised sage +brush, all shrieked sacrifice. Suddenly, with a quick movement, a little +foot is thrust from beneath the scant cover, and at the same time a +varicolored sand lizzard scurries across the bare floor and disappears +through a convenient crack. Seizing the lamp, she hurries to the side of +the sleeping child, takes the little brown foot in her loving hands and +seeks in vain for some mark of injury inflicted by the frightened +lizzard; finding none, she places the little foot tenderly on the pallet +and reaches for the cover; stops, and stares. What does she see? Only a +little toe, the nail gone, a partially healed wound, showing where the +cruel snag of the hated sage brush had torn its way into her very flesh +and blood. With a groan she bows her head for a moment, then hastily +scanning the room, she misses the little shoes and stockings so much +needed for the protection of those little feet. Arising, she replaces +the lamp upon the table, turns it low, and returns to her husband's +side, prepared to make one of the greatest sacrifices ever made by a +woman, and one of which little has even been said or written. She must +tell him to go, and leave her and the children alone and unprotected in +the desert. He must go, that they might live, go until the winter snows +drive him home. O God!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> it would be lonely, days of constant watching +across the quivering sea of unchanging gray, nights of wakeful +listening, broken by the sound of the ghoulish yip of the hungry coyote +and the mournful hoot of the ground owl.</p> + +<p><i>Give honor to the famous women of our land, if you must. She who first +made our glorious flag, those who devoted their lives to nursing back to +health and strength our nation's heroes, and the sainted mothers of +distinguished men; but, oh! remember the wives of the pioneer and +homesteader, and ask yourself; is she not entitled to a place among +these?</i></p> + +<p>Travis Gully, being completely lost in his dreams of independence, had +not missed her from his side. The good wife stole softly up to him, and +placing her hand upon his knee, slipped down beside his chair. He, being +thus suddenly aroused from his reverie, and noting her appearance of +abject misery, assisted her to arise, drew her trembling form near him, +and spoke cheerfully of the situation, assuring her all would be well in +the end. He forbade her to discuss his departure at that time, and there +beneath the broad expanse of star bedecked sky, surrounded by the vast +and desolate desert, they renewed their faith in each other and resolved +to continue the battle, and with revived hopes they planned for the +future, and for hours rebuilt the castle so ruthlessly destroyed by the +desert storm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>The month of June had arrived, and with it came the intensified summer +heat, now almost unbearable in the shadeless glare, and as the time +approached for Gully's departure, it was finally decided that the wheat +fields of the north would be the easiest of access for his journey in +search of work. The question of water for domestic use being the most +difficult to solve, it was decided to build a cistern sufficiently large +to hold enough to last until his return, and for the next few weeks the +time was devoted to this work. It was while thus engaged that the family +received its first ray of hopes for the ultimate consummation of their +dream, and the hope to which their minds would frequently revert during +the long fall and winter months that were to follow.</p> + +<p>After the cistern had been dug and Gully, with painstaking care, was +trying to cement the interior, patiently replacing each trovel of wet +cement as it rolled from the sides, as the sand gave way and allowing it +to fall repeatedly to the bottom, each time being taken up and carefully +replaced, gradually setting, inch by inch, until the task was +accomplished; his wife on the surface, mixing the sand and cement in +small quantities and handing it down to him, as required; doing her part +to conquer the wilderness as valiantly as any man; when there was a +hurried scampering of little feet, and the children<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> came breathlessly +up, calling to their parent that "Wagons were coming, lots of them." +This announcement to the uninitiated would seem but small cause for +comment, but to those who live for weeks and months without the advent +of a stranger within miles of their habitation, the approach of an +unknown horseman or vehicle is hailed with excitement and wonder.</p> + +<p>Gully hastily emerged from his work beneath the surface and looked +inquiringly in the direction indicated by the excited youngsters, where +a few miles to the west a dense cloud of dust could be seen. An +occasional horseman, driving loose stock, or a covered wagon or +buckboard, could be distinguished through the dense pall of dust that +hung with maddening persistence over the approaching caravan. +Speculation was rife among the now excited family, and many were the +theories advanced as to the cause of this unusual sight. It being +definitely determined that the approaching wagon train was wending its +weary way along the road that terminated at their humble abode, hurried +arrangements were made to greet the strangers, the children were +assembled at the kitchen door, and their faces washed to remove, if +possible, a small portion of the desert grime; their sunburned locks, +that the wind had whipped into wild confusion, were hastily untangled, +and arranged into semblence of order. When this task was completed and +each little bronzed cheek shone with the too strenuous application of +common laundry soap, that only resulted in bringing out in bold relief +the myriads of copper colored freckles with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> which they were covered +with generous profusion, they were admonished by their mother to "keep +clean," and were allowed to scurry away, to watch in wide eyed wonder +the approach of the strangers. The mother, with purely feminine +instinct, removed all evidence of the white splashes of cement from her +hands and shoes, changed her dress, and after these pitiful efforts at +making herself presentable, joined with the waiting children.</p> + +<p>Many of my readers have, no doubt, waited with feverish expectancy the +ringing up of the curtain on some notable drama, or looked forward with +a mingling of joyous anticipation and dread to the arrival of a relative +or friend whom they had not seen for years. But few indeed are left who +can describe or define the sensation of commingled joy, dread and +uncertainty that fills the heart of the lonely homesteader on an +occasion like this. Hours seemed to pass during the interval between the +discovery of their approach and the arrival of the strangers, the +hundreds of questions that rushed, unbidden, to the minds of the +isolated desert dwellers. Who were they, and what was their motive for +coming? Were they transient visitors on an idle tour, or some wandering +band of nomads, drifting derelicts, who had strayed from the beaten +paths to evade if possible, contact with civil authorities; or better +yet, were they new neighbors coming to cast their lot with them, to +assist in the reclamation, the conquest of the desert? Such were the +multitude of questions recurring to the minds of the anxious watchers, +each, in its turn, being cast aside to be replaced by others, in +bewildering succession.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Travis Gully, who, owing to the narrowness of his self constituted +domain and the wild desert environments, had allowed himself to drift +backward, and contact with conditions with which he was unfamiliar had +awakened in him the spirit of alert defensiveness of primitive man. He +felt the sting of resentment at the approach of the strangers, and it +was with a forced smile, and hesitating handshake that he greeted the +foremost of the party, who had at last ridden within the front dooryard. +Glancing over his shoulder, he assured himself of the safety of his +family. The wife and three eldest children had remained standing near +the door, while two little towheads, that protruded from behind the +building, showed where the two youngest had taken refuge.</p> + +<p>Gully invited the stranger to dismount, but the latter, thanking him +curtly, remained mounted until the entire party, consisting of some +twenty-five or thirty men, equipped with a complete field outfit, wagons +loaded with tents and provisions, abundance of stock, both draft and +pack animals, had arrived within hailing distance. Turning in his +saddle, the chief, or man in charge, raised his gauntleted hand with a +commanding jesture, and with brakeblocks grinding against glistening and +heated tires, rattle of chains and shouts from the teamsters, the +procession came to a stop. Dismounting, he gave a few instructions to +his men, who remained on their wagons; then returning to the waiting +homesteader, asked as to the conditions for making permanent camp in the +neighborhood. On being assured that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> there was no water for the stock +nearer than three miles, the windmill overtopping the well at that point +being in full view, was pointed out to him, and minute directions for +finding the road that ran tortuously through the miles of sagebrush to +this oasis, was given. With a courteous bow, the chief mounted, gave +orders to his men to follow, and moved off in the direction of the well.</p> + +<p>As the last sound of the departing cavalcade was stifled in the muffling +sand, Mrs. Gully came to where her husband was standing, gazing absently +in the direction the strangers had gone. Who were they and what were +they here for, was the absorbing and unanswered question; who was this +clean, trim man, dressed in his khaki suit and neat leather leggings, +who had such absolute authority over this thoroughly equipped +expedition; not a homesteader, this was evident by his professional +appearance; not a fugitive, because his manner was too gentle. Who was +he, and what was his business?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>As the season approached for the exodus of homesteaders for the harvest +field, hurried preparations for the departure was made, the cistern was +completed, huge piles of sage brush was gathered for fuel and placed +conveniently near the house. Thus was Travis Gully's time taken up for +the next few days following the arrival of the campers at the well. Many +were the inquiring glances that were cast in the direction of the group +of glistening white tents. Parties of men could be seen going and +coming, morning and night, some walking, others mounted or in vehicles. +Once a band of what seemed to be loose horses was seen to be approaching +the home of the Gullys, but when within a short distance of the house a +mounted man, emerging from the tent village, followed them and turned +them westward, soon being lost in the sea of gray sagebrush, but not +before it was discovered that it was a pack train, going out for +supplies.</p> + +<p>At last the day came when the mystery of their purpose was to be solved. +On his first trip to the well for water with which to fill his now +completed cistern, Gully noted a fact that had been overlooked by him on +the occasion of their visit to his home; each wagon and all the +equipment was stamped U. S. G. S. This fact, however, left no clue in +his crude mind as to who they were, and not until he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> saw one of the +party with an instrument on a tripod, mounted upon a small knoll near +the road to his home, did he awake to the realization of the fact that +they had something to do with a survey.</p> + +<p>The task of filling the cistern consumed many days, and required +numberless trips to and from the well. During these frequent visits the +acquaintance of some of the men around camp was made and the information +was volunteered by one of their number that they were a party of United +States Geological Surveyors sent out by the Government to make a survey +of the desert with the view to ascertaining if it was feasible to +irrigate the region by gravity from some of the numerous lakes and +streams that lay hidden away in the mountains that surrounded the entire +valley.</p> + +<p>Irrigation! So this was the reason for all this activity. Gully's heart +leaped at the sound of this magic word. Here was the realization of his +dream. It was to be—and why not? Was not the Government making the +survey, had not the authorities awakened to the fact that here was a +country of some seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of valuable land +laying idle. Why not convert it into homes for thousands, who, like +himself, though less venturesome, were dreaming of a home of their own. +With gladdened heart, forgetful of poverty and past disappointments, he +hurriedly filled his barrels with water and drove home eager to tell his +wife the good news.</p> + +<p>"I knew it was coming," he told her. Had he not talked with the men who +had been sent to bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> about this transformation? "Just think, Minnie," +he exclaimed, "we are among the first. Others may follow, but we have +our land."</p> + +<p>Water, bright sparkling water, flowing in rippling streams; all they +wanted; no more wearisome trips across the dry parched waste, with the +constant drum, drum of the empty barrels dinning in his ears—no more +return trips with the barrels filled at starting, but now sadly +depleted, and the wagon box reeking and dripping with the waste caused +by the splash, splash of the precious fluid. Irrigation—and a home of +his own.</p> + +<p>A few days after the discovery of the object of the party encamped at +the well was made, it became generally known, and the glad news was +being discussed in every home throughout the sparsely settled +neighborhood. Men could be seen loitering around the camp or mingling +with the surveyors in the field, eagerly gathering such scraps of +information as was given out and hastily departing to add fuel to the +already inflamed imagination of the settlers.</p> + +<p>It never occurred to them that even though the survey resulted in a +favorable report, it would probably take years before the accomplishment +of the purpose for which it was being made, and the added strain of +uncertainty, waiting and watching made the life of the homesteader more +unbearable.</p> + +<p>When the morning came for the departure of the little band of harvesters +for the broad wheatfields of the big bend country, it was an unusual +sight that greeted the vision. It had been previously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> arranged that +they should assemble at the well and make that the starting point for +their journey. Small puffs of dust might be seen arising miles away, +each marking the approach of one or more of the sturdy homesteaders, +many of whom had made the trip the fall before and knew of the many long +hours of toil that awaited them. Yet they were marching forth, with grim +determination to put as many hours into each day as mortal man could +stand. It was their harvest as well as the wheat growers; their season +for retrieving the few hard-earned dollars lost in seeding and planting +during the spring just passed; theirs, to accumulate the necessary food +and clothing for the wives and little ones they were leaving behind in +the desert, to watch longingly for their return when the harvest was +ended.</p> + +<p>The party with which Gully was going had decided to take one wagon with +four horses to convey their crew, with the camp equipment, to the grain +fields. The men came in every conceivable means of conveyance, +accompanied by a member or, in some instances, by the entire family, who +were to return with the rigs to their homes, after seeing them safely on +their way. Each came with his blanket roll neatly tied with a cord or +strap. Two dilapidated telescope grips, made of canvas, were provided to +carry the extra clothing of the party; a writing tablet and a package of +plain white envelopes, by means of which the messages, scribbled with +pencil, and often by lantern light, of love, sorrow, success or defeat, +were to be conveyed to the lonely ones in the desert wilds; a spool of +black<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> cotton thread, some needles and a few extra buttons, for an +emergency, were carefully stored deep in one corner of the grip. All to +be used in common, all brothers in the wilds; there was no business +rivalry, no competition there; just an equal desire that all might live.</p> + +<p>They were late in getting started, owing to the distance some of them +had to come, and when the last of the party rode up, seated upon a horse +fully harnessed, complaining that his delay was caused by the collapsing +of one of the wheels of his vehicle, the poor old weather beaten buggy +rendered unserviceable by its constant use on many trips to and fro +across the sandy waste; the spiteful particles of sand, gnawing, cutting +and grinding their way into each tiny crevice, between the rim and +spoke, into the hub and under the tire, until its wheels, after days, +weeks and months of rattling, squeaking and groaning, could no longer +stand the strain, the inanimate thing sank helplessly down, to be cast +to one side, among the harsh, rasping sagebrush, and left there to +sizzle, shrink and bleach in the blistering sun rays, until called for +and taken helplessly back to the home of its owner for repairs, in the +way of having hard bits of sun parched leather, cut from well worn and +discarded shoes, forced between its once perfectly fitting rim and tire, +the whole being wound and rewound with the indispensable balewire. Such +an end; what could be expected of a thing of flesh and blood?</p> + +<p>"Never mind," cried his waiting companions, cheerfully. "You can soak +the old critter up in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> irrigation ditch pretty soon." And with this +merry jest, at the same time recalling to their minds the condition of +their own means of conveyance, and also one of the many uses to which +the abundance of water could be put when once turned loose, to run +rampant across the stretch of barren waste. They prepared to start on +their journey.</p> + +<p>Each of the party, with sad heart and quivering voice, all doing their +best to present an indifferent exterior, bade the waiting members of +their families, the gathered neighbors, and the members of the survey +crew a hearty goodbye, and drove northward, knowing full well that their +toilsome progress across the valley would be followed by tear stained +eyes and aching hearts, until the evening shades settled and the thin +spiral column of dust, watched for a time after the object which caused +it to mount high into the heated atmosphere had been hidden by a cloak +of darkness.</p> + +<p>The first night out the travelers spent at a small spring that flowed in +a feeble stream down the rock ledge that formed the northern boundary of +the desert, and sank from sight, being swallowed by the thirsty sands. +It was a hard drive that brought them to this place, and during the +hours that intervened between their departure from the well and arrival +at their first camp, was spent in almost silence. Each of those present +seemed lost in silent contemplation of the difficulties that confronted +him. Various subjects had been brought up for discussion, followed for a +few moments, and then were allowed to drop. All except Travis Gully, who +was driving, seemed lost to their surroundings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a varied assortment of which this little group of men was +composed, taken at random from various points, from different walks of +life, no common interest in the way of mechanics or profession, yet +bound together by stronger ties, a mutual understanding of each other's +absorbing ambition to build a home; appreciating to the fullest extent +the difficulties and hardships endured, the disappointments and +suffering caused by the one common affliction, poverty.</p> + +<p>There was the muscular iron molder from Pittsburg, who would sit, with +half closed eyes, and liken the heat of the desert to the fiery glow of +the familiar furnaces; the clouds of dust to the dense smoke of his home +city, and ask himself: "Had he moved wisely?" The pressman, from one of +the largest printing establishments in Denver, who would in dreamy +silence listen to the constant clatter of the wagon, and in fancy +hearing the rumble of his once favorite machine, the press, rolling out +in endless sheets items of news, gathered from all over the world; +suddenly the wagon wheel strikes a stone, and with a lurch, he starts +with outstretched hand to adjust a roller, replace a belt, or take up +the torn web. Smiles feebly at his absentmindedness and resumes his +seat. The professor, who for years taught in a college in Kansas, +watched with earnest gaze each specimen of desert plant life that +struggled for existence beside the dusty road, unable to release himself +from the desire to increase his botanical knowledge. An exsoldier and +Travis Gully, the farmer, completed this incongruous party.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon their arrival at the spring just before sundown, they arose from +their seats in the wagon, cramped and dusty from their long ride, and +shambling to the rock ledge, relieved their parched throats with copious +draughts from the spring. Knowing that the scarcity of water on the road +over which their route lay would necessitate a forced drive on the +morrow, they hastily unharnessed the horses, gave them water and +picketed them to munch the scant herbage until sufficiently cooled to be +given their ration of grain, they then prepared their own frugal supper, +after which, with pipes lit, and each seated around the smoldering +sagebrush fire, their faces turned homeward, watched the shades of +evening settle, and noted the twinkling lights that shone from their +humble homes miles away across the level plain. Conversation no longer +lagged; each was eager to express his views as to the result of the +survey now being made, and the certainty of the wealth to follow the +reclamation of the thousands of acres of fertile land that lay stretched +for miles to the south. No one doubted for a moment but what it would +come. Was not each of the railroads that extended across the great +Continental Divide, advertising the fertile valleys of the Northwest as +the goal of the poor man? Was not every Commercial Club in the cities +through which these avenues of commerce and forerunners of civilization +ran, sending out and scattering among the inhabitants of the entire +territory from the Atlantic seaboard to the Rocky Mountains, pamphlets +in which was set forth, in glowing word pictures,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> accounts of the +possibilities of the undeveloped lands now laying idle, yours for the +asking? Were they not morally responsible for the welfare of each family +who, lured by their flattering descriptions, had given up their means of +a livelihood, and sold their small accumulation of personal property, in +most instances for what they could get; frequently scarcely enough to +reach this land of dreams, and at best with but a few hundred dollars?</p> + +<p>Would these mighty forces that were being brought to bear for the +purpose of converting the undeveloped resources of this vast country +into a merchantable article, going to accomplish their end by the +sacrifice of thousands of human ambitions, and even lives? Certainly +not; give them a chance.</p> + +<p>This survey was being made with the view to placing within the reach of +the settlers the means whereby wealth and affluence might be obtained.</p> + +<p>Such was the opinion of all, and with optimistic views and hopes +renewed, the blankets were unrolled and spread upon the bare ground, and +with a cheery "Goodnight," each of these champions of right and justice +lay down to enter the enchanted land of dreams, and live through the +realization of all they had hoped for.</p> + +<p>Just before daylight the following morning all were astir and the horses +fed, and with the never to be forgotten acrid smell of burning sagebrush +permeating the cool air, which, gathered amid the eternal snows that lay +undisturbed for ages on the glistening sides of the mountain peaks to +the west, was wafted and filtered through miles of spruce and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> pine +forests and delivered in all its exhilerating morning freshness to fill +with health and vigor the lungs of these conquerors of the wilderness; +breakfast was eaten, blankets rolled, and just as the rosy tint of the +pitiless sun shone in the east, the start was made.</p> + +<p>The road which had led them for weary miles across the desert the +afternoon before came to an abrupt ending at the spring. The solid cliff +of basaltic rock formed an impassible barrier to the north. There seemed +no reason for the road leading squarely up to the ledge other than to +gain access to the scant water supply the small spring afforded, this +spot having been for years the stopping place for weary travelers and +hordes of thirsty stock. No road leading from the spring being visable, +a return drive was made until a road leading directly east was +encountered. This road was followed for several miles, when a break in +the range of hills afforded an exit verging a little to the northeast. +After a few miles the road turned directly north again, leading into a +break in the barrier of hills and out through a coulee to the plateau, +where lay the wheat fields that were the destination of the little band +of harvesters.</p> + +<p>The trip through the coulee, once made, would never be forgotten. +Immediately at the entrance of the funnel like gorge, with its +precipitous walls of stone towering in heights from a few hundred to two +thousand feet, the way seemed blocked by a lake several miles in length. +Clear and cool it lay, constantly lashed into fury by the strong +current<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> of air rushing from the chasm above. The white, foam crested +waves, spending their force upon the sandy shore at the lower end, +retreating after each attack, leaving behind a deposit of white frothy +foam that was picked up by the wind and scattered far beyond the reach +of the next incoming wave, there to be dried by the sun, and the +residue, a white crystal, powdered salts, left sparkling in the +sunlight. Nothing in the way of vegetation except a species of harsh +quackgrass grew within the radius covered by this deposit. The waters of +this lake possessed strong mineral properties that were fatal to plant +life, also rendering it extremely nauseating and unfit for drinking. +Owing to this fact, it had been known to the Indians of Chief Moses' +tribe as "Poison Water." Yet cool and sparkling it lay, a gem in the +barren gulch, relieving the eye of those who chanced to pass that way, +but often proving a sad disappointment to both the travel worn man and +beast, who, unacquainted with its peculiar qualities, upon first +beholding its rippling surface, hastened to its brink to appease a +desert born thirst.</p> + +<p>As the lake was approached by the party, the members of which had +previously heard of its existence and the nature of its waters, no stop +was made. A passage around it was sought and soon discovered in a well +worn trail that followed a dry ravine which led down to the lake, and +extending around its head, reentered the coulee some miles above. They +continued their journey along this ravine, the route being marked at +intervals by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> bleached bones of animals which had perished of thirst +within a short distance of abundance of cool dear water that a caprice +of nature had rendered, like fools gold, alluring, but of no value.</p> + +<p>For fifteen or twenty miles the road ran tortuously among the huge +boulders that had fallen from the crest of the solid walls that arose +hundreds of feet on either side, the crevices and nooks of which were +the haunts of the rattlesnake and lizard. The projecting ledges that +occasionally occurred showed signs of being the nesting place of +hundreds of hawks that circled in an aimless manner at dizzy heights +above this giant crevice. Limpid pools of alkaline water lay teeming +beneath the blistering suns rays, their white salty rim unmarked by the +footprints of any living thing, accursed by nature and abhorred by all +God's creatures, wasting their contents by evaporation during the +summer, and replenished by the torrents that rushed through this +abandoned water course during the annual spring thaw.</p> + +<p>That it had been a water course was evidenced by the beds of well worn +gravel, devoid of all soil, and the marks of the constant wash of the +waves on the face of the cliffs on either side. Who knows but what at +some remote period the mighty Columbia river had flowed through this +grand coulee, emptying into an inland sea, the bed of which now formed +the desert of almost a million acres, destined to be the home of half as +many people? Flowing thus for ages, nourishing plants now unknown; its +limpid waters, cooling and refreshing the prehistoric<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> monsters that +came daily to drink at its brink; sheltering beneath its rippling waves +species of fish now extinct, their fossalized forms only remaining to +remind us of the mighty changes that have taken place. Flowing +peacefully on, secure in its mightiness, yet all the while somewhere +along its course was being assembled the power that wrought this change, +the terrific force in the nature of gases generated far in the depths of +the earth. It might be thousands of miles away, conducted through +unknown channels and crevices, seeking the point of least resistance, +forced hither and thither by the ever increasing pressure, until a +subterranean cavity is formed by a slight upheaval or displacement of +the stratification. Into this rush the gases, followed by the raging +fires, until further resistance is impossible. The imprisoned demon +crouches in narrow confines, trapped at last; and with a mighty shudder, +the effects of which are felt on the surface, causing the ponderous +mastodon to halt unsteadily, and raising his gigantic head in alarm, +sounds a note of warning, and followed by his herd, rushes madly through +the mass of huge ferns in search of safety.</p> + +<p>The imprisoned force, no longer able to confine its strength, furiously +gathers its reenforcement, and with terrific, thunderous roar, forces +the crust and breaks through, tearing asunder this sphere that has taken +eons to form, disgorging in fiery torrents upon the surface of half a +continent the contents of its seething cauldron.</p> + +<p>Back rush the floods of the Columbia, as if aghast at the havoc wrought; +stays its flow but for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> moment, and charges this indomitable foe that +dares to impede its progress, and pours its waters, now made black and +muddy by the tons of ashes and stone sent hurtling into its waves, into +the thousands of crevices and fissures trying in vain to throttle this +fiery demon who greets the oncoming stream with flaming tongue, converts +it into steam and additional power with which it throws out huge volumes +of mud that seal the crevices and cool the lava about its glaring +throat, thus using its enemy to erect a barrier against itself. +Hopelessly defeated, the mighty river seeks a course whereby it may +reach its former terminus, the inland sea. It wanders on with +indefatigable persistence, taking the abandoned beds of some of its +former tributaries; follows it until overtaking the original stream at +some unaccustomed place, absorbs it and hurries on its way over boulders +and through canyons and gorges, rapids and cataracts harrassing its +waters in a manner heretofore unknown. In its wild flight it makes a +detour of more than a hundred miles, appropriates the channel of another +stream, and turns back toward the inland sea, still determined to do its +part in replenishing this vast storage place.</p> + +<p>Upon reaching its western boundary, oh! what a change had taken place. +Stretching away as far as could be seen was a mass of oozing matter, +decaying seaweed and pools of slimy water, heated to almost boiling, +reeking with the stench of dead fish, the whole being sprinkled with +cinders and ashes, and teeming with muck and filth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>A break in the southern boundary of the former body of water showed +where a fissure had been opened up, through which its contents had +drained, following the outlet until it had emptied into the Pacific +Ocean. The noble Columbia, unable to gain access to refill the basin, +took up the course of the liberated deluge and followed resignedly in +its wake.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>The third day out the harvesters reached the scene of action in the +grain fields, and by noon of that day had found employment, the entire +party being engaged for the season with promise of work for their +horses. This was indeed an agreeable surprise. They had expected to +remain in the same neighborhood, but to be employed together was more +than they had hoped for.</p> + +<p>The afternoon of the same day they drove to the home of their employer. +Here the scene that greeted them was something of a disappointment to +them, as the home of the wheat grower was but little better than their +own desert shacks, save that it had one redeeming feature, an abundance +of water. A well, surmounted by a large windmill, was located near the +center of a large enclosure, and was the attraction for a number of +horses and cattle. A few lazy hogs wallowed contentedly in the mud +beneath the long watering trough, into which flowed, with fitful gushes, +at each stroke of the slender pumprod, a stream of pure cold water, +which was consumed by the waiting stock or allowed to overflow at will +from the trough. The large barn, the dilapidated machine shed, and the +typical home of the wheat grower was complete. No, not complete. There +was yet another object. It was located in the further corner of the barn +yard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> It was an old wagon, with huge frame mounted upon it. This frame +was covered with flimsy, dirty canvas, and had a stovepipe protruding +from the top. From a door in the back, three narrow rickety steps +reached down to the ground as if inviting one to enter, and at the same +time daring them to take the chance. Off to one side was a pile of +sagebrush, with a broken handled axe near by, and a barrel of stale +water with a tin cup hung by a piece of wire over its chime, two tin +basins laying upon the ground, while to a nail driven in the corner post +of the canvas covered structure hung a piece of sack twine with a +twisted aluminum comb dangling at its ends, and a dirty towel which the +constant action of the wind kept from becoming rigid and stiff. This was +the "cook house," where the toilers were to get their meals during the +harvest.</p> + +<p>With faint misgivings at the uninviting prospects the strangers, +beholding the broad acres of grain now just turning to gold on the high +ground, and gradually shading to a dark green in the swails and hollows, +and extending over from one and a half to two or three sections of rich +land, asked themselves why conditions were not better.</p> + +<p>The men already engaged at harvesting on this wheat ranch not yet having +come in from their day's work, our party cared for their horses and +strolled about the place, wondering at the absence of signs of life, but +being unfamiliar with such conditions, among the stalks of heavily +headed grain that reached to their shoulders, and taking the plump, well +filled heads in their hands, fondled them lovingly, and their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> minds +went back to their own desert homes, to their lonesome wives and +children, and asked themselves if the time would ever come when their +land would produce such a bounteous yield, and thought with proud +satisfaction of how, in case of such an event, they would remain at home +and enjoy the sweet sound of the harvest machinery as it garnered for +them and theirs.</p> + +<p>Wonderingly they waited for someone to come, some friendly voice to +greet them, if not in profuse welcome, to at least tell them where they +were to put their few effects and where they were to receive the +accommodation that, being strangers, they had every reason to expect. +They had brought their blankets, it was true, but it was with the view +to using them while camping out. They little realized that, had they not +brought them, they would have been provided with little more +accommodation than a beast of burden.</p> + +<p>The sun went down and they sauntered back to the barn yard, where they +had left their wagon, and loitered around it with a fondness due the +only familiar object in sight. Still no one came. From the grain field +the clicking of the sickle as it mowed down the grain could be plainly +heard, wafted from afar on the rapidly cooling twilight breeze. Travis +Gully arose from his seat on the wagon pole as if moved by some +uncontrollable impulse, and going around to the side of the wagon, threw +back the rolls of blankets and drew forth the old canvas telescope grip. +Taking it fondly in his rough hands, he knelt beside it on the ground, +unloosened the straps, removed the tablet and envelopes, and taking from +his overall pocket a stub<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> of a pencil, resumed his seat and began to +write, with a slow cramped movement, the first letter home. Slowly he +poured out from his own burdened heart the cry of a distressed soul.</p> + +<p>The remaining members of the party, realizing that this was to be the +anxiously looked for first news, sent loving messages to their homes. No +mention was made of the tiresome trip, of the forbidding aspect of their +first employment; just a letter of encouragement, reassuring them of +their success, and hopes for a profitable season and safe return. +"Simple enough," you might say, but oh! what relief to the pent up +feelings of those sturdy homebuilders.</p> + +<p>Think, if you can, of what might have been written and read between the +lines, of the anguish and uncertainty that was tugging at the heart +strings of each of them, knowing, as they did, the conditions under +which they had left their families; out alone on the desert, realizing +that they, themselves, knew absolutely nothing of the duties they would +be called upon to perform on the morrow, and tell me if you do not agree +with me when I say that there, in the evening shades, under environments +that would try the strength of the bravest, was not endured to the +fullest extent, misery.</p> + +<p>The letter was finished, and after placing it in the envelope, Gully sat +with it in his hand and gazed thoughtfully at the address. The iron +molder lit his pipe and moved off in the direction of the barn; the +professor and the soldier arose and strolled to the well; all silent, +lost in their own thoughts, the nature of which can only be guessed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sudden opening of a door at the main house aroused them from their +reverie, and turning in the direction of the noise, they saw a woman +come out and secure an armful of stovewood and reenter the building. In +a few moments a dense smoke was emitted from the stovepipe, an +indication that supper was being prepared. Darkness was fast obscuring +the landscape, and from the distant field the conversation of the men +returning from their work could be plainly heard, and mingling with it +were the sounds of rattling chains and creaking harness. Upon their +arrival at the barnyard, and while some of the horses were still +drinking at the well, a man was seen to emerge from the house bearing a +lighted lantern, and go to the barn, where other lanterns were lighted +and carried about by the men.</p> + +<p>Our friends went to the barn and upon making their presence known, were +greeted with a tired "Howdy do" from the workers, as they unharnessed +and distributed grain among their horses.</p> + +<p>The owner of the wheat ranch, for it was he who had come from the house +with a lighted lantern, came hurriedly up, and after pointing out a row +of empty stalls, instructed the strangers to put their horses inside. +This they gladly did, after which the lanterns were hung on pegs outside +the barn and the workmen disappeared in the darkness. Our friends, +hearing sounds at the well, went there and found several of the men +stripped to their waists, washing the dust and perspiration in the +trough and drying their faces on large red handkerchiefs with which they +had mopped their faces during the heat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> of the day. As they completed +their ablutions, they disappeared, until there was but one who, upon +raising his streaming face from its immersion in the trough, inquired of +our friends: "You fellows had supper." Upon being assured they had not, +he advised them to "wash up, and come on down to the cook house," the +location of which was easy, owing to the light which shone through the +canvas cover, bringing out in bold relief the silhouette figures of +several men seated at the table, with elbows in the air, working +industriously, making way with generous portions of food, as was +indicated by the shadows of dark objects before them.</p> + +<p>Thoroughly tired and hungry, not being accustomed to waiting until this +unseemly hour for their evening meal, they followed their new +acquaintance and mounted the rickety stairs leading up to the entrance +of the cook house. They were astonished at the arrangement of the +interior; every available inch of space was taken up and made to serve +some purpose. The forward end of the canvas structure was partitioned +off and used for a kitchen—the rear portion, with a table running the +full length, served as the dining room—while boards, fastened with +hinges to either side, could be either raised or lowered, doing duty as +seats. The sides of the structure was so arranged that the upper portion +could be swung outward and propped, thus being converted into awnings +and at the same time affording ventilation. Immediately over the table +and drawn up to the top of the canvas canopy by means of a rope fastened +to each corner, and running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> through pulleys, was a woven wire bed +spring. This could be lowered at night and was the sleeping place of "my +lady," the cook, a haggard, sad-eyed individual, the widow of an +unfortunate homesteader who, unable to endure the hardships of a +pioneer, had gone to his reward the summer before.</p> + +<p>When the first two members of our party had entered the cook house the +rest were compelled to remain outside until some of those who had +finished vacated, for when the table was filled those who went in first +had to remain seated until the last one who entered had finished his +meal.</p> + +<p>The food was abundant and good, well cooked and served, when you take +into consideration the difficulties under which it was prepared, and was +eaten by the tired and overworked harvesters in a manner indicating a +complete indifference to after effect. When supper was finished, there +being no opportunity for gaining information, the hour being late, our +friends returned to their wagon, unrolled their blankets, and lay down +to ponder over this unheard of way of treating hired help. But not for +long. Being fatigued to the limit of human endurance, they fell asleep, +with the faint sound of the clatter of tin pans and cups that emanated +from the cook house and the incessant rattle of the windmill dinning in +their ears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>When morning came—not morning proper—but it was sometime after +midnight, Travis Gully was awakened by the sound of someone cutting +wood. Peering from beneath his blankets, he saw a lighted lantern at the +cook house. Other lanterns were being carried to and fro among the +horses in the barn. Sleepy individuals were crawling out from every +conceivable place—from the hay mow and machine shed, carrying their +inseparable blanket rolls. At the well men were busily pumping water by +hand, the wind having died down during the night. Not being sufficiently +awake to fully realize the meaning of this activity, Travis Gully +stretched his tired limbs, rolled over, gave his blankets an extra tuck +and drifted away in slumber. Not long, however, was he allowed to remain +in this condition, for he was suddenly startled from his dreams by a +gruff voice shouting: "Roll out, here, you fellows," and started to a +sitting position, with tired sleepy eyes blinking in the bright glare of +the lantern light, he beheld the boss standing over them, smiling +amusedly at their bewildered looks. Their first day in the harvest field +had begun, the first of many just such days that were to follow before +they could return to their homes, and during the long winter evenings +recount to the eager listening wife and children the varied experiences +through which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> had passed, embellishing each little incident with a +tinge of humor that could not be appreciated at the time of its +occurrence.</p> + +<p>Dressing hurriedly, they went to the barn to care for their horses and +found them munching contentedly at their morning feed, which had already +been given them. Seeing the other men busily harnessing their teams +they, without question, did likewise, resolving to be governed in their +actions by the example of the older hands; they waited expectantly for +each move. One of the men, more congenial than the others had proven, +asked them how they had slept. Upon being told, he suggested that they +bring their blankets into the hay mow where, he assured them, they would +be more comfortable. This was the first intimation they had that they +were not to be provided with a bed, but must choose their own resting +place. They were soon to realize that the hours for rest were as scant +as the accommodations for enjoying them, and adapted themselves to +prevailing conditions. So after converting the watering trough into a +lavatory for making their morning toilet, they proceeded with the rest +of the men to the cook house for breakfast; after which, having no +special duty assigned them, they were at a loss to know how to proceed. +It being yet dark, they stood awkwardly around, while some of the men +brought out their teams, watered them, and springing upon one of the +horses rode back in the direction from which they had come the evening +before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>They did not remain long in doubt, however, for the owner of the ranch +came from the house and instructed them to follow the road over the +hill, where they were heading grain, and to await his arrival, adding +that their horses would be sent out later by one of the boys, who would +drive them while on the job. This arrangement was a disappointment to +Gully, who had hoped that he might be permitted to drive them, but he +made no complaint, and they did as they were bidden.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the place indicated by the owner, they found the +header with the horses hitched ready for starting. Three header boxes +were awaiting the arrival of teams and drivers. A circle had been cut in +a large area of ripe grain and a few loads piled in the center, +indicating where the stack setting was to be made. The driver of the +heading machine, or "header puncher," as he was called, was groping +around in the uncertain light, oiling up or adjusting the drapers or +elevator canvas.</p> + +<p>In a few moments a wagon came from the house with a barrel of water, a +few additional pitchforks, and some extra parts of machinery that might +be needed in case of a breakdown. Our friends were assigned their +respective duties; Gully was to be stacker, the molder as "spike pitch" +or helper in the stack yard, the professor was "loader," and the soldier +was given a pitchfork and sent to turn the grain in the "backswarth," a +narrow strip cut around the entire field before the regular heading is +begun. This is usually cut green and allowed to cure for hay. So with +their horses being driven to a header box the siege had begun.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>For five weeks, each day being identical, days of constant grind, short +nights, and three trips to the cook house, days of blistering heat, the +sunrays being intensified by concentration and reflection from the +shining surface of the glistening straw. The light soil, mostly volcanic +ash, being pounded and loosened by the constant tramping of the horses +in their many trips to and from header to stack; lifted high at each +turn of the "bullwheel" of the header and sent flying in stifling +clouds, clogging the eyes, ears, nose and mouths of the workers, while +trickling streams of perspiration from beneath their hatbands washed +furrows through the accumulated mass on their faces.</p> + +<p>The first week of this toil tried the spirit of our party almost to the +breaking point. Night would find them bowed down with aching backs from +the unaccustomed strain of pitching the heavy grain; hands numb and +cramped, with blistered palms; throats dry and parched from the intense +heat and dust from the straw. They would sink down upon their blankets +in the hay mow and sleep the sleep of utter exhaustion, but the hopes of +our homesteaders were being constantly revived by the receipt of +encouraging letters from home.</p> + +<p>Opportunities for getting these letters mailed were few, it was +explained, but by sending them to the camp of the surveyors they were +taken to the distant town and forwarded; and such news as they brought. +"All are well at home. Do not worry; we are doing splendidly. Of course +we miss you very much and want you with us, but when you do come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> home, +you can stay. Just think, a party of the surveyors were on our land +today and have driven stakes showing exactly where the irrigation ditch +is to run." Thus wrote Gully's wife, and others would tell of rumors of +large land deals, whole sections and half of townships, being purchased +by big companies, all to be immediately improved. Houses were being +erected in every direction; parcels of land heretofore considered +worthless were being filed on; a school house was being built and, +really, things were beginning to be quite homelike.</p> + +<p>Upon receipt of these cheerful missives the disappointment of the first +season was for the time forgotten, and the men entered into their daily +toil with cheerful hearts, filled with the anticipation of the +realization of their dreams. Thus on through the ensuing threshing +season up until the later fall, when it seemed that a snowfall might +occur any day, did our sturdy homesteaders toil on until the last of the +golden grain was sacked and hauled to a place of safety. Then only did +they turn their faces homeward, with the indispensable blanket rolls, +the old canvas telescope grip, now more dilapidated than ever, thrown at +random in the wagon; with overalls out a knee, the frazzled threads of +many colored patches indicating the earnest efforts of their wearers to +make them last the season through; hats out at crown, and well worn +shoes, they were indeed a travesty on the party who had left their homes +only a few months before. But each sun tanned face was wreathed in +smiles, for securely tucked away in those well worn overalls was a snug +sum,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> their harvest wages, that insured them and their loved ones +against want during the coming winter.</p> + +<p>They were going to their "own homes." They did not have to move or worry +about a new location for the following year; things were different now. +This money they had earned, hard earned, it was true. Think of the many +comforts it would buy—shoes for the little ones, and much provisions, +and by judicious expenditure additions might be made to their homes. +They could at least weatherboard them and make them more comfortable. +Such were the thoughts and suggestions that filled the minds of these +faithful home builders throughout the first day of their journey home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>I have often wondered, as no doubt many of my readers have, what there +is in a man's nature that makes him blush and feel ashamed of doing a +little act that is in every respect perfectly natural, and one, that if +publicly known, would raise him in the estimation of his fellow men, and +yet while condemning himself for his weakness, his heart actually throbs +with the pleasure he derives from doing as he has done.</p> + +<p>The first day on their return journey from the harvest field was a +joyous one, the relaxation from the strain and the diversion acting as +an elixir. Freed from the noise of clattering machinery out upon the +highway, and relieved of the sight of miles of brown fields of stubble, +our friends rejoiced at the sight of the desert with its thousands of +acres of bunch grass and sagebrush that stretched far ahead of them to +the foothills, there to be met by the dark green shade of the mountain +pine and fir, above which shone in all its glittering splendor the +eternal snow on the mountain peaks. They spoke in endearing terms of the +mighty wilderness as theirs, as if little realizing that the small +portion of that vast domain to which they actually held claim was +insignificant.</p> + +<p>They had chosen a different route by which to make their return, one +that led them through a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> small village situated at the edge of the +desert. It was here that the last night out from home was spent, and +here too was demonstrated the peculiar traits of man's character +referred to at the opening of this chapter.</p> + +<p>After the establishment of the camp for the night and after the team had +been cared for, Travis Gully was noticeably restless, and at length +wandered away from his companions and entered the village store. No +thought of his own disheveled appearance entered his mind. It was of the +dear wife and little ones he thought. The morrow would see him with +them, and the long summer's watching and waiting would be at an end. +What more natural than that he should wish to take some little token to +the children and to her, who had borne the burden of the long summer's +separation that they might retain their homestead?</p> + +<p>He thought of her as he had last seen her, as she stood at the camp near +the well, struggling to withhold the tears that he know too well had +flown many times since he left. He recalled the pitiful effort she had +made to dress for the occasion of his departure; of her brown dress, her +best dress, the one that had been carefully made, stitch by stitch, in +preparation for their long journey from their old home to the land of +promise; how it had withstood the days of constant wear while she was +cramped up in the tourist coach, being whirled away across the +continent, and how guardedly she had spread the cloth upon her lap to +protect the precious fabric from being soiled by the touch of many +little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> fingers made greasy by clutching the huge sandwiches of fried +chicken, ham and cheese, with which the spacious hamper, their traveling +companion, was bounteously provisioned; and how after their arrival, and +while seeking a suitable location, it had been subjected to countless +brushings and spongings, until at last it bore all too plainly the +evidences of the hard usages to which it had been called up to submit. +And yet, it was still her best.</p> + +<p>She should have a new dress, one that he himself had bought, and without +hesitating he approached the expectant merchant to make known his wants, +and here his confusion was made evident. Never having made a purchase of +this nature, he was at a loss as to quantity, quality and color. After +numerous suggestions from the over-anxious merchant a selection was +made, the required number of yards guessed at and measured off. Then +after purchasing a small carton of animal crackers and some peanuts and +candy for each of the children, he paid the amount of his purchase, and +with his precious bundles tucked beneath his arm sought the camping +place.</p> + +<p>As he approached the camp fire around which his companions were seated, +he was seized with a desire to hide his bundles lest they might jeer him +good-naturedly about his extravagance. He tried to reach the wagon by a +circuitous route to avoid observation until he had hidden his bundles. +In this effort he was partially successful, but the others had seen him +in time to arouse their suspicions, and they accused him of buying a new +suit. To this he entered a strenuous denial, but looked guilty and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> felt +uncomfortable the remainder of the evening. He did not join in the +conversation that followed his arrival, but sat, as the firelight died +down, and watched across the barren waste for the first twinkling light +that might give evidence that human beings inhabited this vast region +of hidden possibilities.</p> + +<p>Thus he sat long after the other members of the party had gone to bed, +sat dreaming, as his watchful gaze centered on the darkened space made +more dense by the rays of the fitful flicker of the dying fire, space +that for the lack of distinguishable form might be likened unto a +yawning cavern, a bottomless abyss, whose only known content was stygian +darkness. Was it into the unsatiable maw of this monstrous dungeon by +night and inferno by day that he had allowed himself and loved ones to +be drawn; unwittingly, it was true, but as irrestistably as a disabled +craft into the vortex of some mighty whirlpool, carried around and +around the outer circle, fascinated by the charm of the smooth gliding +movement. Suddenly the arc of the circle decreases, and looking further +toward the center, other objects are seen, but it is noted that they +seem to be moving more rapidly. Why this increased speed? Is the goal in +sight, or has their proximity to the desired end given them a vantage +view? Ah! they will keep speed with the large object just ahead of their +craft; perhaps they can learn what motive drew them to this delightful +place. But a moment, a pause, a quiver and a plunge downward; one mighty +wail of despair, followed by a gurgling sound of gluttenous +satisfaction, and they realize too late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> their fate. Casting a +despairing look backward to warn those in sight not to follow, but on +they come, heedless of their warning, offering themselves unconscious +sacrifices to the ever increasing demand for new territory for new +outlets, for the ever populated districts of the world.</p> + +<p>It was the same old story. The pioneer fighting the first great fight, +blazing the trail and marking the route with suffering, tears and even +death, that future generations might follow at their ease.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully wondered if he, as its helmsman, had allowed his craft to +be drawn into dangerous waters, bearing with him his family, the +precious passengers whose lives had been intrusted to his care. Had he, +at the first narrowing of the circle, gone and left them in this vast +wilderness. Was it justice? Were they safe? A few more hours would tell. +And let the conditions in the future be what they may, he would never +leave them again. With this resolve, and with a feeling of comfortable +assurance that his leaving would not again become necessary he, with one +more look to see that his bundles remained where he had hidden them, +went to his rest.</p> + +<p>Taking advantage of an early start, the following morning the party was +well on its way when the sun shone above the jagged ridge of hills that +marked the eastern boundary of the desert, shown as mellow and as soft +as the spring sunshine in their old eastern homes. The lateness of the +fall season had robbed it of its brassy glare and the cool wind that had +swept over the valley during the night had driven out the quivering heat +units with which the blistering sands had been surcharged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>The drive home was a pleasant one and good progress was made. Everyone +was intent on locating at the very earliest possible moment the +windmill, surrounded by its village of glistening white tents, that they +were sure could be seen for miles. Numerous windmills were in sight far +across the plain, but none that they could distinguish as the one +marking their journey's end.</p> + +<p>As they drew nearer to their homes, and after they had reentered the +road over which they had made their outward trip, evidence of a changed +condition was everywhere apparent. New houses, their unpainted outer +wall reflecting the bright sunrays, could be seen for miles; hundreds of +acres had been cleared of sagebrush, and small mounds of white ashes +surrounded by charred ends of brush over which the reawakening bunch +grass waved, showed where the bonfires had been made. In some instances +many acres had been plowed and harrowed, made ready for the sowing of +grain that would immediately follow the first of the winter's rains. +This evidence of advancement gladdened the hearts of our worthy friends +and speculation was rife among them as to the probable value of land +under these changed conditions.</p> + +<p>In their eagerness to reach their homes no stop was made for lunch. +Water for their horses was obtained from a newly made cistern at the +edge of a large area of newly plowed land. Evidence of a recently +abandoned camp was near at hand, but no sign of life. The journey was +resumed after watering the horses and in a short while familiar objects<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +could be pointed out, and in some instances their individual homes could +be located. There was the old windmill, its weather stained wheel and +vane contrasting strangely with other windmills that glittered with +their newness on adjoining sections, the old landmark that had withstood +the onslaught of the terrific wind and sand storms for years, warped by +the intense heat of the blistering desert sun, drawing with tireless +energy the cool sparkling water from the depths of the well over which +it stood guard, and beckoning to the chance wayfarer to come and partake +of its refreshing draughts. Thus it had stood, known as "The Windmill," +the friend of every stockman, homesteader, land owner or wandering +Indian that chanced its way since the day, many years ago, a progressive +sheep man, seeing the value to his herds of this extensive grazing +ground, had caused to be hauled for many miles, across mountain, stream +and plain, the machinery for its erection, for the establishment of this +oasis in the desert. Unconscious of the fact that he was erecting a +monument to himself and a source of comfort and blessings to hundreds of +human being for many years to follow.</p> + +<p>Upon their arrival at the windmill they were disappointed to find that +the tents were gone; the party of surveyors had left the field. The only +remaining evidence of their having been there was an occasional white +stake driven into a mound of earth, marking a corner, or an iron pipe +with a brass cap on which was recorded the elevation above sea level. +The busy groups of men, the hurrying camp wagons and pack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> trains, were +missing, so the anxiously awaited information as to the probability of +irrigation in the near future was not to be gotten.</p> + +<p>The families of the homesteaders having been informed of the day and +time of their probable arrival, had assembled at the well to greet them. +Travis Gully's wife and three of his children were there. Being unable +to find the horses that had gotten loose upon the range, they had walked +the three miles to the well to meet him. Ida, the eldest girl, had +remained at home to care for the youngest child, who was too small to +take the trip.</p> + +<p>Here, at the same place where they had assembled a few months before, +they separated and went to their several homes. A neighbor whose horses +had been taken on the trip to the harvest field assisted Gully and his +family to reach their home. As they approached the house the children +who had been left at home came running out to greet them with joyous +shouts of welcome.</p> + +<p>Thanking his friend for the ride, Gully threw his blanket roll from the +wagon and sprang down, seized his boy in his arms, lifted him high on +his shoulder and marched triumphantly into the house. His wife having +taken possession of the canvas grip, and with the rest of the children +eagerly crowding around, they followed him. A shaggy tramp dog who had +come unbidden, a self constituted guardian of his family during his +absence, came from beneath the kitchen table, sniffed suspiciously at +Gully's overalls, and scenting no evidence of danger, wagged his tail in +approval and returned to complete his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> nap. The three chickens of which +Joe was the proud owner, feeling that some event of importance was +taking place, crowded noisily around the door.</p> + +<p>All these little incidents were unnoticed by the tired father who, now +being seated, was in a fair way of being smothered by the demonstrations +of his devoted children. Boisterously they crowded around and over him, +plying him with a constant volley of questions and recitals of +happenings during his absence. The mother, forgetting for the time the +long months of anxious waiting, beamed with satisfaction on this happy +scene. Curiosity to know the contents of the canvas grip soon aroused +the children, and after Gully had emerged from the mass of clinging arms +and tangled locks, he directed Joe to bring the grip to him.</p> + +<p>Upon receiving the grip, and with his children seated around him on the +bare floor, with eager and expectant faces, he opened it, and as he +handed each their little bundle they scampered away to investigate its +contents. He handed his wife the package he had brought for her and +asked if she could guess its contents? After several attempts to do so, +all of which ended in failure, she opened it, and realizing at a glance +the nature of his gift, she was speechless with pleasure, and with her +eyes filled with tears, she threw her arms about his neck and laughed +with girlish glee. For the first time in the course of their married +life Minnie Gully had a glimpse of her husband's heart.</p> + +<p>It was a happy family that gathered around the supper table that +evening. After the meal was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> eaten and the dishes removed the smaller +children brought their boxes of crackers, cut in grotesque forms of +various animals, and arranged them in rows to correspond with their idea +of a circus parade, of which they had once seen a picture. The mother +and two eldest girls unrolled the goods for the dress, and holding it to +the light, admired its beauty and discussed how it had best be made. +Gully sat silently smoking his pipe, enjoying for the first time a +feeling of absolute independence. He was in his own house, on his own +land, with funds to provide for the winter, and being undismayed by the +failure of his first effort on his homestead to raise a crop, dreamed +peacefully of the future.</p> + +<p>Late into the night, long after the excited children had gone to sleep, +Gully and his wife sat and planned for the expenditure of the sum he had +earned during the harvest season. They talked of the many requirements +of the children, of the supply of provisions that would be necessary to +do their family until spring. Feed had to be purchased for the two +horses with which it had been necessary for him to provide himself when +he came upon the homestead. If the snowfall was light the amount of feed +required would be correspondingly small, but should the snow become +sufficiently deep to hide the bunch grass it would be necessary to feed +the whole winter through. Thus they planned, making numberless lists of +necessary purchases, and after comparing the amount required with the +funds on hand, revised and readjusted the list until finally giving up, +bewildered but happy, they went to their rest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>Travis Gully having acquired the habit of early rising during his +sojourn among the harvesters, was awake the following morning before the +rest of the family was astir. He lay for a short time drowsing and +enjoying the unaccustomed rest, but being unable to content himself, +arose, and after dressing stepped outside in the crisp morning air. +Daylight was just appearing over the brow of the hills to the east, a +narrow thread of silver light with a faint tinge of rosy dawn. The deep +shades of night, disappearing behind the peaks of the Cascade mountains +to the west, cast their purple hues over the snow covered expanse at +their summit, faded away and were lost amid the gloomy blackness of the +heavily timbered gorges that cut deeply down their sides to the Columbia +river.</p> + +<p>Lighting his pipe, Gully strolled out near the cistern, where, seated +upon an upturned barrel, he breathed with exhilerating delight the +morning air and tried, in fancy, to picture to himself what the +reclamation of the thousands of acres that lay before him would mean. He +could see miles of just such grain as he had been helping to harvest, +and long avenues of fruit trees, extending across the clearing he had +made the spring before; trees like those he had seen growing in the +orchards at Wenatchee, where he had made his first stop. The little +strip of land that lay between his present humble home and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> the dusty +road, then no longer dusty, but a glistening well kept highway extending +away in the distance until lost to view by its ever decreasing +narrowness; this little strip of land would be a waving mass of +luxuriant alfalfa through which would wander his cows, horses and pigs.</p> + +<p>His flights of imagination suggested to his mind a number of comfortable +cottages in close proximity to his own then pretentious home, in which +were domiciled each of his children. They should have homes of their +own.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully sat dreaming his delightful dreams of the future, when he +was suddenly brought back to a realization of his surroundings by a hot +breath, immediately followed by a cold, damp muzzle being thrust against +his hand. Starting suddenly at this rude awakening, he frightened away +the faithful old dog who, having discovered his presence, had approached +to make his acquaintance. Appreciating the situation at a glance, Gully +spoke kindly to the dog, calling him back; he patted him on the head and +laughed good naturedly at his shaggy, woe begone appearance, and +promised him better times for the future than he had evidently been +accustomed to in the past.</p> + +<p>It was now day, and the smoke was coming from the stoves within the +homes of some of his neighbors. Upon noting this fact, he went inside +the house, and after kindling a fire in his own kitchen stove, called to +his wife, who having been awakened by his movements, immediately came +out and joined him in the kitchen door, where they together watched the +rising sun shed its splendor over the scene.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>The delight of having their father with them once more clung to the +family throughout the day. His every movement was followed by the joyous +band of happy children. They led him to the point where the surveyors +had set their instruments on their land and showed him the little stakes +upon which the plumb bob had been centered, and which they had carefully +preserved, telling him it was there the water was to flow. They told him +of the many little kindnesses bestowed upon them by these good men who +were to provide them with the much needed water, of how they had carried +their letters to and from the distant post office, and had distributed +pennies among the smaller children.</p> + +<p>Thus the constant chatter flowed, each little incident doing its part to +reconstruct the tower of hope that was being built, and in which Travis +Gully and his family were to fortify themselves during the coming long +winter months. The remaining few days of pretty weather could not be +wasted in idleness. The trip to the distant town for supplies must be +made; the cistern must be refilled, and more ground gotten ready for +seeding before the frost came. All this Gully realized, and with hopes +and aspirations at their highest point, he was eager to begin +activities.</p> + +<p>The horses that had been astray for several days returned for water and +were taken up and held in readiness for daily use. The second day after +Gully's return being Friday, it was decided by he and his wife that the +trip to the town should be made first, as the supplies were running +short. They were to go the following morning, and as it was to be a gala +day the whole family was going.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this announcement the children danced with glee, as they had not been +further from home than the well since they came the March before, and +little realizing how tiresome the long trip across the desert would be, +they anxiously awaited the arrival of the time to start. Everything was +gotten ready that evening in preparation for the trip, Gully knowing +that the going and coming over the long sandy roads would consume most +of the day. It would require an early start to allow time for their +trading.</p> + +<p>Sunrise the following morning found them well on their road to the town, +which could be seen in the distance, although many miles away, and as +the morning hours passed the enthusiasm of the children gradually +exhausted itself, and the last few miles of the trip were made in almost +complete silence, broken only by the monotonous squeaking of the harness +and rattle of the wagon, the box of which was a home made affair, almost +completely wrecked by the strain of being overloaded with barrels of +water, but which had been wired together with bale wire in order that +the boards extending from side to side would sustain the weight of those +seated upon them.</p> + +<p>When they reached the town, which consisted of a few residences, a +railroad station and some half dozen stores, Gully drove to a vacant lot +a short distance from the main street, where a number of wagons were +already standing, with horses contentedly eating hay while their owners +were transacting their business.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>After assisting his wife and children to alight he unhitched his team, +and then making them fast to the wheels, that they might eat, returned +to where his family had assembled and assisted them to brush from their +clothing the accumulation of sand and volcanic ash that had transformed +them into gray figures that blended with the buildings, fences and +sagebrush with which they were surrounded, all gray, the eternal gray of +the desert.</p> + +<p>Had those of their friends who had known Travis Gully and his family in +their old home met them in their present condition, it is doubtful if +the most intimate among them would have been able to recognize them. The +changes that had taken place were in some respects advantageous. Minnie +Gully was no longer the tired, care worn mother of the year before. She +had thrown off that spirit of lassitude that marks so unmistakably the +drudge, the farmer's wife. That she had health was evidenced by the tinge +of color that shone through the coat of tan produced by the desert wind +and sun, and also by her buoyant step and actions. The children had +grown hardy and rugged by their unrestrained freedom in the wilderness, +and while showing a disposition to be more timid, were as yet unspoiled +by their isolation.</p> + +<p>It was in Travis Gully that the change was most noticeable. He was no +longer the disinterested slave, the irresponsible renter with no higher +ambition than to grow an abundant crop for his landlord, that he might +be allowed to remain on the premises another year and thereby avoid the +exertion of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> forced move. His summer spent in the harvest field had +netted him other than financial returns. It had developed in him a +firmer resolve to own a home of his own, and hardened his muscles for +the fray. His bearing was more independent, and the fire of a newborn +ambition shone in his eyes.</p> + +<p>He was now the aggressor, and had dropped the role of a passive +follower. It was his first awakening, and never having been compelled to +feel the sting of defeat, was as yet undaunted. Thus it may be seen that +while the first year's planting on the homestead was a failure the +venture, as a whole, had its element of success.</p> + +<p>The next few hours of their stay in the village was devoted to shopping, +and were filled with many incidents both amusing and trying. The +constant care of the children as they tugged at their mother's skirts, +calling her attention to various articles that caught their wondering +eyes, the trying on of shoes and selection of ginghams and calicoes, +with one ever present thought, that the purchases must be confined to a +certain amount, made the task a tiresome and nerve racking one. At last +it was finished, and when Travis Gully, who had gone for his team, drove +up to the store and loaded on his purchases, it was a tired and hungry +family that climbed into the wagon and took their places among the many +bundles and boxes with which it was piled and turned their faces +homeward, to drive back over the same dusty road; to listen for hours to +the rattle of the particles of sand as they were lifted high by the +revolving wheels and then allowed to drop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> upon the paper wrapped +bundles with which the bottom of the wagon was strewn; to listen to the +continuous crackling of the dry sagebrush as the wheels passed over it, +pressing it deep into the yielding sand, and which sprang back into +position after the vehicle had passed and awaited, with a patience born +of years of solitude upon the desert, for the next onslaught, continuing +this torture until ground to powder and mixed with the sand that had +lashed it for years. Take, if you will, a pinch of sand from the sage +covered desert, and seek out from its many particles the tiny atoms of +sagebrush and examine them. They are all the same misshapen, dwarfed and +gray.</p> + +<p>It was far into the night before the Gully's reached their home and were +greeted by the faithful old dog who had remained behind, but little +notice was taken of his demonstration of welcome, so after he had +assured himself that all were present, and had tugged at the blanket in +which little Joe was brought, sleeping soundly, into the house, he +retired to his place under the kitchen table. Gully lost no time, after +caring for his horses and seeing that his purchases were safe for the +night, in going to his rest, conscious of the fact that an eventful day +in his life had passed.</p> + +<p>It now being late in November, Gully knew that but a short time could be +expected before the first winter snow would come, and he had learned +that it sometimes came in such quantities as to drift in the roads and +make it very difficult to travel, and not caring to be caught unprepared +in such an event,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> left the following Monday in search of a place where +feed for his horses might be purchased. Accompanied by one of his +neighbors, he went back into the hills, and there they purchased a +sufficient amount to do them both. The roads being very sandy and the +distance great, it required several days with both their teams to haul +the hay to their claims. After this was accomplished and the winter's +supply of wood procured, the rest of the time before the snow fell was +devoted to clearing land in preparation for plowing the following +spring.</p> + +<p>At last, upon awakening one morning Travis Gully found that the long +looked for snow had arrived, several inches having fallen during the +night, and it was still snowing quite hard. He looked out across the +level plain, and thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight. Not a +breath of air was stirring, and the huge flakes were coming down in +myriads, falling on the high tufts of bunch grass and remaining where +they had fallen. The unsightly sagebrush was transformed into every +conceivable shape, and its stubby, unyielding branches bedecked with soft, +fleecy snow that completely hid their identity and brought their +grotesque forms out in cameo like relief. The changed color and altered +conditions from its former sameness gave the landscape a weird, ghastly +appearance.</p> + +<p>Gully stood fascinated by the dazzling whiteness, and wondered in a +vague, uncertain way why, if such a change was possible in so short a +time by a simple variation in climatic conditions, would it not be +possible to make the change permanent and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> productive of some good. Why +not change from the torturing dull gray to green and then a golden hue, +to be followed by the spotless mantle of white? Was it within the power +of man, with his advanced ideas and modern methods, to bring about such +a transformation? If so, would the change be permanent? That they had in +some instances, and over small areas, accomplished this feat it was +true, but it was noticeable in every instance of this kind new +complications had arisen to test their ingenuity, new difficulties were +constantly arising for mankind to combat.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that Dame Nature in her magnanimity in giving the +greater portion of the earth had reserved these few, isolated places for +the gratification of her whims, for reconstruction by her hand alone, to +be handed down in ages yet to come to a different, better and wiser +race. If it was possible for this once inland sea to be transformed into +a blistering barren waste, why would it not be equally possible for this +same power to tear down and remove the barriers that now arise between +this desert and its natural source of water supply, the mountains that +so change the currents of air and rend asunder the vaporous clouds, and +thereby render condensation impossible. What right had man to dictate +the conditions that shall obtain in certain localities, and would nature +concede their demands?</p> + +<p>To Travis Gully the possibilities of irrigation were unknown. He had +never seen its results, except on the one occasion when he had stopped +for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> a few days in the little city, surrounded by its extensive +orchards, that had marked the end of his journey in quest of a home. +That similar conditions as those he was now called upon to combat once +existed in that now fertile valley he well knew, and the scenes of +beautiful homes surrounded by miles and miles of orchards, with +occasional patches of green alfalfa, was so indelibly impressed on his +mind that they were constantly recurring to his memory, and were easily +within the bounds of possibility as applicable to the locality in which +he had chosen to cast his lot. Would the change be made, would he and +his neighbors be given an opportunity to demonstrate to the world, the +results of intelligent handling of these greatest productive agents, +water, sunshine and soil?</p> + +<p>He was sure they would. The coming of the Geological Surveyors was proof +that the authorities were at last going to reclaim this arid district +and bring it into a state of productiveness. That they had left the +vicinity of where he lived was true, but he had learned that they had +established a new camp farther into the desert, where their work was to +be continued, and as soon as the result of their investigation as to the +feasibility of the plan had been reported to the Department of the +Interior at Washington, D. C., actual work would start, and he would +soon see the realization of his dream, "A home of his own."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>The first snow was of short duration, although the fall was heavy. The +sun shone brightly before the end of the week and as it melted the +moisture was hastily consumed by the thirsty sands. The days that +followed the disappearance of the snow were ideal. No clouds of dust +arose to obscure the vision, and the quivering, dancing mirage that had +transformed the desert into a veritable fairy land appeared regularly +each morning and lingered, as if loath to deprive the desert dwellers of +the pleasure of its hypnotic influence, until compelled to retreat +before the advancing army of glinting sunbeams.</p> + +<p>The invincible bunch grass, aroused from its lethargy by the magic touch +of moisture, sent forth from its withered roots tender shoots of green +that peeped shyly from the mass of sun parched stalks that, unable to +withstand the summer's heat, had fallen helplessly back, thus forming a +shield for their parent turf.</p> + +<p>These days of sunshine were taken advantage of by Travis Gully and his +family, and rapid progress was made in clearing the land. With the +coming of the shades of evening his place, like those of hundreds of +others, was aglow with bonfires, the pyre of the burning sagebrush that +sizzled, crackled and fried as the blazing torch was applied, and when +the last faint glow of the remaining embers had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> died out and only ashes +were left, they could still feel the penetrating leer of the ghastly +gray that would not down.</p> + +<p>As the winter approached every possible preparation was made for the +months of enforced idleness, and when it finally came the family, who +had never acquired the habit of reading, and were lacking in other forms +of amusement, the time hung heavily on their hands. The letters that +came from their old home at irregular intervals were anxiously awaited, +and upon receipt of them a sense of homesickness seemed to overcome the +family. Little incidents were recounted that recalled scenes and +recollections that during the busy season would have been lightly passed +and soon forgotten.</p> + +<p>They had never met any of their former friends since coming to the +northwest, but had learned that the Gowells and Moodys had settled +somewhere in Montana, and word had been received from the Lane boys, who +had taken up a homestead in Washington, but the address given was a +remote point from the Gullys. The letters stated that those mentioned +were all doing well and were satisfied with the change. Not a word of +complaint had ever been written by Travis Gully or the members of his +family. They had failed the first year, but it was probably due to +unusual conditions, they thought, so they made no mention of the fact.</p> + +<p>They had written home at regular intervals, stating that all were well, +the happy, healthy growth of the children was noted, and an amusing +description of their home, and experience in building the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> cistern and +hauling water with which to fill it, was faithfully chronicled. An +account of the trip to the harvest field was written, telling of the +enormous yield and the methods used in saving the grain, also of how a +sufficient amount was earned to meet the winter's requirements, but +never a word of the heart breaking failure of their first planting nor +of the tortures endured in the grain fields, feeling that the +possibilities of a reoccurrence of these unfortunate conditions was +remote. They looked only to a more successful future.</p> + +<p>The little district school house, the erection of which had been started +early in the fall, was now complete, but no teacher could be found who +was willing to come into the wilderness to teach the few children of +which the district boasted. The neighborhood finally by common consent +organized what they called a "Literary Society," and a Sunday School. +The society met twice a month, and these meetings were looked forward to +as events of great importance, the program usually consisting of debates +by the older members and recitations, dialogues and songs by the +children of the community. The Sunday School met weekly, and the +homesteaders came with their families for distances of from ten to +fifteen miles to be in attendance.</p> + +<p>As the holiday season approached; arrangements were made for a +neighborhood Christmas tree, contributions were taken up at a meeting of +the society, and a committee of arrangements appointed to take charge of +the affair. Someone being the fortunate possessor of a catalogue from an +eastern mail order house, it was brought into requisition and a +selection of decorations and trinkets for the tree was made and the +order for their shipment forwarded. A census of the community was taken +and no one forgotten.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>At dusk faint lights twinkled from the scattered homes +in this sea of eternal gray sage.</i></h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>For days before that memorable Christmas Eve an air of mystery +surrounded the actions of everyone concerned. Packages that came through +the regular mails from the home folks in the east were carefully hidden +away, not to be opened until Christmas. The age worn spirit of the +season's cheer had invaded the desert, bringing with it a feeling of +comradeship not possible to engender in a community without the desert +environments, the vastness and the solitude impressed upon the +homesteader a sense of his individual smallness and the necessity of +association with one another. They were there for a common purpose, the +conquest of the desert and the building of a home.</p> + +<p>When the anxiously looked for package from the mail order house arrived +it was left at the Gully home until time to get the tree in readiness. +The morning of the day before Christmas was ushered in by a blizzard +that drove the finely powdered snow in blinding sheets into the faces of +Travis Gully and the two of his neighbors who had been chosen to meet at +the school house and make preparations for the assembly in the +afternoon. Gully, after hitching his team to the wagon in which had been +placed the packages and bundles, covered them snugly with old blankets +to protect them from the blowing snow, and drove to the school house, +where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> he found his two neighbors awaiting his arrival. They came out to +meet him with forlorn and hopeless expressions depicted on their faces. +Noting this, he asked them the cause of their distressed appearance, +when, both speaking at the same time, they exclaimed: "How about the +tree? We have no Christmas tree." Gully was amazed. Here they had made +arrangements for a befitting celebration, with the decorations to adorn +a Christmas tree, the time was at hand, and everyone had forgotten to +provide a tree for the occasion.</p> + +<p>With crestfallen expressions, the men turned slowly and allowed their +gaze to sweep the plain in every direction, but could see no way out of +their difficulty. Not a shrub in all that vast area raised its scrawny +head to a height above four feet. What would they do? The wives and +children must not be disappointed. They had set their hearts on this +event as the nearest approach to a Christmas with the home folks. Here +at this Christmas celebration would be opened packages containing tokens +of love and thoughtfulness. The very knots in the cord that bound them, +and the creases in the paper with which they were wrapped, had been made +by fond hands that were separated from them by thousands of miles. No! +they must have a Christmas tree.</p> + +<p>At this point in their dilemma, the resourcefulness of the true pioneer +asserted itself. With an exclamation of "I have it, boys," Gully sprang +from the wagon, and throwing back the blankets from the packages he +directed that they be taken inside, and after using the blankets to +protect his horses from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> the cold, he went to a huge pile of sagebrush +that had been hauled into the school yard for fuel, drew from its midst +and shook the snow from several of its largest branches. These he and +his companions carried into the school room. Gully's friends, not +knowing his ideas, fetched and carried at his command like eager +children. From beneath the newly constructed building was procured a +piece of discarded scantling which was appropriated and cut to the +desired length. The branches of the sagebrush were then cut from the +stalk and nailed with painstaking care to the smooth surface of one side +of the two by six inch scantling. Starting near the bottom with short +branches, the longer ones were worked in near the center and tapering as +the top was approached, the whole structure being topped with one +crowning bough; and thus completed, the crude affair was placed in +position, with the flat side securely nailed to the back wall of the +building. Upon stepping back to study the results of their efforts, the +men were surprised at the effect, the oddity of its appearance.</p> + +<p>Procuring the box of trimmings, they proceeded with their task. By means +of the generous distribution of cotton batting which was originally +intended to create the effect of a snow drift at the base of the tree +they succeeded in hiding the background and the rough bark of the +boughs, and at the same time producing a decidedly wintery effect. Upon +having completed the tree thus far they decided to return to their homes +for their families, and to leave the final touches to the deft hands of +their wives.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>Owing to the great distance it was necessary for some of the +homesteaders to come, it had been agreed upon to meet at the school +building during the afternoon, bringing their lunch and eating, after +which they would light the Christmas tree as soon after dark as would +give the best effect, and to distribute the presents early that those +who came from afar might return home at a reasonable hour.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after the noon hour that Travis Gully and his two friends +returned with their families, as they were anxious to have the tree as +nearly completed as was possible before the arrival of those from a +distance. The wives of the designers of this novel Christmas tree, +having been in a measure prepared by having been told of its nature, +were astonished, upon entering the building, at the attractiveness of +the tree. They had expected to find some crude arrangement as a +substitute for the usual evergreen, but when they appreciated the +possibilities of the unfinished work before them, they were delighted, +and went eagerly at the task of its completion.</p> + +<p>Taking up the work where the men had left off, they readjusted the +indiscriminate distribution of the fleecy cotton, sprinkling it with the +glistening powder so commonly used to produce the sparkling,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> frosty +effect, clipping an unruly bough here and there, placing the glittering +tin candle holders, with their assorted colored candles, so as to avoid +contact with the cotton when lighted, and after filling many small red, +green and blue stocking shaped mosquito netting bags with candies and +nuts, after which a tag bearing the name of some child of the +neighborhood was attached, these they distributed among the branches of +the tree, festooning the whole with a bewildering mass of yards of pure +white popcorn strung on a thread for the occasion, tissue paper designs +and sparkling tinsel that reflected the lights of the many candles in +rapidly changing hues and giving it the effect of a dazzling fountain +that persisted in its activities, though in the grasp of the frost king.</p> + +<p>Before the completion of the decoration of the tree and for several +hours after the neighboring homesteaders began to arrive with their +families, each bringing their share of the Christmas packages and boxes +of lunch. Many and varied were the expressions of amazement and delight +that greeted the workers upon the arrival of each family. "Isn't it +lovely, and made of sagebrush, too. How did you do it?" Some, more +inquisitive than others, would have to handle the branches to convince +themselves that it was purely a local product. "Well, it beats the trees +we used to have back home. I wish they could see it," many would +exclaim.</p> + +<p>As the neighbors arrived, their packages were taken and either hung on +the tree or placed conveniently near its base.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a happy gathering of pioneers. The little school building, though +being used for a purpose other than for which it was built, radiated +with warmth from the one huge sheet iron stove that stood in its center +and into which was being constantly fed handful after handful of crushed +and twisted sagebrush. As evening approached and the last of those who +were expected arrived and were met at the door and relieved of their +bundles and wraps, places were made for them near the stove that they +might warm their frosted fingers and toes.</p> + +<p>It was soon growing quite dark, and the excited children were eagerly +clamoring for the candles to be lighted. Benches were drawn away from +the walls, and after being placed together, the lunch was spread, and +the Christmas festivities were begun. There was no snow white linen or +sparkling silver nor cut glass, no wines or imported beverages, not a +flower or sprig of green graced this banquet board. The benches were +covered with the paper removed from such of the packages as had been +unwrapped, and plain porcelain, granite and tin were the plates. The +knives, forks and spoons were the iron handled or plated varieties. All +evidence of stately ceremony was absent, but over all a spirit of good +fellowship reigned. Faith, Hope and Charity were their guests and +hovered close around this isolated gathering and directed their every +thought, word and action. The plain food was eaten with a relish, and +the steaming coffee, served from a granite pitcher that was constantly +being refilled from a large boiler on the sheet iron stove, was drank +with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> an appreciation of its warmth and invigorating effect.</p> + +<p>The supper over and all evidence of it removed, with the benches so +arranged that all could get a view of the tree, the lighted lanterns +that had been hanging upon the walls, were lowered, and the tree +lighted. Breathlessly both young and old awaited the effect. Faintly the +little candles flickered and sputtered, trying with their tiny wicks to +allow the consuming flames to survive. A few went out, but were quickly +relighted, and as the hand that applied the match was withdrawn and a +slight current of air created, they flared and fluttered, but as the +pointed tip of each candle was burned away and the little cups of molten +wax formed around the wicks, they shot forth their flames. One by one +they came, like stars as night rapidly falls; more quickly they came, +and as the last one flared up and revealed the tree in all its sparkling +brilliancy, bated breathing ceased, and with a sudden chorus of many +childish expressions of delight and much noisy handclapping of their +parents in appreciation of the spectacle before them, the little school +room was filled with din that was taken up by the icy night wind and +wafted for miles across the snow and mingled with the swish of the +treacherous currents of the Columbia river, or mounting higher were lost +amidst the phantomlike whispering of the soughing pines on the rugged +mountain side.</p> + +<p>There were among those who had assembled there that Christmas Eve many +who had in their earlier childhood attended many Christmas tree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +entertainments, both community and family trees, but none were present +who could recall ever having seen one more beautiful. Their minds flew +back for just one fleeting moment to scenes in the past, trying in vain +to recall the most beautiful tree they had ever seen, that they might +compare it with the one they now beheld, and wondered at the possible +effect the sight of such a one as this would have upon the home folks.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was chosen to distribute the presents, and this he soon +accomplished. As each person's name was called they arose and the parcel +was passed to them, and when the last of the packages had reached the +hand of its excited owner and had been opened and admired, they were +passed to curious onlookers for their inspection and comment. The tree +was denuded of all its gaudy decorations. The candle holders, with their +short bits of candle, were distributed among the children, and the long +strings of popcorn and sparkling tinsel, together with the cotton, were +carefully stored away in a box for future use. While mothers secured +their wraps and shook to a state of wakefulness many sleepy little tots, +each step they took resounding with the crunch of peanut shells with +which the bare floor was strewn, the first Christmas tree the desert had +ever known had come and gone.</p> + +<p>The men went out, and hitching their teams, drove to the entrance for +their families, and as each stepped inside the building to say +good-night and wish for his neighbor a Merry Christmas and Happy New +Year, he took a final look toward the back of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> the room and shuddered. +One smoky lantern hung on a nail near the tree, now robbed of all its +tawdry loveliness; sagebrush, just a skeleton of a thing, once made +beautiful for a transient moment but now back to it original state, a +product of the desert, a diabolical fiend clothed in its haunting gray.</p> + +<p>Gully with his family were the last to leave, and the hour being late, +the drive home was made without comment by either he or his wife. The +older children chattered away about what they and their friends had +gotten from the tree. Little Joe, tucked snugly away among the blankets, +one chubby hand clutching the now almost empty mosquito net stocking, +the other, with fingers stuck fast together, was thrust beneath his head +amidst a mass of towsled locks of sunburned hair, now smeared with red +dye from a moist stock of peppermint candy, slept unconsciously +throughout the trip home.</p> + +<p>Christmas morning, when it dawned, was accompanied by a terrific +blizzard that kept Travis Gully and his family indoors. But being happy +with the success of the Christmas tree, they were content to stay by the +fire and discuss that event and plan for the weeks of fair weather that +they hoped would follow the storm.</p> + +<p>Gully realizing that his family was comfortable, his only care was for +his horses. These he had provided with as good protection as he had been +able to construct after his return from the harvest field, but he knew +that the flimsy structure he had erected and on three sides of which he +had piled sagebrush as a windbreak, could not long withstand such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +storm as was now raging. Upon going to the barn he discovered that the +brush had already blown away and he set to work to replace it and to +make it more secure by weighting it down with numerous old discarded +railroad ties that had been hauled out for fuel. The stinging fine snow +and icy blast of the blizzard made his task a most difficult one, and he +was repeatedly forced to go to the house to thaw out his frosted fingers +and toes.</p> + +<p>As evening approached the fury of the gale increased, and huge +snowdrifts formed around the little home and completely cut off exit by +means of the kitchen door. The front door opened directly facing the +blizzard, and at its every opening the two small rooms were filled with +the cold wind and drifting snow. The shrieking and howling of the wind +warned Gully of the wild night through which he and his family had to +pass, and he made ready by providing an abundance of sagebrush for fuel. +He fed and blanketed his horses early, and after spreading the straw for +their bedding, he left them as comfortable as was possible under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>Supper being over and he and his family seated comfortably around the +roaring stove enjoying the genial heat that was now filling the rooms, +and laughing merrily at the novel experience of being snowbound out in +the desert. Incidents of other Christmas nights back in the old home +were recounted by both Gully and his wife, to which the children eagerly +listened. Laughing and chatting, the evening was spent in this snug +little retreat, while outside the storm raged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>One by one the children became sleepy and were tucked away for the +night, and the fastening of the front door was made more secure by +having a crude bench turned on end and braced against it, and the cracks +around its casing, through which the cold wind was driving the snow, was +stopped by an old piece of canvas that was fastened at the top with +nails and allowed to extend down to the floor. Thus fortified against +the elements, Travis and Minnie Gully returned to their places near the +fire and sat for a long time in silence, listening to the regular +breathing and dreamy mumbling of their sleeping children. For them the +storm had no terrors.</p> + +<p>The wife placing her hand upon her husband's knee aroused him from his +reverie, and she expressed her satisfaction with their changed +condition, not that their material wealth had increased, but that she +had been taken into his confidence and had become a factor in his life. +In the old home she had been content to be the mother of his children, +the keeper of his house. But now things were different. She was appealed +to in all affairs, her suggestions were asked for the expenditure of the +few dollars he had earned, she was consulted as to the plans for the +improvement of their home, and she was happy in the thought that her +ideas were of value, and were of assistance to him. She was experiencing +her awakening, and while it was not as startling nor as sudden as his +had been on that first day when he had determined to have a home of his +own, it was just as real, and she was spurred on to new hopes and new +ambitions, and was happy in their contemplation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>The wail of the wind grew louder as the night advanced, and the constant +peppering of the particles of snow as they were being hurled in never +ceasing volleys against the tar paper with which the outer walls of the +building were covered could be distinctly heard. The old dog came from +his accustomed place beneath the kitchen table, and going behind the +stove seated himself amidst the shoes and stockings that had been placed +there by the children. After sniffing the air he yawned, curled himself +up, tucked his head with a contented sigh, blinked his watery eyes and +was soon snoring contentedly.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he dozed off when suddenly he sprang to a sitting position, +and pricking up his ears, emitted a vicious growl. Gully, fearing that +he would awaken the sleeping children, spoke to him, commanding him to +lay down and be quiet. This order he disregarded, and hurriedly went +into the kitchen, with hair bristling. Suddenly the startling yap of +several coyotes was heard above the din of the wind and pelting snow. A +pack of these skulkers, driven from their lairs by hunger and the biting +cold, had in their desperation overcome their fear of mankind, and +emboldened by numbers, had entered the very dooryard in search of food +or shelter.</p> + +<p>Gully, after assuring his now thoroughly frightened wife that they were +harmless, took the lamp,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> and going to the window pulled aside the +curtain and allowed it to shine on the outside to frighten them away. At +the same time he recalled the fact that little Joe's three chickens were +roosting insecurely in a box in the barn and would fall an easy prey to +the coyotes should they return. Taking his coat and hat, he pulled aside +the canvas covering from the door and slipped out into the storm, +returning in a few moments with the box containing the chickens, and put +them in a place of safety in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Saying nothing to his wife about the fierceness of the blizzard, he +resumed his place by the fire, and wondered if their little shack would +withstand the strain. He thought of his poorly protected horses and how +they must be suffering with the intense cold, and consoled himself with +the thought that he had done all within his power to make them +comfortable, even to covering them with the sadly worn blankets that +could be used to an advantage on his own poorly provided bed. As for +him, he could stay awake and keep the fire burning, and provide warmth +for himself and family. With this thought he suggested to his wife that +she retire, as the hour was growing late, and he would replenish the +fire and follow as soon as he assured himself that all was well.</p> + +<p>To this arrangement she protested mildly; she felt that should anything +go wrong her place was by his side. After assuring her that everything +was safe and that he would call her if she was needed, she finally +consented, and going to where the sleeping children lay, placed each +little straggling arm beneath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> the cover, and after smoothing their +pillows she placed their scattered garments on the foot of the bed for +additional warmth, and preparing her own bed, in which little Joe was +sleeping soundly, she partially undressed and lay down.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, left alone, sat dreaming by the stove, while outside the +blizzard raged and tore at the walls of his home. Its intensity was +increasing, he thought, or it might be that his loneliness made its +varied sounds more audible. Blast after blast was hurled against the +structure, and its every timber creaked and groaned with the strain. The +canvas covering at the door became inflated and collapsed at irregular +intervals, flapping lazily against the door, rising and falling like a +sail amidst errant breezes.</p> + +<p>Gully was soon lulled to drowsiness by the warmth of the stove and +varied sounds produced by the gale, and was soon dozing peacefully in +his chair. How long he remained in this position he never knew. He was +suddenly aroused by a call from his wife, who asked as to the cause of +an unusual sound that had awakened her. Gully, thus awakened, noted the +chilliness of the room, and renewed the fire, after which he listened +intently for a repetition of the sound. He had not long to wait. A +sudden fierce blast made the building quiver, and he could distinctly +hear a lashing, tearing sound on the north wall.</p> + +<p>Approaching the window to ascertain, if possible, the cause, he noticed +the crunching sound of the trodden snow upon the floor, and felt the +cold wind. He instantly realized what had happened. The wind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> in its +maddened fury had torn the tar paper from the outer wall and was driving +the finely powdered snow through the cracks and was forming it in +slender drifts across the floor. The break was slight at the time of its +discovery, but each new onslaught increased the size of the rent and was +opening new inlets for the snow and icy wind.</p> + +<p>Gully knew full well that to repair the break from the outside would be +impossible, as the paper would be torn from his hands, and to drive +nails in the dark, with numbed fingers, was out of the question. The +havoc that was being wrought by the wind was rapidly growing in extent, +and snow was being driven into the house through new openings at every +gust. Sheets of paper were being torn off and could be heard rattling +away across the snow and ice, being driven before the wind. Prompt +action of some kind was imperative. The bed occupied by little Joe and +his mother being built against the north wall of the room, it was +necessary for them to move, as the snow was pouring in and covering the +bedding, which would soon be made damp by the melting snow.</p> + +<p>Joe was placed in the remaining crowded bed with the other children and +Minnie Gully, hastily dressing, came with the broom to sweep back the +advancing snow drifts.</p> + +<p>The now vacant bed was hurriedly cleared of its bedding and the frame +work torn from the wall to give access to the openings. Travis Gully +worked feverishly, filling the cracks in the wall with paper and torn +rags, pressing them in securely with a case knife, his wife bringing for +this purpose every available<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> scrap of material. The unused bedding was +tacked up to temporarily stay the advance of the snow and wind. The +melting snow in the room required constant sweeping back, the fire was +kept burning brightly and the battle raged on. Not a complaint or wail +of discouragement escaped either Gully or his wife. With set faces and +determination they fought back the storm, and a smile of satisfaction +greeted each successful effort, as inch by inch the cracks in the wall +were closed and the advance of the enemy checked.</p> + +<p>The children having been awakened by the unusual commotion were told to +keep quiet and stay covered up, as everything was all right. Being thus +reassured, they were soon fast asleep. Daylight came with the Gullys +victors, but brought with it no abatement of the storm. The blinding +snow obscured the vision and no idea of the extent of the damage done +could be had.</p> + +<p>Exhausted by the loss of sleep and the excitement, Minnie Gully had sunk +into a chair near the stove. Her husband, noticing her tired look, tried +to persuade her to lie down and rest for a while, but this she refused +to do, so throwing an old coat over her shoulders to keep out the chill, +he left her and went out to investigate the condition of his horses. +These he found had fared much better than he had hoped. The drifting +snow had been blown into the sagebrush windbreak and formed a solid and +almost impenetrable mass, behind which the horses, protected by their +blankets, stood in comparative comfort.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>The task of digging from his meager supply of hay, now almost covered by +a huge snowdrift, a sufficient amount for their morning feed was a hard +one, but upon its completion he felt fully repaid by the hearty manner +in which it was eaten. Upon his returning to the house he found that his +wife and daughters were up and busily engaged preparing breakfast. They +asked eagerly as to the condition of the horses, and upon being assured +that they had fared splendidly, they laughed and joked over their wild +night's experience.</p> + +<p>All through that day and the day following the blizzard raged without +any appreciable lull in its terrific force. No effort was made to repair +the torn paper on the outer wall. The cracks that had been hastily +filled with paper and rags were gone over and made more secure, the +blankets that had been used as a shield in their emergency were taken +down and dried, and the crude bed that had been so ruthlessly torn away +from the north wall was temporarily reconstructed on the opposite side +of the room and held out inviting prospects to Gully, who was now +beginning to feel more keenly the effect of his long vigil of the night +before.</p> + +<p>All efforts at accomplishing anything on the outside were abandoned, and +meals were prepared and served at irregular hours. The chickens had +taken kindly to their new quarters, and becoming quite tame, were a +source of amusement to the children. Travis Gully devoted his time to +the care of his horses and providing fuel, the latter occupation +requiring most of his time, as the enormous quantity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> consumed soon +exhausted the supply near the house, and as more could not be gotten +while the storm raged he was forced to dig out the old railroad ties +from the wind break at the barn and to use them for fuel.</p> + +<p>The storm spent its fury on the desert dwellers sometime during the +third night. The lull came while Gully and his family, now inured to its +sound, were soundly sleeping, and when they awoke the following morning +they lay for several moments listening for the roar of the wind; not +hearing it, Gully knew that the long wished for calm had come. Dressing +himself, he kindled the fire, and calling to his wife that the storm had +ceased, he went out to view its work.</p> + +<p>The sun had risen, but was unable to penetrate the haze of thin clouds +and snow left floating along the horizon, and looked down on the +desolate scene without warmth. The air was cold and penetrating, huge +piles of snow had drifted behind every stationery object, and in places +where the ground had been cleared of brush and grass the snow was swept +entirely away and the wind had eaten its way into the sandy soil and +scattered it over the adjoining snowdrifts, giving them a yellow, dingy +appearance. Loose sagebrush that had been left piled and ready to burn +had been taken up and blown before the wind until finding lodgement +against some object, had become the base for the formation of additional +snowdrifts that extended in long mounds in the direction the wind had +blown. The whole landscape had a changed and unnatural appearance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gully could see the homes of some of his neighbors, but they seemed far +off, and no signs of life were visible except in one or two instances +where streams of thin, blue smoke was issuing from their stove pipes. +Not a horse nor cow could be seen upon the range, and the ever present +hawks that were wont to soar at dizzy heights above the plain were +missing. Noting these changes in detail, Gully wondered if these same +conditions existed throughout the vast area. After feeding his horses, +he returned to the house, where his breakfast awaited him.</p> + +<p>A few days after the passing of the storm the sun resumed its +brilliancy, but with little increased warmth; the days were clear and +the nights frosty. No effort was made by Gully toward venturing away +from home. He replenished his supply of fuel and covered the exposed +cracks in the wall of his shack by nailing over them laths. The space +between the cracks where the tar paper had been torn away was left bare, +and the new boards thus exposed glared in the bright sunlight.</p> + +<p>During the time they had been forced by the storm to remain in the house +many letters had been written to the home folks, in which a description +of the Christmas tree and the blizzard had been given. These Gully was +anxious to get to the post office, as well as to receive the mail that +he felt sure was awaiting his coming.</p> + +<p>Deciding one morning that he would try to reach the village, he set +about arranging his plans to go the following day. To undertake to drive +through he knew would be useless, as the snow was drifted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> so badly he +could not follow the road. As the village could be plainly seen from his +house and there were no fences to obstruct his way, he thought it best +to take one of his horses on which to pack out some provisions, and go +straight across the wide snow covered plain.</p> + +<p>Knowing that the trip, without mishap, would require the whole of the +following day, he decided to start as soon as it was light enough to get +his bearings. All preparations for the trip were made the night before, +the little bundle containing his lunch, the letters that were to be +mailed, and a list of the purchases that were to be made were placed +where they would not be forgotten, and when Gully awoke the following +morning he quietly arose, and after feeding his horses prepared for +himself some strong, black coffee, which was all the breakfast he +required, and without awakening the members of his family started on his +trip.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was a strange sight to behold, in the dull gray of the winter +morning, a man floundering through the snowdrifts, leading behind him an +unwilling horse that could hardly be induced to leave its unattractive +but comfortable stable. In Travis Gully, garbed as he was, the horse +could not be expected to recognize its owner. Over his hat he had tied a +large red handkerchief that held the brim down over his ears and caused +a peak at front and rear like an old fashioned cockaded hat, his +mackinaw was bound around his waist with a piece of rope, and strips of +burlap wound around his legs extended over and completely hid his shoes. +His appearance was more that of a typical tramp than the sturdy +homesteader he really was.</p> + +<p>Owing to the many difficulties encountered, caused principally by the +sagebrush that lay hidden beneath the snow into which his feet sank at +every step, he did not reach his destination until shortly after noon. +There were many in the village who expressed their surprise at his +undertaking such a trip. None of his neighbors had been in, and no word +had been received from the district that lay far to the south as to what +the result of the blizzard had been. It was feared that there had been +great suffering among the homesteaders, as it was well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> known that many +of them were poorly prepared for the rigor of such a storm.</p> + +<p>After attending to his business no time was lost in starting on the +homeward trip. With his few groceries securely wrapped in two compact +bundles and fastened to each end of a rope, they were thrown across a +comfortable canvas pad and lashed to the horse's back, the weight being +as nearly equally divided as was possible, the crude pack was adjusted +and the tedious retracing of their tracks begun.</p> + +<p>Gully had not taken time to eat his lunch, but had placed it in the +pocket of his mackinaw, intending to eat it as he traveled, thereby +avoiding the loss of time. The mail that he had found waiting for him +was tied in a packet and placed securely in his inside pocket, that it +might be kept dry in case he was overtaken by another blizzard. He had +not read any of the letters or even glanced at the headlines of the +little home weekly, several issues of which had accumulated at the post +office, and as he trudged his weary way through the deep snow he tried +to imagine to himself what messages they bore, whether their contents +were joyous or sad, and in his wandering thoughts he compared his +present plight with the winters he had spent in the East and asked +himself if he would be willing to exchange the present hardships and +inconveniences for the old condition, and laughed at the thought.</p> + +<p>"No, I will not go back to the life of a renter under any circumstances. +I have hardly started on the task of making a home," he told himself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +and the thought of abandoning the dream was ridiculous. "Minnie and the +children are well and happy, and even if we did not raise good crops for +the first year or so, think what it will be when the irrigation ditch +comes through," and as he discussed these questions in his mind he ate +his lunch, never stopping for a moment.</p> + +<p>The horse, now that he was headed in the direction of home, kept pace +with its master, and with his nose at his elbow was ready to receive the +occasional piece of crust that was given him, and not satisfied with his +scant allowance, nipped at his sleeve and teased for more.</p> + +<p>Upon looking back Gully noticed that the pack had slipped and stopped to +replace it and to tighten the rope. He then saw that evening was +approaching, and glanced back toward the village to estimate the +distance he had covered. His own home he could plainly see, and he noted +the smoke as it poured from the stovepipe and realized that this meant +the preparation of a warm supper with which he would be greeted upon his +return.</p> + +<p>He pushed on. The constant snagging of the burlaps in which his feet +were encased, as he sank deep in the snow and sagebrush, had torn it +away until his shoes were exposed, and as he wore no rubbers, his feet +were wet and numb, and he knew that later the cold would become more +severe. The sky was overcast with clouds, and he realized the dangers of +being lost on the desert on such a night as this promised to be, so he +put forth his every effort to reach his home before the darkness fell.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>The horse, now eager to reach home and enjoy the long deferred feed and +warmth of the stable, was crowding his master's footsteps and threatened +at every faltering movement to be upon him. Gully was soon forced from +fatigue to give up all hopes of reaching his home before dark, and was +satisfied to think that he was near enough to be guided by a beacon +light that he felt sure would be placed in the window. Stopping for a +few moments to recover his breath, he looked longingly toward the little +black dot that could be dimly seen against the background of snow, +knowing that it was but a mere speck on the desert. Yet it was his +refuge and contained his world.</p> + +<p>As he rested and watched the shades of evening settle and creep down the +distant mountain side, he took his horse's nose between his hands and, +caressing it, enjoyed the warmth of the hot steaming breath. Then he +cast one more glance in the direction of his home; it had faded from his +view and was lost in the corresponding darkness, but in its stead a +small twinkling light gleamed feebly across the snow. It was scarcely +larger than the flame of one of the Christmas tree candles and was many +miles away; yet it warmed his heart as no other flame could have done.</p> + +<p>Speaking encouragingly to his horse, they resumed their toilsome +journey, and never faltering or stopping, followed the guidance of the +little light for another hour, and Gully staggered into his yard, his +trip ended. But conditions had been reversed; the horse had led him +home. Wearily he removed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> the pack, and placing it upon the ground near +the kitchen door, was in the act of reaching for the mail to hand to his +wife when his strength gave out and he collapsed. Numb with the cold, +and with his trousers frozen fast to his shoes, he was helped into the +house. The horse, upon gaining his freedom when his master's hand had +released its hold on the rope, went to its place in the barn and munched +hungrily at the hay that had been placed there to await his coming.</p> + +<p>The warmth of the room and a cup of steaming hot coffee soon revived +Gully, and after being provided with warm dry clothing he ate supper +with his family and listened in a dazed manner to the reading of the +news from home. But the stupor induced by the exposure and tremendous +exertion finally overcome him, and he was forced to retire.</p> + +<p>After Minnie Gully had assured herself that her husband was comfortable +and sleeping soundly, she quietly slipped from the room, closing the +door that led into the kitchen as she came out for fear that the chatter +of the children might disturb him. Clearing away the dishes from the +supper table she brought out the letters and papers that had been +received that day and carefully reread every line of the letters from +home. An occasional smile would brighten her countenance as she came +upon some bit of homely advice or some suggestion from her dear old +mother, suggestions that would have been applicable to the Minnie Gully +of old, the tired, haggard daughter her mother had last seen, but to the +robust, cheerful woman she had now grown to be they were amusing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p>After having read the last of the letters she dropped her hands upon the +table before her and sat staring at the open pages, reading between the +lines. How plainly she could see the old home, the very room in which +this letter was written. 'Twas evening, probably Saturday. Yes, it was +Saturday, for there was father's Bible and scattered notes. He had been +preparing his sermon for the morrow. His spectacle case was laying on +the loose pages. He had got up and moved his chair to the opposite side +of the table, and was seated by mother, who with toil stiffened fingers +was laborously writing this letter. How plain it all was, and how her +heart ached, not from homesickness nor from a desire to see and be with +them, but rather to cry out to them and tell them what they had missed. +They, in their crowded communities, even in the rural districts, knew +nothing of the wild delights of perfect freedom and unlimited space. She +had always been crowded; she knew it now. She had never known or felt +until now the exhilerating thrills of doing something, doing something +worth while. Fighting, yes, that was the word; fighting the elements, +doing battle with unadorned nature, free from the artifices of mankind.</p> + +<p>Oh! if she could only make them understand the inexpressable joy of +conquest. The joy of breathing pure air; breathing it out in the open; +air that had probably never come in contact with the nostrils of a +living creature. Even though the air at times might be laden with sand +that stifled and choked, it was dust that had been torn from a virgin +soil, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> was uncontaminated from having been trodden under foot by a +hurrying multitude of human beings. And the mountains—how she loved +them—she never tired of their ever changing beauty and grandeur. Still +retaining the hold on the letter, Minnie Gully arose from the table, and +going to the outside kitchen door, threw it open and stepped out. Not +until she was met by the cold air and the blackness of the night did she +realize how completely she had been lost to her surroundings.</p> + +<p>Laughing aloud at her foolish flights of thought, she hurriedly tossed +back the few strands of hair that had been displaced by the cold breeze +and returned immediately into the room. She gathered up the letters and +scattered papers and put them away, after which she joined in the +conversation and games with the children; but the thoughts of the home +folks remained with her. She wanted them to feel as she felt and to reap +some of the benefits of this land of health, and be a factor in its +development.</p> + +<p>Long after she and the children had gone to bed she lay and thought of +her girlhood friends, whom she knew would live their prosaic lives +without ever having known the joys, miseries, delights and sorrows that +enter into the daily life of a pioneer, and she wanted to help them; she +went to sleep with visions of herself as a great benefactress +distributing happiness to thousands of her kind.</p> + +<p>The passing of the blizzard marked the turning point of the winter, and +the weather throughout the month of January was nice, and while the snow +did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> not disappear, there was only an occasional flurry added nothing to +the quantity on the ground. The social meetings at the school house were +not resumed after the Christmas tree, owing to the extreme cold, but the +neighbors visited with each other and met frequently at the store in the +village. At such times when two or more were together the principal +topic was the blizzard. Although the country was comparatively new in +its settlement there was always the proverbial "oldest inhabitant" who +could recall "Just such another winter," but to those who actually knew, +it had been by far the worst blizzard the country had ever known since +the advent of the white man.</p> + +<p>There was a legend told by the Indians of the Northwest of the winter of +the long ago when the snow was so deep in the mountains that the deer, +driven from their natural haunts in the mountains, had crossed on the +surface of the frozen Columbia river in search of food and died by the +thousands on the plain. This, to a certain extent, was verified by the +occasional finding of antlers, bleached white by years of exposure to +the rays of the desert sun.</p> + +<p>The matter of irrigation was now seldom mentioned. That the party of +Government surveyors who had worked on the project the summer before had +left with their equipment at the first approach of winter was known, but +as to whether they were to return, or had completed their investigation, +was left to conjecture.</p> + +<p>With the arrival of February came the first real spring weather. A +chinook wind came, and after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> blowing for two nights and a day, had +melted the snow to such an extent that the only traces of it to be found +was where it had drifted into an abandoned badger or coyote den and +escaped the warm breath of the chinook. There being no frost in the +ground the moisture created by the melting snow sank deep into the soil +and was stored away for future use. The sun, as it rose higher with each +lengthening day, dispensed its increasing warmth, thereby reviving the +earlier varieties of plant life with startling rapidity.</p> + +<p>Gully having cleared a number of acres of sagebrush, was anxiously +awaiting seasonable weather for plowing, that he might sow his grain +early and get it up and well rooted before the spring winds came, +thinking that by adopting this method it would survive. There was plenty +to do before the ground was in a condition for plowing. Seed grain and +feed was to be hauled from the wheat growing district of the Big Bend +country, and a supply of provisions procured, that a trip to the village +would not be required of the team during the plowing and seeding time. +The cistern was to be filled and as much more ground made ready for the +plow as was possible before the rush.</p> + +<p>Plans for the accomplishment of all this had been carefully made by +Gully and his wife, and they were eager to begin. As the roads were in +excellent condition while the sand was wet and settled, Gully borrowed a +team to work with his own from one of his neighbors and went for his +seed grain, the trip requiring two days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon his return from this trip he and his entire family drove to the +village. There was no great amount of shopping to be done, as Gully's +funds were about exhausted, but one of the merchants in the town had +promised to supply him with provisions until the harvest season. The +family was taken along that they might enjoy the outing, and as the +weather was bright and there was no dust or blistering sun, the trip was +often looked back to as one of the most pleasant they had ever taken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>By the last of March the grain had all been sown and the first of the +planting was beginning to force its tender shoots through the surface. +The sun was growing brighter with each day and everything pointed to an +early spring.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, with his wife and children, toiled early and late, making +the best of the favorable season. Grudgingly they stopped for their +meals and time for their horses to feed. Night brought no diminishing of +their labors; brush was piled and burned, and even trips to the well for +water were made by moonlight.</p> + +<p>It became the custom of the settler that when one of them went to town +to bring out the mail for the neighbors who lived along their route +home, and to call and deliver it when passing. Almost daily mail came to +the Gullys by this means, letters from people with whom they had been +but slightly acquainted, asking for information in regard to the +Northwest, of the chances for a man with but limited means, and the +possibilities of their procuring a piece of the free land for a home.</p> + +<p>Gully made no effort to reply to all these inquiries, nor did he feel +justified in holding out alluring prospects to the writers, although he +himself had absolute faith and confidence in the ultimate success of +his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> undertaking. He was not certain as to whether all the anxious +seekers for a home would be willing to endure, or could withstand, the +hardships incident to the establishment of a home in the desert.</p> + +<p>He would sit and talk the matter over with his wife during the evenings +and at other spare times, and they agreed that while it would be nice to +have some of their old friends as neighbors, the pleasure of their +coming would be marred should conditions prove unsatisfactory upon their +arrival.</p> + +<p>They could recall a few of those among their former friends whom they +felt assured would be easily convinced of the splendid future this +country had, but there were others, many others, who they knew would +expect to find conditions such as would guarantee immediate profitable +results from their efforts. Of this latter class they were afraid, as +evidence of their kind having been there and tried, failed and gone +their way, was at every hand visible, and they did not care to be held +to blame for their disappointment.</p> + +<p>So they finally decided to write a letter to the editor of their little +home paper, that it might be published, a letter setting forth bare +facts. Conditions as they existed, without embellishment, the good and +the evil alike, and let those who might read choose for themselves.</p> + +<p>The preparation of this letter was a source of both worry and amusement +to Travis Gully and his wife, and required several nights for its +completion. Worry that in their enthusiasm and optimism they might make +it too favorable in its tone, that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> might infuse into it too much +of their individual hopes and aspirations of which they had dreamed +until they had become almost a reality. And again they would burst into +hearty laughter at the recounting of some of their experiences, never +realizing that these little incidents must be lived through to be +appreciated.</p> + +<p>When the letter was written, and after having been read and altered and +rewritten a number of times, it was finally pronounced satisfactory and +sealed, ready for mailing. Nearly a week elapsed before an opportunity +to send the important packet to the post office came, and then only by +the merest chance.</p> + +<p>The news of the activities of the Government surveyors in the region the +summer before had been spread broadcast throughout the East, and +unscrupulous land boomers had announced that the reclamation by the +Government of the vast area was an assured fact, some even going so far +as to announce the exact amount of the appropriation made by Congress +for this purpose and so, as a result of this, and also to the fact that +the railroads had again put on a homeseekers excursion rate, the early +spring brought an unusually large number of prospective settlers into +the community.</p> + +<p>They came in parties, toiling their way across the level stretch of +country, now still moist from the melted snow, showed no evidence of the +clouds of sand and dust that would follow after a few short weeks of +sunshine. The surface of the unplowed ground was thickly carpeted with a +specie of fine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> grass, known as sheep grass, that always came first in +the spring, to be followed by the more succulent bunch grass.</p> + +<p>Myriads of tiny plants were pushing their way through the surface and +many were bursting into full blossom before they had lifted their dainty +heads more than a few inches above the grass roots. Many and varied were +their shapes and colors, each vieing with the other in hastening to +bloom, that it might flaunt its beauty for the longest possible time +before being forced to close its petals by the ever increasing heat of +the sun.</p> + +<p>To those of the tourists who came at this season of the year the +prospects were most inviting. Never had they, in their homes in the +East, had such a range of vision, such an unlimited expanse to sweep +with their bewildered eyes, and the kaleidoscopic changes came so +rapidly, as they turned to admire it.</p> + +<p>It was like a dream. Starting with the snow capped peaks of the +mountains, they could follow the scene downward past the snowline, over +the barren space that intervenes between it and the timber, which starts +in with its varied shades of green, the peculiar, yellowish green of the +tamarack, that seldom grows at an altitude of less than three thousand +feet. Intermingled with this would appear the spots of dull brown, +showing the clumps of sarvic berries and choke cherries, the favorite +haunts of the bear and deer. Towering above these thickets the slender +white trunks and branches of the quaking asp could be plainly seen. +Farther down the shades of green become darker as the forests of fir, +pine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> and cedar come within the range of vision. Flaming patches of +sumach adorn the edges of the rocky spots that occasionally occurred in +the picture. On downward the dull gray of the sagebrush marks the upper +rim of the breaks of the Columbia river, then a blank of smooth rock +wall that drops for hundreds of feet to the water's edge. The river +itself is hidden from view by the undulating hills that lay immediately +adjacent to the plains. Here the scene changes from its wild rugged +beauty to one indicating the presence of mankind. The vast expanse of +sagebrush is dotted here and there with square patches of a new and +different shade of green, the green of the freshly growing grain, each +of these being marked by the presence of a newly constructed home. The +green of the grain fields and the bare, unpainted walls of the homes +refuse to harmonize with the color scheme of the desert and are easily +distinguished as not being a part thereof, and do not figure in the +picture. Passing them by with a hasty glance, barely sufficient to note +their remoteness, one from the other, the beholder allows his gaze to +gradually take notice of objects nearer at hand, and finally to lower +his eyes, with a sigh of satisfaction, and looks with wonder into the +faces of the little desert flowers blooming happily at his very feet, +and asks himself what connection there is between these two, the glacial +peaks and the tiny desert flower, so different in every way, and yet +both so necessary for the completion of the picture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>Travis Gully and his wife anxiously awaited the arrival of the copy of +the paper in which their letter was to be published and given to the +world, and when it came they reread every word, and felt reassured that +it contained no misleading statements, no invitation to others to come +unprepared to take up the hardships of the life of a homesteader, but +the entire article teemed with the elements of hope and optimism that +showed their faith in a successful end.</p> + +<p>During April and May the influx of homeseekers was at its height, and +almost daily parties of prospective settlers stopped at the Gully home +for information as to directions and locations of pieces of land they +wished to secure. Gully's first year's experience had given him +knowledge of conditions that had enabled him to overcome to a certain +degree some of the difficulties with which he had to contend. During his +enforced idleness of the winter just passed he had planned the course he +proposed to pursue during the ensuing year. He had decided to introduce +some of the dry land farming methods that had been successfully tried +out in other sections of the Northwest, an idea of which he had gleaned +from some Government Bulletins that had been given him by the postmaster +of the village.</p> + +<p>As a result of his experiments along these lines, and due to a most +favorable season in the way of absence of hard winds and seasonable +showers, Gully's homestead presented a most creditable appearance. His +field of wheat was by far the best in the neighborhood, and as he had +planted nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> but the most hardy varieties of corn and vegetables his +garden promised to be a success, and as a result of the showing he was +making, his place became one of the points of interest to which most of +the visitors were directed by the people of the village, or to which the +real estate agents always brought their clients, and would exclaim: +"What this man has done in this country others can do."</p> + +<p>Spurred on by his success and the ever increasing feeling of +independence, Travis Gully toiled on thruout the spring. The constant +recurrence of visitors to view their home was a source of diversion to +the Gullys, and a means whereby many dollars came into their possession.</p> + +<p>They made no charge for the hospitality extended to the strangers who +came their way, but the offering of a glass of water or, as was often +the case, a lunch and an hour's rest to the tired, dusty travelers who +could not but see and appreciate their condition, was always rewarded by +liberal offerings of change, made in most instances to the children. +Thus the immediate requirements of the family were met and a small +amount saved.</p> + +<p>As the summer approached and the unusual showers became less frequent, +the fitful gusts of wind started the restless sand, but too late to harm +the grain that was now beginning to assume the golden tint that foretold +an early harvest. The garden was beginning to wilt beneath the hot +sunrays, but the ingenuity of Gully saved it. At the root of the melon +vines and other plants empty cans were imbedded into which the waste +water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> was poured and allowed to filter slow through, and by this method +sufficient moisture was given the plants to mature them, and the yield +was abundant.</p> + +<p>The favorable season in the desert region had renewed the hopes of those +who had chosen to make it their home, and scenes of unusual activity +were apparent at every hand. New tracts of land were being cleared and +plowed, and new buildings sprang up overnight; their glistening bare +walls could be seen in many directions.</p> + +<p>The services of a Miss Anderson as teacher for the little school had +been secured, and though the season was late for starting, it was +opened, and each school morning, early, the Gully children went joyfully +across the sagebrush plain to the little school building, where they +were joined by some half dozen other children who came from as many +different directions.</p> + +<p>The glint of the sunrays on their brightly shining dinner pails flashed +heliographic warning of their approach long before the small pupils +could be seen. The Sunday School was reorganized and the meetings of the +literary society resumed. The hardships of the past winter were almost +forgotten and were seldom referred to.</p> + +<p>The middle of the month of June brought the harvest season. The grain in +the desert maturing and ripening several weeks in advance of that in the +grain belt to the north, thus affording the homesteader an opportunity +to harvest their grain at home before leaving for the grain fields for +their regular season's run.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gully, whose harvest at home had yielded exceptional returns for which +he found a ready market among his neighbors, was undecided as to whether +to make another trip into the Big Bend country or remain at home and +improve his place. But the desire to have a well, with abundance of +water, which would give him an opportunity to irrigate and develop his +home, soon caused him to decide to go. He had not forgotten his +experience of the fall before, and his firm resolve never to leave his +family alone in the desert again, but conditions had changed since them. +They were better provided for, and there were neighbors, many of whom +would have to leave for the winter, but still there were among them many +who would leave their families behind. Besides he had bought another +team and what they could earn, together with his earnings, would enable +him to secure the coveted well, and he would not have to leave again.</p> + +<p>As for the work, he was better equipped now and would know what to +expect and consequently make the best of it. Thus he reasoned, and after +fully determining to go, he wrote to the grower for whom he had worked +the previous fall and arranged for work during the coming season.</p> + +<p>The summer now being on, the heat of the sun was terrific, and no effort +was made to accomplish anything during the day. When trips to the +village became necessary the start was made early, and the home coming +frequently postponed until after sundown, to avoid as much as possible +the midday drive over the hot dusty roads. Rains were a thing of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> the +past now, and the desert began to assume its accustomed dry, parched +appearance. Many of the newcomers who had moved in during the early +spring, when conditions were most favorable, were now becoming alarmed, +and questioned the wisdom of their choice, and had it not been for the +positive evidence of the possibilities of the district as seen at the +Gully place, many of them would have become discouraged and given up in +despair.</p> + +<p>To many of these unfortunates the village was the only source of +comfort. They would congregate there during the day and discuss the +various subjects pertaining to home building in the wilderness. Many of +them had had no experience at farming even under the most favorable +conditions, and these presented a most pitiful appearance and woebegone +manner. Fresh from within the confines of shop or office and launched +upon a life of hardships and exposure, upon a sea of blistering sands, +sizzling sagebrush and bunch grass, it was no wonder they blistered, +peeled, freckled and tanned and seemed to shrivel and slouch when they +had lain aside their neat fitting business suit and donned their +overalls. It was a cruel test of stamina and manhood, and a surprising +few that withstood it.</p> + +<p>Many of the earlier settlers adhered to the belief that help would come +to them through irrigation, and the fact of the surveyors having been in +the field the summer before was related to the new settlers with +convincing arguments that it had to come. Still no one had ever heard +the slightest intimation of what the surveyors had accomplished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> in the +way of favorable results or the nature of their official report.</p> + +<p>The fact of this silence was looked upon by many as a good omen, and +wild rumors were set afloat that the survey had been successful, and the +plans for the installation of the gigantic system were then being +prepared. On one occasion, while gathering driftwood along the shores of +the Columbia, a homesteader saw a man working among the rocky cliffs far +above him. He hastily drove home and reported his discovery to his +neighbors, who added their ideas to the importance of this discovery, +and by the next day it was a matter of common talk upon the streets of +the village that work had started on the foundation for a huge power +plant, to generate electricity for pumping. And so it went, every +mysterious move or unusual occurrence immediately became the subject for +speculation, and was supposed to have some bearing on the reclamation of +the land with which they were now battling to bring into a state of +productiveness.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was looked upon as a wizard, and his accomplishments under +the existing conditions were the wonder of the neighborhood. Each little +real estate office and many of the stores contained specimens of the +stalks of grain, corn or other varieties of products grown by him. Many +articles appeared in the papers published throughout the territory +telling of what he had accomplished under his system of farming, and he +frequently received communications asking for information as to the +methods or kind of seed he had used. To all such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> he could only reply +that his success was as much of a surprise to him as to others, and he +took no special credit to himself. But it pleased him to think that it +had fallen to his lot to prove to the world that his faith in the +productiveness of the soil was well founded.</p> + +<p>To Minnie Gully the effect of their success for the year was entirely +different. She knew, or thought she knew, that it was due to the +superiority of Travis' management. "Had he not studied the matter, and +learned the exact time for plowing and seeding? Had he not so arranged +the clearing of the land as to leave the sagebrush intact upon the high +ground, that it might break the force of the wind, thus protecting the +tender plants? And who but he would have had the forethought to save +every condensed milk can that had been emptied, and had even brought +hundreds of others to utilize in his novel method of irrigation for the +vegetables and few nicely growing fruit and shade trees? Had she not +saved every particle of waste water, even to the water used for the +weekly laundering, and she and the children poured it carefully into the +cans at the roots of the plants and covered them that the sand might not +drift in and absorb the precious moisture?"</p> + +<p>It was not chance to her. She felt that if they had acquired the +distinction of being the most successful homesteaders in the district, +they were entitled to it, and she prided herself on the fact; and she +resolved that in the event of their securing a well, with abundance of +water, even though irrigation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> never came, she would show the world +further proof of what could be done, and would devote her life to making +their home an ideal one.</p> + +<p>Her blood would surge through her veins, and with flushed face and +sparkling eyes she would go out into the yard and approaching one of the +growing trees, then mere switches, would fondle its few green leaves and +look upward, as if measuring the vast expanse above to see if she might +imagine the height to which it would attain. She would go to the grain +stack, and rubbing out in the palm of her hand a few of the well filled +heads, blow away the husks and chaff, and admire the plump red grains, +finally casting them to the patiently waiting chickens, and return +singing joyously into the house and resume her household duties, a +different Minnie Gully of a short year before.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>By the last of July the heat had become so intense that it was decided +to close the school until the cooler weather in the fall. The children +had made good progress, and as Miss Anderson had taken up a homestead +near by, her services for the winter months were assured. So it was +planned that when the school was closed she was to visit her home for a +few weeks, returning before the harvest season, and was to remain at the +Gully home until his return from harvest, after which she was to take up +her abode upon her own claim. This arrangement pleased Gully, as it +assured him that his family would not be alone during his absence.</p> + +<p>The few remaining weeks before his departure Gully devoted to the +improvement of his house. Material for this purpose was obtained by his +having purchased a building erected upon a claim a short ways from his +own by Jack Norton, a young man, who having become discouraged, had +proposed to accompany Gully to the harvest fields and to use the +proceeds of the sale of the building, together with his earnings while +harvesting, to purchase a return ticket to the East, thereby abandoning +his claim.</p> + +<p>The price paid by Gully for the material in the building was +insignificant, but added very materially to his unpretentious home when +reconstructed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> connection with it, and assured him against the +recurrence of his experience of the winter before.</p> + +<p>The conditions under which Travis Gully made his second trip to the +harvest fields were entirely different. Now he knew where he was going +and exactly what to expect upon his arrival. The horses he drove were +his own, and he reserved the right to have absolute control of them +during the entire trip. He had been requested by his former employer to +bring as nearly as possible the same crew as had come on the former +occasion. In this he was successful, with the exception of one of the +party who had become discouraged and left the country soon after the +passing of the severe blizzard of the winter before.</p> + +<p>The iron molder, the pressman, and the professor were there, and as the +progress each had made on their homestead was fair, it was a more jovial +party that had left on this occasion. The start was made from the Gully +home, where the party had assembled the evening before, and instead of +the tear stained cheeks and pitiful sighs that had marked their first +departure from the well, there had been a happy gathering of all the +neighbors for miles around who had assembled at Travis Gully's home to +bid the harvesters farewell. This gathering was not only for those who +were going with the Gully party, but was for all the men of the +neighborhood who were going forth to replenish their funds ere the +winter came.</p> + +<p>Each had brought their lunch basket, and the scene of the feast at the +Christmas tree was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> reenacted, only under more favorable circumstances +and on a much larger scale. The festivities continued until far into the +night. Rollicking games of blindman's buff and others of its like were +played out in the open under the brilliance of the huge, desert moon. +Young and old alike joined in the spirit of the games, and merry peals +of laughter proclaimed their evident enjoyment.</p> + +<p>When the time came for the merry makers to go to their several homes, +and after the final good-byes had been said, those of the party who were +to remain overnight and start the following morning chose their sleeping +places, and unrolling their blankets, lay down and were soon lulled to +sleep by the sound of the distant singing and talking of the departing +guests which was wafted back by the cool night air for miles across the +silent desert. The sounds were broken at intervals by the sharp staccato +yap of the startled coyotes.</p> + +<p>The following morning the men were all astir just at the break of day. +The horses were fed and harnessed and everything made ready for the +start. Ample lunch was put up to last the entire party until they +reached their destination, and when breakfast had been eaten the start +was made.</p> + +<p>The sun had not yet appeared, but the jagged ridge of hills to the east +was plainly outlined, and Gully, now being thoroughly acquainted with +the lay of the country and not caring to lose time by making a long +detour to reach the main road, went directly across the plain to the gap +in the hills that he knew would afford him an exit.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>Minnie Gully and the children, as well as their guest, Miss Anderson, +who had now returned from her visit home, were out to see them off. The +old dog was leaping frantically at the horses' heads as if he too +understood the importance of the occasion. His loud barking and frisky +capers caused little Joe to shriek with laughter, and amidst all this +din and shouting of good-byes they rolled away.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, who had remained at the Gully home from the time of the +sale of the building on his own claim until its removal and +reconstruction as a part of the Gully residence, was seated with Gully +on the driver's seat when the party started on their journey.</p> + +<p>Knowing the road as the party now did, the trip was not nearly so +tiresome as on the former occasion. Time passed much more rapidly, and a +constant flow of conversation and quips and jokes were kept up by those +of the party except young Norton who, though usually full of life and +ordinarily a good companion, was on this occasion sullen and morose. +Travis Gully was quick to note this change in Norton's demeanor and +watched him closely to see if he could find its cause. Thinking perhaps +it was due to his disappointment at his failure at success as a +homesteader, he jibed him good-naturedly upon his giving up so easily.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton turned, and taking one more long look at their starting +point, allowing his gaze to wander out across the desert and after a few +minutes pause answered Gully's remark by saying: "It might be that I +have not given up." Travis Gully, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> rather liked the young fellow, +slapped him on the back and exclaimed: "That's the spirit. You might +take a notion to come back with us. Well, if you do, your claim will +still be safe. You know you have six months off." Jack Norton did not +reply to this. He evidently did not know or had not thought but what his +temporary absence from his claim would forfeit it. He sat silent for a +few moments, looked back in the direction from which they had come, and +remarked, "Looks good to me," and was noticeably more cheerful during +the remainder of the day.</p> + +<p>The early morning start and favorable conditions enabled them to cover +the worst of their journey the first day, and the camp for the night was +made far up in the grand coulee, within a few miles of where they would +emerge upon the plateau where the grain fields began.</p> + +<p>A small stream trickled down from the face of the bluff that formed the +east wall of the coulee. The spring from which it flowed was +inaccessable, so it was necessary to catch the water in pails as it +dripped from the rock ledge far above, for it disappeared as soon as it +reached the sandy bottom of the coulee.</p> + +<p>Beautiful grasses grew at the bottom of the cliff, where the water +wasted away, and rare specimens of ferns adorned the face of the rock +over which it flowed, far above the reach of man. The place had been +noted by those of the party who were on the trip the fall before, and +the professor had expressed a desire to obtain some of the ferns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> for +specimens during their stay in the camp. Knowing that they had ample +time, as they were not due at their destination for two days, and that +they could reach it the following afternoon, they decided to remain in +camp the forenoon of the following day and rest their horses.</p> + +<p>It was just before sundown when they went into camp, but knowing from +past experience that the twilight between those towering walls was +short, they hurriedly accumulated a sufficient quantity of sagebrush for +fuel during the night, and after placing their only water pail beneath +the drip of the trickling stream, awaited its filling for water with +which to make coffee.</p> + +<p>After this was procured and the coffee set to boil, Travis Gully led his +horses to the patch of grass and allowed them to browse while the water +dripped into the pail, and as it filled he gave each horse in its turn a +drink. The evening shadows were slowly creeping upward and could be +clearly outlined upon the face of the cliff that formed the west wall of +the coulee. An occasional bird fluttered into one of the crevices that +marred the face of the cliff, seeking shelter for the night. The only +sound that disturbed the oppressive silence was that produced by the +horses cropping the succulent grass and the drip, drip of the water in +the pail.</p> + +<p>The conversation at the camp fire had ceased. Gully noticing this +glanced toward the small group of men assembled there in search of the +cause; apparently there was none. The lunch box had been brought from +the wagon and stood open near<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> the camp fire; the blanket rolls had been +thrown into a pile off to one side, and reclining against this, with his +back toward the fire, young Jack Norton sat and gazed wistfully down the +coulee. Gully noted the expression on the young man's face and wondered +at its seriousness. He had never questioned Norton as to his affairs, +and such knowledge as he had gained of the young man's life had been +volunteered by him.</p> + +<p>That he was from the south, Texas he thought, and that he had left his +home the year before, when he had reached his twenty-first birthday. No +reference had ever been made by him as to his relatives or home. He had +come into the neighborhood where Gully met him with a party consisting +of several different families, none of whom had known or seen him until +he happened to drive out from the station with a number of prospective +settlers under the guidance of a real estate agent who had located the +majority of them.</p> + +<p>His pleasing personality had won him much favor at the literary society, +where he took an active part. Being the possessor of a splendid voice +his singing was highly appreciated, and Travis Gully recalled the fact +that Miss Anderson, the school teacher, had at one time expressed the +opinion that his education was far above the average. Yet knowing as +little as he did, Gully's heart went out to the lonely young fellow, and +he attributed his failure as a homesteader to the lack of advice and +encouragement, so he determined, if the opportunity presented itself, +and it probably would on this trip,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> to speak to him and to try and +persuade him to remain on his claim and try again the following year.</p> + +<p>Darkness had now fallen, and when additional fuel had been thrown onto +the dying embers of the camp fire and flared up, illuminating the +surroundings, Gully called to Jack Norton to come and lend a helping +hand with the horses and to another member of the party to get the pail +of water that had accumulated, after which he returned to the wagon, and +when his horses had been fed he joined the others at the fire.</p> + +<p>No time was lost. After supper the blankets were spread and all were +soon sleeping soundly. Nothing disturbed their slumber. The prowling +coyote, scenting the remains of the supper on the cool night air, sent +up its mournful wail to the dim stars, and the flutter of birds wings, +as the owls routed them from their refuge in the rocks, were the only +sounds to be heard.</p> + +<p>The campers were aroused the next morning by the restless pawing of the +horses who, realizing that they were in a strange locality, were anxious +for their feed, that they might be on the road. Travis Gully was +awakened by one of his companions calling to him and saying that he was +afraid something had gone wrong with the horses. Springing from beneath +his blankets, he hurried over to where they were tied, but could find no +cause for their nervous actions. He gave them their morning allowance of +hay and after they had quieted down and begun eating he returned to the +camp, and it being then broad daylight, he raked together the charred +ends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> of the partially burned sagebrush and started the fire. Calling to +his companions to "Roll out," he took the pail and started to catch some +water at the dripping spring; as he did so, he noticed that Jack Norton +was not in camp.</p> + +<p>His neatly rolled blankets were laying at the point where he had chosen +to make his bed. Gully knew that he had slept there, for he had spoken +to him after going to bed. Thinking that he had probably gotten up early +and had strolled a little way from camp, he gave the matter no further +concern. Upon his return from getting the water his companions asked him +if he had seen Jack; replying that he had not, but that he had noticed +his absence and that he supposed he had gone for a walk, they passed the +matter by and proceeded with the preparation of the coffee for +breakfast.</p> + +<p>No hurried preparations for their departure were made, as they intended +to remain in camp until noon. The sun was several hours high before its +rays reached the depth of the coulee, the walls of which cast their +shadows across its full width. It was a delightful place to camp and +while away a few idle hours. There were no trees or brush under which to +lie and enjoy the shade, and the only spot of green that gladdened the +eye was that of the grass at the foot of the cliff, but it was this very +novelty that made the location so fascinating. Laying prone upon their +backs they could gaze into the blue sky without being dazzled by the +brilliancy of the sun or having a thing to obstruct their view, like +viewing the heavens from the depth of a well without that same cramped +or crowded feeling.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>After awaiting Jack Norton's return for a reasonable length of time +without his coming, breakfast was eaten, and the coffee pot replaced +near the fire that it might be kept warm. Travis Gully took the pail, +and leading two of his horses to the grassy spot, was allowing them to +graze while the bucket was being filled when someone called to him: +"Bring the horses up here, Mr. Gully; there is lots of water." +Recognizing the voice as that of young Norton, Gully tried to locate +him, but the resounding echoes along the coulee walls made it difficult +to catch the direction from which the call came. The professor, who had +strolled over near the cliff and was picking up and examining the pieces +of rock that had fallen from above, had also heard Jack Norton's call, +and knowing that it came from the coulee wall above, was searching the +face of the cliff in order to locate him.</p> + +<p>Gully, seeing the professor's gaze centered on the cliff, knew at once +where the boy was and called to him to come down, lest he fall and get +hurt. To this Jack replied that he would soon be down, and as he moved +they could easily distinguish his form, a mere speck it seemed at that +dizzy height, flattened out with his back to the wall as he worked his +way cautiously along the slippery ledge over which the water flowed. His +hands were filled with ferns and plants, and he shouted jesting replies +to the anxious watchers as they called to him to be careful. After a few +moments he disappeared behind a jutting point; a few minutes later only +the top of his head could be seen protruding from a crevice; after a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +half hour he came into camp, disheveled, tired and hungry, but all +excitement over his adventure.</p> + +<p>He ate his breakfast while Travis Gully and the others each took their +turn at telling him of the dangers that lurked in those cliffs in the +way of loose boulders, hidden crevices and rattlesnakes. Gully expressed +himself in no uncertain terms about his leaving camp without first +having told them of his intention, and pictured to him the possibilities +of a fall or other accident that might have befallen him and they, not +knowing where he was, could render no assistance. Jack Norton submitted +gracefully to this scolding and explained that he had heard the +professor express a desire to obtain some of the specimens of ferns, and +as he too was interested in the geological formations of the coulee he +could not resist the temptation to explore the bluff.</p> + +<p>He had left camp before daylight and gone down the coulee in search of a +place where he might scale the wall; after he had reached the ledge he +assured them it was no trouble to work back to the point where he was +discovered. His only regret was that he had caused them any uneasiness, +and that he did not have more time for his investigations, as the +locality afforded splendid opportunities for geological research.</p> + +<p>He had brought back with him some beautiful specimens of rare ferns and +other plant life for the professor, and his pockets were bulging with +pieces of various kinds of stone with which, he told them, he proposed +to amuse himself later.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>The professor was profuse in his thanks for the ferns, but expressed his +regret that he had taken such a chance in getting them for him, and all +the while his face beamed with his appreciation of the motive, the +desire of the student, that had prompted young Norton to explore the +coulee. He too could devote many happy days with these environments to +the gratification of this same desire.</p> + +<p>The party resumed their journey immediately after the noon lunch was +eaten and camped that night at the home of the wheat grower for whom +they were going to work during the harvest season. When they entered the +harvest field two days later, to commence the season's run, it was the +same old scenes and endless days of toil and strain with which they had +contended on their former trip, and nothing occurred to break the +monotony.</p> + +<p>The professor and Jack Norton became inseparable companions, and planned +many excursions together at some future time, when they proposed to +explore the coulee. The idea of abandoning his claim and returning to +the East was given up by Norton, and he talked incessantly of the +wonders of the coulee and the desert. Travis Gully smiled at the young +fellow's enthusiasm and encouraged him to renewed effort with promises +of assistance to construct another building on his claim and with such +other help as he might require.</p> + +<p>The party of homesteaders were not worried by the thoughts of the +conditions at home as they had been during their first absence. They +wrote and received letters regularly, and in every instance the reports +received from their homes were most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> encouraging. Minnie Gully's letters +to her husband were filled with recitals of incidents that showed very +plainly that she was very much alive to his interests and had assumed +the management of affairs on the homestead during his absence with a +thoroughness of detail that was surprising. "I have bargained," she +wrote, "with a new neighbor for two pigs and a half dozen more +chickens," this neighbor having brought chickens and pigs into the newly +settled district without first having investigated the source of the +supply of feed for them, and was now compelled by its scarcity to sell +some of his stock. Gully's wife, seeing the opportunity, had traded some +wheat for the chickens and pigs, and as she wrote in her letter, had +"made the place look more like a farm." Miss Anderson, she continued, +"had proven herself a jewel. She did not see how she could get along +without her. She had taken complete charge of the children and was +teaching the girls to sew and cook, while she was leading a life of +ease." Travis Gully read her letters with an amused smile and wondered +at the change in her that had taken place. The constant flow of home +talk kept him from getting homesick. And so the harvest season was +passed, and when the morning came for the harvesters to return to their +homes each had planned his work for the coming winter and was eager to +begin.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was to see the realization of his dream of a well on his +claim and was anxious to reach home that he might complete arrangements +with the well drillers and have them begin work before the snow fell.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>When the party reached the Gully home upon their return they found the +members of their families had assembled there to await their arrival. +Minnie Gully and Miss Anderson had prepared a good supper, which was +waiting, and which was heartily enjoyed by the returned harvesters. They +did not linger long at Gully's, however, as the men were worn out by +their long siege and were anxious to reach their own homes.</p> + +<p>The second morning after their return Gully drove to the village in +search of a man to drill his well. In this he was successful, and +completed the deal before his return. The selection of a site for the +well and the assembling of the machinery occupied his time for several +days following. As the well drilling crew consisted of three men besides +Jack Norton, who had arranged to stay with Gully until the well was +completed, it would entail considerable additional work for Mrs. Gully, +so Miss Anderson agreed to remain and assist her during their stay. In +return for this service Gully was to haul the lumber and erect a small +house on her claim.</p> + +<p>With these arrangements all complete and the arrival of the driller the +work progressed nicely, and in less than a month from the time of his +return<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> from the harvest field, Gully's well was completed. The flow +that was struck by the drillers differed but little from that reached in +the dozens of other wells that had been sunk at various points +throughout the area; the only variation was in depth, and this was due +to the difference in elevation. The flow was abundant, as was proven by +a test that failed to lower it, and the water was the purest.</p> + +<p>The sinking of the well had almost exhausted Gully's supply of funds, +and fearing the recurrence of another severe winter, he was on the alert +for employment. While hauling the lumber for the erection of the houses +on the claims of Miss Anderson and young Norton he had learned of the +intention of a large company who held extensive land interests in the +desert to clear and prepare for seeding several hundred acres during the +winter. Securing the address of the company, he wrote to them, proposing +to take the work under contract.</p> + +<p>The small shack was soon erected on Miss Anderson's claim near the +school house and school was opened for the winter. With her comfortably +settled her earnings as teacher were ample for her requirements, and a +sufficient amount was left to hire the necessary improvements made. This +work was given to Gully, who cleared several acres, fenced it, and put +her down a cistern similar to the one he had constructed on his own +place. In the performance of this work he was assisted by Jack Norton, +who had now settled down on his own claim, a determined and confident +homesteader.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The attendance at the little school had more than doubled since the +winter before by the arrival of additional families with children. It +had become necessary to erect another school house some miles distant to +accommodate the increased population. This new school district was in +charge of our old friend the professor, and the meetings of the Sunday +School and literary society were so arranged as to alternate between the +two districts, and debates and old fashioned spelling bees were +conducted with the separate districts as contestants.</p> + +<p>Thus was the social life of the community kept alive and much simple +pleasure added to the lives of the homesteaders. The arrival of a few +young people in the neighborhood added to the dignity of the social +functions, and as distance was a matter of secondary consideration with +these hardy pioneers, it was no uncommon thing during the winter months +to see a wagon being driven from the home of one settler to that of +another, picking up a load of jolly people, both young and old, that +were for some point, it might be ten miles distant, where a surprise +party or some such gathering was to be held. They were always +accompanied by an abundance of lunch.</p> + +<p>Ida Gully, who was not attending school, as she had grown to be quite a +young lady, was a great favorite, and was always eager to attend these +gatherings and was usually accompanied by Jack Norton on these +occasions.</p> + +<p>The winter season was now well advanced and there had been no snow; the +nights were growing colder but the days were yet clear and warm. Travis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +Gully had given up hopes of hearing from the company to whom he had +written in regard to clearing their land and was working on his own +place. He did not have sufficient funds to erect a pump and windmill +over his well, but had substituted an old hand pump in hopes that he +could make it answer his purpose for securing water for domestic use +until the irrigating season came. He had installed this makeshift of a +pump and was trying to devise some scheme whereby he could make its +operation less laborious by attaching a longer lever, when upon looking +up from his work he saw a party of men approaching in a vehicle that was +being driven along the road that led to his place.</p> + +<p>The advent of a stranger being no longer a matter of interest he +proceeded with his work after looking to see if he could by chance +recognize the team. A few minutes later the barking of his dog announced +the approach of the vehicle, and he saw that they had driven within his +inclosure and were coming toward the house. Leaving his work at the +well, he went to the house, where he awaited their coming.</p> + +<p>Gully did not recognize any of the occupants of the vehicle, of whom +there were four. He supposed that they were some persons who were +looking over the country, probably with the view to investing, as they +did not look like the type of settlers he was accustomed to seeing. +Three of the men had the appearance of business or professional men. One +of them was well advanced in years, but the remaining three were very +much younger. One of these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> he recognized, as they drew nearer, as a man +whom he had seen on frequent occasions when he had visited the village, +and supposed that he was only the driver.</p> + +<p>The party had by now driven up to the yard and Gully stepped out to meet +them. Upon being asked if he were Mr. Gully, and after answering in the +affirmative, the elderly man took from his pocket a card which he handed +to Travis Gully, who, glancing at it, recognized the name of the company +to whom he had written. He invited the visitors to "get out and come +in." This they said was not necessary, as they had only a limited time +in which to state the purpose of their visit, which they did by +explaining to him that they had gotten his letter and had come with the +view to looking the proposition of clearing the land over, and if they +found him ready to undertake the work and his terms satisfactory they +were prepared to enter into an agreement with him. First, however, they +wished to visit the land in question, which they proposed to do before +returning to the village.</p> + +<p>Taking from a wallet a blue print of the locality, they traced the lines +and looked over the section numbers for a few minutes, and then asked +Gully as to the roads leading to their lands. He gave them directions +and stated that roads across the plains were not necessary, as a person +could not get far out of the way.</p> + +<p>They explained further to Gully that they had brought with them from the +East tents and surveying instruments which had been left behind in the +village<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> and asked that in case of an agreement being reached with them, +if he was in a position to accommodate them with meals during the few +days that would be required to survey the land they wished to put into +cultivation. Gully explained that his means of accommodation were crude +and limited, but they were entirely welcome to such as his home +afforded.</p> + +<p>After arranging with him to come to the village with his wagon the +following day, when they would talk the matter over, and if satisfactory +would have him return with them and their equipment, they drove away in +the direction of their land.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully stood and watched them for a few moments, his mind filled +with the problem of the terms of the contract that he knew he would be +called on to submit the following day. His wife having noticed the +presence of strangers and seeing the thoughtful attitude of her husband +after their departure came to him, and after learning the nature of +their business, was greatly relieved and much delighted at the prospect +of his securing the big contract. They both realized, however, that the +success of the venture would depend very largely upon the continuance of +the favorable weather, and spoke of the probability of it remaining +fair.</p> + +<p>Returning to the well where he took up his interrupted work, Gully +discussed the proposition of the contract with his wife. Never having +undertaken anything of the kind, he was at a loss how to begin. He knew +what it was worth per acre to clear and plow the land and approximately +how long it would take, everything being favorable, but he could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +get it in tangible form. Finally his wife suggested that he call on +young Norton, who could probably assist him as to arranging the details. +This was a happy thought! Gully had intended to give Jack employment if +he got the work, so why not let him be a party to the deal, and let him +handle the business part of the transaction? He would see Norton and +talk the matter over with him, he told her.</p> + +<p>It was now getting well on toward evening and Ida had gone to Miss +Anderson's to await the dismissal of school, as she frequently did, and +would return with the children when they came home; and as Jack Norton +usually walked home with them, Gully awaited their return in hopes he +would do so on this occasion. In this he was not disappointed, for a +short time afterwards the children were seen returning from school, and +Norton was accompanying them home.</p> + +<p>Upon Jack Norton's arrival Gully told him of what had occurred, of the +coming of the strangers and the arrangements he had made for the morrow, +and told him if he would remain until after supper he would like to talk +the matter over with him. Jack listened attentively to what Gully told +him, but could not understand why he should be consulted in the matter. +Thanking Gully for the invitation he told him he would be glad to assist +him in any way he could.</p> + +<p>Continuing his work at the well, Gully did not again refer to the +matter, and Norton went to the house, where he amused little Joe and the +other children by romping with them until they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> called to their +supper. After the supper was over and Gully and Norton had strolled to +the barn. Gully told him of his desire to have him take an active +interest in the proposed deal, and explained why. He told him plainly +that he needed the assistance of someone who was better equipped in the +way of an education than he himself was, that they might look after the +business features, and he made young Norton an offer of a partnership +under the conditions of which Jack would greatly profit should they get +the work.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton listened to the plans and proposal that Gully had to make. +After Gully had finished he turned to Gully and asked: "Do you mean that +you want me to take hold of this affair and look after your interest, +and is it for this purpose that you are making me this liberal offer? If +such is the case, Mr. Gully, I will tell you now that although I were +only working for you by the day, as a laborer, I would still have your +interests at heart as much as if I were your business partner."</p> + +<p>Gully being taken by surprise at the young man's earnestness, replied +that such was his intention. "If you care to take an interest in the +transaction, I need you to look after the accounts, the handling of the +funds for the purchase of supplies that will be necessary, and securing +the help that will be required, for you are worth more to me as a +business partner than on a daily wage," he told him.</p> + +<p>Norton smiled, and extending his hand to Gully, said: "That being the +case, I will help you," and added: "May I go into town with you +tomorrow?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>For weeks they toiled with blistered palms and aching +backs.</i></h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied Gully, "I want you to draw up the contract, and be +present at the signing."</p> + +<p>"Then you have drawn no agreement yet," asked Norton.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Gully.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will go to the house and see what can be done. We will at +least have something ready in the way of a proposition to offer; and +say, Mr. Gully, have you given them an idea of the charge per acre you +are to make for this work."</p> + +<p>"No, I had not fully determined what it would be worth, and depended on +your assistance in making an estimate," replied Gully.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will figure that out too when we get at it," and so saying, +they returned to the house, and clearing off the table, sat down with +pencil and paper to draw up the form of their first contract.</p> + +<p>To the uninitiated the process of removing sagebrush from and plowing +land would be simple enough, and under ordinary circumstances and over a +small area it would be, but in this instance it was different. The land +was not a great ways off, a few miles at best, from Gully's home, but +too far to go and come each day, as the working hours during the winter +were extremely short, and too much time would be lost on the road, and +besides, the amount of the land to be prepared was unusually large for +one undertaking, as an entire section, some six hundred and forty acres, +were to be gotten ready for seeding at the very earliest possible time.</p> + +<p>Gully and Norton had taken all this into consideration, and the extra +preparation that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> required for the work was an additional expense +that must be considered. They knew that should they get the contract +they must establish a camp on the land in question from which to carry +on their operations. There must be shelter erected for both those +engaged in the work and the stock that would be required for plowing, +for they knew that the snow might come at any time. Gully did not expect +another blizzard as severe as the one encountered the winter before, as +he had learned that they were not of yearly occurrence, but he had told +Jack of the terrible one they had experienced on that occasion, that in +case one did come they would not be unprepared.</p> + +<p>Long into the night they worked, figuring out each little detail and +drawing a diagram of the land. They allotted certain parcels of it to +separate individuals on whom they expected to call for assistance. They +knew that any of their neighbors on whom they called would be only too +glad of the opportunity to earn the money by clearing their allotted +portion. To those of their acquaintances who had no horses was assigned +the task of gathering and piling the brush for burning.</p> + +<p>The arrangements as planned by Norton brought Gully to the front as a +public benefactor, and the clearing of the land a community affair. He +so arranged each little detail as to make Travis Gully appear as the +moving spirit in this distribution of the opportunity for earning a few +dollars among his neighbors, and so well did he contrive to eliminate +himself from all but the responsibility that his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> connection with +the work was almost entirely lost sight of.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully and Ida sat quietly by and listened to the discussion of +their plans long after the children had retired. At times Norton's +enthusiasm and interest in the work he was doing would become so great +he would forget his surroundings, and with shirt sleeves rolled back and +neck band unbuttoned, he would sit drumming upon the table with pencil +poised, ready to record the result of some mental calculation, muttering +to himself. Unconsciously he would use expressions that were foreign to +the Gullys, who would watch him closely.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully and his wife would wait patiently until Norton announced +his solution of the problem, but with Ida the effect was different. She +would watch his every movement, and as his thoughts became more +concentrated the strain on her would become more tense and she would +partially arise from her chair, with hands clenched until the nails left +their imprint in her palms, and it would seem that she must call to him, +and upon his first movement to record some figures or to announce some +clause that he wished to insert in the contract, she would sink back in +her chair, and glancing around nervously, resume her bit of fancy work, +that she was learning under Miss Anderson's instructions.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was too much absorbed to note his daughter's actions, but +it did not escape the quick eyes of the mother, who suggested to her +that perhaps they had better retire and leave her father and Jack to +finish their work alone. Minnie Gully had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> never thought of Ida as +anything but a child, and she had not taken into account the change this +life in the open had wrought upon her oldest daughter. She watched her +as she carefully folded her bit of embroidery in obedience to her +mother's suggestion that they retire, and as she watched the knowledge +was forced upon her that she was the mother of a fully developed, robust +young woman, and the thought of the additional responsibility this +knowledge brought with it was made more gratifying by others of +comradeship. She now had a companion for the molding of whose character +she alone was responsible.</p> + +<p>With a parting warning to the men, to "remember you are to start to town +early in the morning and not to stay up too late," she and Ida went to +their room. Gully and Norton needed no such warning. The fact of their +going to town was a prime factor in the necessity for their working as +they were, and as for staying up late, their work had to be completed +before they could retire.</p> + +<p>As the work progressed, after the ladies had left them, Travis Gully was +surprised at the knowledge of such work as Norton evidenced, and he +realized that he had done wisely in taking him into his confidence and +gaining his assistance. He listened without interruption to Jack +Norton's plans as he outlined them, and to the results of his +calculations as to the expense incurred and profits derived from the +transaction as they were read with such an apparent familiarity with +figures that he did not question their correctness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was one question uppermost in Gully's mind that would persist in +its recurrence, and that was: "Who was this Jack Norton, this waif of +the sandy desert, who with the last few hours, with apparently no other +incentive than a desire to help one who had befriended him, had +developed into a thorough business man, with unlimited capacity for +facts and figures?"</p> + +<p>While Travis Gully was asking himself these questions his wife, in the +adjoining room, was busily racking her mind with the one thought: "Was +Ida interested in Jack, and if so, to what extent, and had he noticed +it?" She would know at the first opportunity. She would ask her, but she +must be careful, and she smiled; Ida was such a child.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, oblivious to the thoughts that were filling the minds of +his friends, worked on at the formulation of his plans. It had been +months, it seemed like years to him, since he had been given an +opportunity to work at something worth while. It was true that the +amount in dollars and cents involved in this entire transaction would be +at best but a few hundred, but it was business, and recalled to his mind +other days when he had worked out larger plans; yes, very much larger, +where thousands of dollars were involved.</p> + +<p>He laughed whimsically to himself after he had handed the final product +of his hours of work to Travis Gully to read. It was a recapitulation of +the whole transaction, condensed and simplified in a manner that he was +sure would bring it within his understanding, and as Gully read, his +brow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> contracted with many wrinkles as his brain groped for an +interpretation of the mass of figures, Jack Norton compared these +existing conditions with other scenes in his past, when he had entered +noiselessly through swinging glass doors and over dustless carpets into +the presence of the older Norton, his "Governor," and submitted for his +inspection a sheet of about the same dimensions containing, not a +written agreement whereby one or more men do "agree to remove the +sagebrush from, plow and make ready for planting certain lands beginning +at, etc.," but a neatly prepared statement of his college expenses, +supplemented with a request for an additional allowance for golf, +yachting, etc.</p> + +<p>When Travis Gully had finished reading the paper Norton had given him he +handed it back, asked one or two questions about things he did not fully +understand, and upon their being explained, said: "It's all right as far +as I can see." Norton took the paper, folded it neatly, and placed it on +the table, and after assembling the scattered sheets upon which he had +been figuring, he placed them in a neat pile, using an empty coffee cup +for a paper weight, he handed Gully the folded sheet, together with the +pencil with which he had been working, and after asking what time he +proposed to start for town in the morning, remarked that "He guessed he +would go home."</p> + +<p>To this Gully objected, telling him there was no need of his going; that +he could sleep there and they would get an early start. This was agreed +upon, and a few minutes later the Gully home was in darkness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>Gully and Norton reached the village the following day about the middle +of the forenoon, and driving directly to the one hotel of which the town +boasted, found the strangers awaiting their arrival. The old gentleman +was walking impatiently to and fro on the narrow board walk that did +duty as a porch, and the two younger men were idly glancing through some +well worn back number magazines with which the writing table in the one +waiting room of the hotel was strewn.</p> + +<p>After tieing his team Gully approached the old gentleman who, having +recognized him, had stopped his restless pacing and was nervously toying +with his watch fob. Accompanied by Jack Norton, whom he introduced, he +mentioned that "He regretted being so late, but the distance was great." +This apology was offered more for the purpose of conversation than +because he felt that it was due. The old gentleman acknowledged the +introduction of Norton and remarked that their lateness had caused him +no inconvenience, but added that he would like to get it finished as +soon as possible.</p> + +<p>He invited them to enter the hotel, where his companions were waiting. +These, upon recognizing Gully, bowed slightly, but remained seated when +Norton was presented. The latter having noted their lack of interest in +Gully merely bowed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> acknowledgment, and remained standing. Upon a +suggestion from the old gentleman that they repair to the room which he +was occupying to discuss their business, his two assistants arose, +stretched themselves, and lowering their trouser legs, which they had +thoughtfully drawn up to prevent their bagging at the knees, they +strolled leisurely toward the stairs to ascend.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, who had noticed the actions of the younger men, one of whom +could not have been much older than he, smiled indulgently as he thought +how they, in their ignorance, did not deem it necessary to extend to +them common courtesy, and mentally resolved to open their eyes on the +first occasion that presented itself before their departure. Dropping +back to allow the older man and Gully to precede him on the stairs, he +had just started up when the youngest of the strangers turned at the +head of the stairs and asked if it was necessary for "that fellow Norton +to be present." Jack Norton stopped and awaited Travis Gully's answer. +This was not long in coming. "It certainly is," he said, "Mr. Norton is +my associate in this deal, and he is the one who will do the talking." +This statement from Gully did not seem to create the impression on the +young man that Gully had hoped, and as he turned and continued his +leadership toward the room, Gully waited and taking Norton by the arm +said "Come on, Jack." Norton only smiled and accompanied them to the +room.</p> + +<p>Once inside the room, with the elderly man seated by a small table and +Gully occupying the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> remaining chair, the young strangers reclining +lazily upon the bed, Jack was left to take care of himself, which he did +by remaining standing with his hat in his hand. He realized that he was +at a disadvantage. His name had not been mentioned in the original +letter to the company, nor was he referred to during the visit of the +strangers on the day before.</p> + +<p>The fact of his unexpected stay overnight at Gully's had deprived him of +the opportunity to change his clothes, and he had worn his overalls and +flannel shirt to this conference; but this fact did not annoy him in the +least, for he felt that he had judged the calibre of the younger members +of the party correctly, and he rather enjoyed the novelty of being +underestimated by them on account of his wearing apparel. He was +thoroughly familiar with the type of business man that he knew the old +gentleman to be and felt no resentment toward him for his brusque +manner. He had a bargain to drive, either for himself or the persons +whom he represented, and the accomplishment of this was his object, even +thought it took precedence over the demands of common politeness.</p> + +<p>There was no loss of time in coming to the discussion of the subject of +the meeting, and without any preliminary remarks Gully was asked if he +had prepared any bid on the work that he wished to submit, and in case +his offer was accepted, what would be the nature of the agreement he +would be willing to sign.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<p>As this volley of questions were fired at him unexpectedly, Gully did +not immediately reply, but reaching in his pocket, he drew out the paper +Norton had prepared, and after unfolding it answered that "He had +brought with him this paper, that would give them an idea of what would +be required and the probable cost of the work."</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, realizing that there was data embodied in the memorandum +that he did not care to have come into the possession of the strangers +just yet, stepped forward, intercepting the paper as it was being passed +across the table to the old gentleman, took it, and refolding it, placed +it in his own pocket, remarking, with a smile: "I think, if you +gentlemen will allow me, that I can expedite matters by explaining +existing conditions without the necessity of delving into figures just +yet."</p> + +<p>The two men reclining on the bed, aroused by his action and speech, were +now sitting up. The youngest, who had been introduced as Mr. Earl +Stevens, had started to arise and interfere, when Norton, glancing in +his direction, arrested his movements, and he had remained seated.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, realizing instantly that he had the situation well in hand, +could not resist the temptation to launch his first shaft at Stevens. He +continued: "Your friend Mr. Stevens is no doubt a stenographer, and +perhaps he would like to make notes during our conversation."</p> + +<p>Stevens flushed and admitted that he was not, and the old gentleman said +he did not deem it necessary.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Travis Gully, who was wholly unprepared for this byplay on young +Norton's part, sat quietly by and awaited for him to continue.</p> + +<p>Excusing himself for a moment, Jack Norton stepped out into the hall, +and entering an adjoining room, the door of which was standing open, he +immediately returned with a chair, which he placed at the table, and +began:</p> + +<p>"In the first place, Mr. Palmer," this being the old gentleman's name, +"what is the nature of the improvements that you propose to make on this +land?"</p> + +<p>"Well," Palmer began, "we intend to have it cleared of brush and +prepared for sowing to grain."</p> + +<p>"What amount of land do you propose to have put into a state of +cultivation?" Norton asked.</p> + +<p>"One whole section this winter, and probably more later," replied +Palmer.</p> + +<p>"You have visited this land and are familiar with the conditions, are +you not, Mr. Palmer?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was there yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Knowing that the land is isolated to a certain extent and that there +are no buildings on it or water for the men and stock who may be +employed by you, do you propose to make the necessary improvements in +the way of shelter and water, or does the contractor have to provide +these requirements?" was Norton's next question.</p> + +<p>"We had not contemplated improving the property to that extent until we +had gotten some returns on our first planting," answered Palmer, "but +should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> the prospect for a good yield look encouraging the company might +put on substantial improvements in the way of buildings and wells in +preparation for the coming harvest."</p> + +<p>"Then by your reference to the company, I am to understand that you and +these gentlemen who are accompanying you are not the sole owners of this +land. Am I right?" asked Jack, with a look in the direction of the two +men on the bed.</p> + +<p>"I am the agent of the owners, and these two young gentlemen are +surveyors who have accompanied me for the purpose of establishing the +lines with the view to fencing, and to take notes of the topographical +features of the land, which they hope at some time in the future will be +irrigated," explained Palmer. And he continued: "These gentlemen have +come prepared to remain until their work is completed. As for me, I +shall return as soon as the details of the preparation of the land for +seeding have been settled." And drawing from his pocket a bundle of +papers, extracting one from among them and laying it upon the table, he +leaned back in his chair and added: "My credentials."</p> + +<p>Palmer took the slip and glancing at the figures on it, turned it over +and made some calculations, and seeming satisfied, asked if they had +prepared an agreement.</p> + +<p>Norton replied that they had simply outlined it, and if the primary +feature, the price, was satisfactory, the other details could be worked +out later, as he understood from Mr. Gully that they were to return with +them provided an agreement was reached.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well," answered Palmer, "if you gentlemen will remain and take +lunch with us, we will be more fit for the long drive."</p> + +<p>They both thanked him and accepted the invitation. Gully suggested that +it would save time if he loaded their equipment before lunch and be +ready to start as soon as it was over. With this object in view, he and +Norton left the room, remarking that they would get the team and return +immediately.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully watched young Norton closely as they crossed to where the +team was tied, but made no remark, as he knew that Jack was thinking and +would soon express himself in regard to the interview that had just +closed.</p> + +<p>As they were preparing to climb into the wagon to drive to the hotel, +Jack stopped with one foot on the wheel and said, "Do you know, Mr. +Gully, that I believe I've seen that man Palmer before," and then he +added, "That fellow Stevens is a cad. Well I kept him out of it, +anyway."</p> + +<p>Gully made no reply to Jack's remark about Palmer, but he thought +Stevens was a "Smartalec."</p> + +<p>Norton, knowing that his opportunity for talking privately with Gully +would be gone after they had joined the others at the hotel, apologized +for taking the paper as he did, explaining that Palmer would see at a +glance what a less experienced man would have to figure out, and there +were certain figures on that paper that he did not want him to have +until he had learned the extent of his authority.</p> + +<p>Gully told him that he had acted just right for he supposed that the +paper was to be submitted as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> it was, and he told Jack that he would +leave the arrangements of the details entirely in his hands.</p> + +<p>It still lacking a few minutes to lunch time, they drove to the store +where a few purchases were made by Gully that had become necessary from +the fact that the strangers were to be his guests for a time. When this +was finished and the amount of the bill had been figured, Jack Norton +asked that it be receipted, and paid the cash. Gully remonstrated with +him and asked his idea for doing so.</p> + +<p>"We are partners are we not?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"In some things," Gully replied, "but—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind the buts," laughingly interrupted Jack, "remember you have +the wagon and teams, while I have put in nothing and besides, their +being there will make more work for Mrs. Gully and Ida. Understand that +I intend to be a partner in every sense of the word."</p> + +<p>Gully made no reply to this, and loading on their supplies, they drove +to the hotel and taking on the tents, baggage and instruments of the +strangers, tied their team and entered the hotel to await the call to +lunch, which was soon announced.</p> + +<p>The start after lunch and the long drive to the Gully home was devoid of +interest. Norton had given up his seat with Gully to Mr. Palmer, and had +contented himself with a less comfortable one in the rear of the wagon +among the boxes and baggage. The strangers who had put aside their +business suits and had donned their khaki, were being jostled and jolted +in a most heartless manner by the rough wagon as it rumbled along, +clattering over stones and bumping over the sagebrush that obstructed +the road.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Conversation was a burden to these men, who fresh from the East, were +accustomed to more convenient means of transportation. Young Norton, who +was secretly enjoying their discomfort, was inclined to be social, and +in his efforts to entertain them, kept up a constant stream of +conversation. He told them of the advantages of the locality, of the +prospects of its being irrigated in the very near future by the +government, and how, if they were wise, they would secure a claim before +it was too late, and remain on it. He gave them a glowing description of +his trip to the harvest field, and recounted his experiences while +there, and as they showed unmistakable evidence of being bored he would +point to the claim of some homesteader and tell them where they had come +from and how long he must remain on his claim before he could make final +proof.</p> + +<p>The noise of the wagon prevented Jack from hearing how Travis Gully and +Mr. Palmer were passing away the time. He could occasionally see one or +the other point at some object in the distance, and he supposed that +they were getting along nicely. As for him, Jack Norton frequently +remarked years after that he never had a better time, nor the road seem +so short.</p> + +<p>They did not arrive at Gullys in time to establish their camp that +night, as the road they had driven out necessitated slow driving. After +the wagon had been unloaded and the horses cared for, supper was +announced and the strangers accompanying Travis Gully to the house, were +introduced to his family.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> Norton, who remained until after supper, +knowing that Gully was not prepared to furnish beds for the three men, +invited the two surveyors to accompany him to his shack, where he would +make them as comfortable for the night as he could. He was careful not +to mention the distance nor the scarcity of comforts at his home.</p> + +<p>The surveyors accepted his offer of hospitality for the night, and +before they left to accompany him, it was arranged that they were to +return for breakfast the following morning, and the day would be devoted +to preparing their camp, and a trip to the company's land.</p> + +<p>It was less than two miles from Gullys to Jack Norton's shack, but to +the surveyors who had been made tired and sore by the long rough ride of +the afternoon, the walk through the darkness across the sage covered +plain, with its numerous obstacles in the way of tufts of bunch grass, +scraggling sagebrush and abandoned badger holes, into and over which +they were constantly stumbling and falling in their efforts to follow +Jack, who, taking advantage of the shorter route, had purposely left the +road. To them the trip seemed interminable, and when they finally +reached Norton's home they staggered in, and after he had lighted the +small kerosene lamp, looked wistfully at the crude bed which Jack +pointed out to them with the remark: "It does not look very inviting, +but I suppose you gentlemen are tired enough to enjoy even these poor +accommodations."</p> + +<p>To which Thomas Dugan, the eldest of the two strangers, answered: "I +feel tired enough to sleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> anywhere," and added, smilingly, "I wish you +boys could see some of the places where I have bunked while surveying +with the U. S. Geological survey party in Alaska."</p> + +<p>Norton's interest was immediately aroused, but knowing the hour to be +growing late, and feeling rather played out himself, from the long hours +of the night before, only remarked, "I would like to hear about it +sometime, Dr. Dugan."</p> + +<p>Norton then asked his guests if they felt as though a fire would add to +their comfort, if so he would kindle one, as it would not take a great +while to warm the room.</p> + +<p>Earl Stevens replied that all he wanted was "To get to bed."</p> + +<p>"Very well," answered Jack. "How about you Mr. Dugan, are you chilly?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," Dugan answered.</p> + +<p>"Then you and Mr. Stevens may occupy my bed. I am sorry I have such +limited quarters that to provide you with separate apartments is +impossible."</p> + +<p>"But how about yourself, where are you to sleep?" asked Dugan.</p> + +<p>"Never mind about me, I am provided for," laughed Jack, and reaching +under his bed drew out his roll of harvest blankets.</p> + +<p>"These," he said, "have been my only resting place for many long weeks +during the harvest season just passed, and I rather enjoy the prospect +of another night tucked comfortably away in their folds."</p> + +<p>Earl Stevens, who during this time had been busily unlacing and removing +his leather leggins and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> removing his outer garments, was now ready to +retire, and with the remark, "Any port in a storm," he rolled over to +the side next to the wall and crawled beneath the cover.</p> + +<p>Dugan, after asking Norton if he could be of any assistance to him, in +preparing his bed, and upon Jacks assurance that he could manage it +alone, soon joined Stevens.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, after putting out the light and bidding his guests +good-night, was soon snoring contentedly. If they were not comfortable, +restless or his snoring disturbed them, Jack was unaware of the fact, +for he did not awake the following morning until the sun was well up.</p> + +<p>When he arose and went to the one small window with which his house was +provided, and drawing back the piece of calico that Miss Anderson had +neatly hemmed and with which she had presented him as a part of his +furnishings, the room was filled with sunlight. His guests were sleeping +soundly and were not awakened until the noise made by filling the stove +with sagebrush aroused them.</p> + +<p>Jack lighted the fire and asked them if they were ready to get up. Dugan +immediately arose and after dressing, followed Norton out to the bench, +where he was provided with a brimming basin of ice cold water with which +to bathe his face. Jack laughingly told him "The ice water was another +reminder of his trip to Alaska."</p> + +<p>Stevens, who soon followed, was also provided with this primitive means +of performing his morning ablution, and seemed much refreshed after its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +completion. Upon being asked as to how they had rested, both he and +Dugan replied, "Splendidly."</p> + +<p>Norton realized that breakfast was probably awaiting their arrival at +the Gully home and not wishing to cause any additional delay, pointed +out Gully's house, and asked his guests if they would mind going there +alone as he had some chores to do, before he could come, but would +follow as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>There being no objections to this, Dugan and Stevens left in the +direction of Gully's. Jack Norton watched their departure for a few +moments. He had made up his mind from the first that he did not like +young Stevens but had decided that Dugan was a good sort, and was +anxious to have an opportunity to know him better, and to hear of his +experience while in Alaska. Going into the house, he straightened out +the interior and supplying himself with pencils and paper for his use +during the day, followed his guests to Gully's.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully was just serving breakfast when Norton arrived, and he noting +that the places at the table were all filled, insisted upon her not +arising to prepare a place for him, that he "Had much rather wait and +eat with the children." As the girls and Joe clamored with their mother, +that Jack's wishes in this respect be granted, she smilingly answered, +"Very well then, just as you and Jack say, but run along now, and let us +eat in peace."</p> + +<p>Jack was out near where the equipment of the strangers had been +unloaded, preparatory to raising the tents, when a few minutes after, +Ida<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> came to where he was standing and asked if he had eaten breakfast +so soon, she not having been in the room when Jack arrived, Norton +answered that he had not, and that he proposed to wait and eat with the +homefolks as he had gained her mother's consent to such an arrangement.</p> + +<p>Ida expressed herself as pleased and said she had avoided meeting the +strangers and seeing him outside had taken this opportunity to ask him +how he had managed to care for the two men as she knew his house was +small.</p> + +<p>Jack told her that they got along nicely, and he supposed that they had +rested well, as he had heard no complaint and he related how he had led +them across the sagebrush in the dark and expressed the opinion that if +anything would induce sleep, such a trip as he had given them surely +would.</p> + +<p>Ida laughed merrily at Jack's description of the manner in which the two +surveyors had stumbled along in the dark, but asked if it was not +equally hard on him.</p> + +<p>Assuring her that he was familiar with the route over which they had +gone they chatted on until Joe came running from the house calling to +them, "Mamma said come to breakfast." As they went to the house in +response to this summons, they passed Gully and the strangers, who were +on their way out to where the equipment lay.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, calling to Jack to wait a moment, came back and told him +when he had finished eating, to send Joe out and let him know, as he +wanted to arrange some plans for the day with him privately.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> Norton +promised to do so, and as he turned to rejoin Ida, who was waiting, +found her embarrassed and annoyed by the constant staring of Stevens, +who had stopped to await Gully's coming, but as she did not mention the +matter, Jack did not let her know that he had noticed it.</p> + +<p>After his breakfast was eaten, Jack sent Joe to tell his father, and +when Gully, after excusing himself for a few moments, left the +strangers, and came to the house, where Jack was awaiting him in the +kitchen. He told him that he had been thinking the matter of the +contract over, and thought it a good idea to have a talk with some of +their neighbors and make sure of their help before binding themselves to +an agreement.</p> + +<p>"How do you propose to manage it?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"I thought you might take one of the teams and go see such of those as +you could, while I get the tents up, and upon your return we could drive +over and see the land," answered Gully.</p> + +<p>Jack thought for a moment before he replied to this proposition. "I'll +tell you," he finally said, "tomorrow night the literary society meets. +We will attend the meeting, leaving these men here. They would not be +interested, and while we are there we can take the matter up with those +we want to see."</p> + +<p>"But how about the contract?" asked Gully. "Ought it be signed, or can +it wait a day or two?"</p> + +<p>"Let it wait," replied Jack.</p> + +<p>So they went together where the strangers were waiting, and in a short +time, two tents were raised,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> and made fairly comfortable, and the +strangers had taken up their quarters. Mr. Palmer, with a rough board +table, and his suit case containing maps and papers occupying one, and +Dugan and Stevens with their surveying instruments, the other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was now approaching the Holiday season, and there was as yet no +indications of a severe winter. There had been sufficient frost to kill +the grass, but stock was doing nicely on the range and little feeding +was required.</p> + +<p>No especial arrangements had been made for the seasons entertainment, +everyone seemed to be interested in the progress of the preparations for +work on the big contract. It was generally known that it was secured by +Gully and Norton and the neighbors were anxiously awaiting the time for +actual work to begin.</p> + +<p>The call for help among them on the night of the literary meeting, had +been gladly responded to, and almost daily requests for work were being +received from persons who lived many miles distant.</p> + +<p>The deal had been successfully consummated and Mr. Palmer had returned +to the East. The surveyors Dugan and Stevens were eagerly endeavoring to +complete their part of the work, in order to return to their homes in +time for the Holiday festivities.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully and Jack Norton who had secured additional teams, were +busily hauling material for the erection of shelters, and feed, to the +point on the company's land, that had been selected for the +establishment of the main camp.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fresh water was to be hauled daily from Gully's well in a huge tank that +had been constructed for this purpose, and everything was to be gotten +in readiness for work to begin immediately after the new year.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton and Dugan became great friends, and the latter spent many +nights with Jack when they would sit for hours by the roaring sheet iron +stove, while Jack listened in boyish eagerness to the older mans +accounts of his experiences while in Alaska with the Geological survey. +Dugan soon discovered that Jack's hobby was geology, and he could talk +learnedly on that subject, so it welded their friendship all the +stronger.</p> + +<p>Miss Anderson came almost daily after school, to assist Mrs. Gully in +preparing a few trinkets for Christmas, and they would sit at night and +plan for Ida's future. Miss Anderson was especially anxious to keep Ida, +who was peculiarly adapted to, and took such an interest in fancy needle +work under her care and instruction, and she also taught her how to +prepare and serve such dainty dishes as the means at their hand +permitted.</p> + +<p>Minnie Gully could see, and appreciated Miss Anderson's interest in Ida, +for the girl had never until now, had an opportunity to learn, and no +one could find fault with Miss Anderson as a teacher.</p> + +<p>In fact, Ida was rapidly developing into a very able young lady and was +beginning to show the traces of refinement that she had no doubt, as +Miss Anderson expressed it, inherited from her mother, although the +latters natural inclinations in this respect had lain dormant up to +within the last two years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> She was proud of Ida and missed no +opportunity to refer to the progress her pupil was making.</p> + +<p>The lines having been all established and nothing left but the +topographical map of the land to be completed, and most of the data for +this having been obtained, the greater part of young Stevens work +consisted of draughting and the compilation of the data. He did not join +in the conversation with the men, and his only occupation while not at +his work, seemed to be seeking an opportunity of forcing his attentions +on Ida Gully.</p> + +<p>In this he was frustrated by the young lady herself, who avoided him +except at such times as he came to his meals. Occasionally he came to +the house during the evening, ostensibly to talk with her father, but +usually ignored Gully, but he gained no opportunity to speak with her +except in the presence of either Miss Anderson or her mother.</p> + +<p>On one such occasion he asked Miss Anderson why so able a person as she +should waste her talent by remaining in such a wilderness, and then +fixing his gaze on Ida, busily engaged on her fancy work, quoted:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>Many a rose is born,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>To blush, unseen,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And waste its fragrance;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>On the desert air.</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Miss Anderson replied that she would not consider her time or talent +wasted if she could restore to the world just one of these desert roses +to which he referred, in all its native simplicity. For, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> continued, +without such talent as I possess, to protect it, the contaminating +influence that surrounds the desert, might invade the retreat of the +rose and cast its blight upon it.</p> + +<p>Stevens was not expecting this thrust, and parried by saying that the +contaminating influence, civilization, to which Miss Anderson evidently +referred, would probably invade their retreat within the near future, +for from what he had seen and learned, during his stay in the locality, +the country would soon make rapid strides and would become an active +agricultural center.</p> + +<p>"We certainly hope so, and with that expectation, we shall continue to +prepare ourselves to blend with the changed conditions, when it does +come. But for the present we are contented," she answered.</p> + +<p>Ida cast an appreciative glance at Miss Anderson and secretly resolved +to place herself completely in her hand, in hopes that she too might +acquire her dignified manner and conversational power.</p> + +<p>At last the work of the surveyors was finished, and the tents were +lowered and packed with their instruments, ready for their return. Gully +was to drive them to the village. Dugan and Stevens had spent the last +night of their stay with Jack, in his shack, under the same conditions +they had the first, with the exception that they now knew Norton—Dugan +to respect and Stevens to fear this young man who had surprised them +both with his apparent business ability and his gentlemanly manner.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully drove away with the two men, after the family had bidden +them goodbye. Norton and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Miss Anderson were present to pay their +respects to the departing guests. Norton requested that they lose no +opportunity to speak a favorable word for the reclamation of the desert, +and Miss Anderson expressed her hopes to young Stevens that his +predictions for the future of the country would come true.</p> + +<p>The affairs at the Gully home soon resumed their normal stage after the +departure of the surveyors, and as the preparations were completed for +the work of clearing the land to be started, the matter of the holidays +was taken up, and numerous suggestions for a befitting Christmas +celebration were made. As only a few days remained before the time would +arrive, hasty action was required.</p> + +<p>At Sunday school the next Sunday, the matter was discussed, and a +committee consisting of Miss Anderson, Jack Norton and The Professor +were appointed to take charge of the affair, and all felt satisfied that +in these competent hands success was assured.</p> + +<p>The Holiday vacation of two weeks which Miss Anderson and the Professor +gave their schools gave ample time for the preparations and a splendid +time was had at the entertainment, but to those who were present the +Christmas before at the old sagebrush tree, there was something missing. +They could not define what, but the same neighborly feeling did not +exist. This was probably due to their increased number and the +introduction of new characters among them.</p> + +<p>Snow began to fall in small flurries during the Holidays, but not in +sufficient quantities as to interfere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> with the plans for work. +Immediately after the New Year Gully moved with his family to the +company's land where Mrs. Gully and Ida were to cook for the men +employed on the work.</p> + +<p>The fall of snow, though light, interfered with plowing, but the removal +of sagebrush progressed rapidly. This was accomplished by hitching two +or more horses at each end of a steel rail, procured at the railroad, +and by means of which the sagebrush was dragged or broken from the land. +The men and children followed this contrivance, gathering the brush and +piling it ready for burning.</p> + +<p>Everything progressed splendidly, the favorable weather kept the range +open and thus the supply of feed for the horses was conserved. Most of +the land was cleared of brush before the season for plowing arrived, and +when it came, which was at an exceptionally early date, every team was +available for this service and was put to work.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, whose duty it was to keep supplies in the way of +provisions and water at the camp, was kept constantly on the road, +either to the village or his well. Jack Norton looked after the +allotment of parcels of land to be plowed and kept track of the work +accomplished by each of those engaged. This, together with the accounts +and correspondence incident to the work, required all of his time, but +under his able management the work was so systemized that it was +completed some weeks in advance of the time specified in the contract.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by this fact he suggested to Gully that they put in a bid +with the company for seeding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> and fencing the land, which they did and +were awarded the contract for this also.</p> + +<p>It was a very successful winter for both Gully and Norton. While they +had been most liberal in their payments to their neighbors who had been +employed by them, the final accounting showed flattering results.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully had sufficient funds to install a much better pumping plant +at his well than he had dreamed of. Instead of the windmill he purchased +a gasoline engine and one of the most recently invented pumps, the +capacity of his pumping plant was sufficient to furnish water for +irrigation of forty acres.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton bought a wagon and team for his own use, and made extensive +improvements on his claim, among which was a well with a windmill, and a +much needed addition to his house.</p> + +<p>The seeding of their own places to grain, was but a small task as +compared to the one they had just completed, and was soon accomplished. +As the spring season advanced and the young grain came up and began to +show a faint tinge of green that was noticeable at a distance, Gully and +Norton decided to visit the companys land and view the results of their +work.</p> + +<p>The prospects there were even better than at their own homes. The grain +having been sown earlier, was farther advanced and made a much better +showing. As the two men strolled over the immense field of young grain +they could recall to their minds the scenes in the harvest fields that +they had witnessed the fall before, and shifted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> scene of action to +their own immediate neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, in his pride at the promising outlook, wrote to Mr. Palmer +and gave him a glowing description of what the probable outcome would +be.</p> + +<p>A few weeks passed during which time Gully planted a number of fruit +trees and prepared a nice field of alfalfa which had just begun to come +up. Knowing that the snow fall had been light during the winter and +noting the absence of the seasonable showers of the spring before, he +watched the small amount of moisture which the ground had contained, and +saw it rapidly being absorbed by the increasing heat of the sun, and +least the growth of his young alfalfa be retarded, he set his engine to +going and gave the patch a thorough wetting. His trees were beginning to +put forth their tender leaves, and as the ditch through which the water +flowed to the alfalfa passed near the trees, it watered them also.</p> + +<p>The desert never looked more beautiful. The absence of severe wind +storms during the spring and summer before had allowed the sand to +remain smooth, just as it had been left beaten by the rains. Upon +arising one morning, Gully noted far to the west, an occasional puff of +dust, and then a spiral column of sand would mount heavenward and attain +a height of several hundred feet, and scattering, would cause the air to +become murky and hazy.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully's heart sank within him, for he knew too well the meaning +of these signs. That it foretold a desert sand storm he knew, and his +only hope was that it would not be a severe one. Saying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> nothing he went +about his work, knowing from his experience during the first year in the +region that it would be hours before its extent would be known.</p> + +<p>The children went to school as usual, but Gully kept constant watch on +the approaching storm. By noon he knew by the increased movement of the +clouds of dust that it was to be a terrific storm, and advised his wife +of the fact. She suggested that he take the wagon and go to the school +and bring the children and Miss Anderson home, which he did. On his way +to the school he thought of Jack Norton, and knowing that there had been +no real desert storms since he came, decided to drive by his place and +warn him of its approach.</p> + +<p>He saw Jack clearing more ground, working contentedly in blissful +ignorance of the impending calamity. Calling to him to come to the fence +Gully told him of his fears and advised that he lash down his windmill +and make such other preparations as he saw fit, as the storm would +probably last for several days.</p> + +<p>Norton thanked him, and looking in the direction of the clouds, +remarked: "I saw that coming, but thought it might mean a good rain."</p> + +<p>Gully smiled and answered: "Just the opposite my boy, and if you do not +feel like being housed up alone for several days you had better hitch up +your team and come over to my place until the storm passes."</p> + +<p>"O I guess it won't be quite that bad," answered Jack, "but if I see +that I cannot weather the gale I'll try and work my way over, thank +you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gully drove off to the school house, and as he did so, he shouted back, +"Better take my advice, Jack, and go on over to the house."</p> + +<p>Norton waved his hand and returned to his work.</p> + +<p>When Gully reached the school house he told Miss Anderson of the +impending danger, and advised her to dismiss school at once as he feared +some of the children who lived at a distance would have difficulty in +reaching their home if not given time to do so before the storm reached +them.</p> + +<p>Miss Anderson who had never witnessed one of these sand storms was now +thoroughly alarmed at Gully's apparent earnestness, did as he had +advised, and cautioned the children to hurry to their homes if they +would avoid being caught in the storm.</p> + +<p>After hurriedly placing the school room in order and securely fastening +the windows and doors she was ready to go to her own home, when Gully, +informing her of the probable duration of the storm, insisted on her +going home with him and the children. This she did and they had hardly +reached the Gully home when the fitful gusts of wind started the +restless sand in motion, and before night, the storm was raging. It was +impossible to see any distance for the blinding sand and dust.</p> + +<p>All night it raged and as there was no sign of its abatement, Gully +ventured out to attend to his stock the following morning. It recalled +to his mind the winter of the terrible blizzard and it was just as +severe, except that it was driving sand instead of snow, and they did +not have the cold to contend with.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Anderson expressed herself as truly thankful that she had taken Mr. +Gully's advice, and came home with him and the children. She tried to be +as cheerful as possible but she now understood what had retarded the +settlement of this beautiful country with which she was fascinated.</p> + +<p>She tried in vain to interest Ida in her fancy work, but this young lady +persisted in standing at the window looking out in an effort to +penetrate with her gaze, the mass of sand and dust, always looking in +the direction of the school house and watching the road that lead to +Jack Norton's home.</p> + +<p>Miss Anderson who noticed this, went to her and placing her arm around +the girl, asked, "What is it dear, does the storm frighten you?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Ida, "I was thinking of those in the desert who are alone +and wondering if they were safe."</p> + +<p>"To whom do you refer?" asked Miss Anderson. "None of those that I can +recall are alone."</p> + +<p>Ida's eyes instantly filled with tears and she exclaimed, "O Miss +Anderson, had you forgotten Mr. Norton? He is alone and I know he would +have been here by now if something had not happened to him."</p> + +<p>"Why bless your dear heart," exclaimed Miss Anderson. "I had forgotten +him, but you may rest assured nothing has harmed him and it is probable +because he is busy taking care of his stock and other property that he +has not been over. This storm would not stop him, I am sure." And thus +she comforted the much perturbed girl, but to herself she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> thought, "I +knew it would come to this, and I do so hope that the feeling becomes +mutual. Jack is so nice and I know I can prepare this dear child to make +him a wife befitting the station in life to which I know he belongs."</p> + +<p>After this little scene at the window Ida clung closer to Miss Anderson, +and while she had not confided in her, she felt that she understood and +the bond of sympathy between them was established.</p> + +<p>The storm continued for two days, and when it had exhausted itself and +before the atmosphere had cleared sufficiently to see any distance, Jack +Norton came tramping across the plain to the Gully home. He was greeted +with shouts of welcome by Joe and the younger girls. Coming into the +front part of the house, he asked if all were present, and how they had +stood the storm. He told Gully that he had wished a thousand times that +he had come with him the first day.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully asked if he had been able to note the effect of the storm +on the growing grain. Norton replied that he had not, for as he +expressed it, "I have not been able to overtake the grain yet. The +ground at my place is swept perfectly clean."</p> + +<p>Gully arose and went to the window, looked out for a minute, and turning +to young Norton, said, "Let's take a walk, Jack."</p> + +<p>Norton, without replying, followed him out, and they walked down across +the alfalfa patch. Occasionally they stopped and examined the ground and +then came back to the trees.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a few minutes they returned to the house and as they entered, Gully +was heard to remark: "Well, it's a good thing I put water on when I +did."</p> + +<p>"What is it Travis," asked his wife. "Is everything ruined?"</p> + +<p>"No indeed," answered Gully. "I find that my alfalfa and trees have not +been injured in the least. The water I put on the ground has held the +sand and I now have the secret of farming in this country."</p> + +<p>"I shall get me an engine immediately," put in Jack. "Alfalfa, fruit and +stock raising beats wheat anyway."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose the wheat is all ruined?" asked Miss Anderson.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so," Gully replied.</p> + +<p>"Gee," exclaimed Jack. "What a letter I have got to write Mr. Palmer +now. Well, it is not our fault."</p> + +<p>They were right. The wheat was all killed and it was too late in the +season to replant had they the means of doing so. A few days after the +passing of the storm Gully and Norton drove to the company's land to +view its effect.</p> + +<p>Not a sprig of grain could be found, and the soil had been blown from +the surface to the depth of the plowing. The whole tract presented a +most disheartening appearance. Both men expressed the deepest regret and +sympathy for the unfortunate owners who had sustained such a loss and +agreed that they should be notified of their misfortune.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>The letter was written by Jack, who in a plain, straightforward manner, +explained to Mr. Palmer what had befallen the grain, and added that they +were not alone in their misfortune, as those of the homesteaders who had +no well equipped with machinery for irrigation, were also heavy losers. +The more fortunate, however, among whom was included, their mutual +friend Mr. Gully, who could get water on the ground, had suffered but +little. He suggested to Mr. Palmer that he take the matter of irrigating +their land from a well, equipped with pumping machinery, up with his +clients.</p> + +<p>Sometime later Jack received a letter from Mr. Palmer, thanking him for +the interest he had shown in their behalf, and assured him that in due +time the company would realize the necessity of doing as was suggested +in his letter. Sinking wells and drawing their water supply from the +abundance that, it had been proven, lay beneath the surface.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>It was a bright November morning three years later that two heavily +loaded automobiles were tearing their way along the Scenic Highway that +had been constructed from St. Paul to Seattle. Each car contained three +passengers besides the drivers, and piled high on the running boards and +strapped on the back of each car was the baggage and camp equipment of +the party.</p> + +<p>At a point in the desert along the eastern boundary of which the Highway +ran, it paralleled the railway, and ran thus for several miles, and was +intercepted by roads leading from homes that could be seen farther back +across the sagebrush covered plain. These homes were not numerous, but +each in the bright sunlight that caused the shimmering, dancing mirage +to hover over the patches of dark green alfalfa and orchards that +surrounded them, showed the tourists plainly that the conquest of the +desert, in some instances, had been accomplished.</p> + +<p>On this particular morning, a wagon, drawn by four splendid horses and +loaded high with bales of alfalfa that still retained the green of the +field from which it had been cut, so perfect had been the process of +curing, was being driven from one of these homes by a man by whose side +sat a chubby faced boy of some eight or nine years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wagon had just turned into the highway a short distance ahead of the +rapidly moving cars, and as they approached with their horn coughing a +dusty warning, the driver drew out to one side to await their passing. +The first car rushed by and disappeared in a cloud of dust, and the one +in the rear, seeing the trouble the driver was having with his now +thoroughly frightened team, came along beside the wagon more slowly and +asked if they could be of assistance in straightening out the tangled +horses.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, for it was he and Joe who were on the wagon, said if +someone would go to the head of the leaders until he could get down, he +thought he could manage them until the car had gone by. One of the men +sprang from the car and was advancing to seize the horses bridles, when +looking up, he stopped short for an instant and reaching his hand up to +Gully, exclaimed, "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Gully. How are you?"</p> + +<p>Travis Gully, taking his attention from the horses which had now quieted +down since the car had stopped, looked at the man on the ground for an +instant, and bursting into a laugh as he recognized Thomas Dugan the +surveyor, he half climbed and half fell from the wagon, and grasped +Dugan by the hand and shook it cordially.</p> + +<p>By this time another occupant of the car, who proved to be Mr. Palmer, +came forward, and after greeting Gully, inquired as to the health of the +rest of the family. Upon being assured that they were doing nicely, Mr. +Palmer said, "I am certainly glad to hear it. We will probably be out +your way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> tomorrow. We left Spokane early this morning and are going +through to Wenatchee for lunch. The owners of the land you cleared are +in the car that just passed."</p> + +<p>Dugan had helped Joe from the wagon, and was commenting on his growth, +when Mr. Palmer asked Gully if they could assist him with his horses, if +not they would go on as they wished to overtake the other car in the +village just ahead.</p> + +<p>Gully assured him that he could manage the team, and with the promise +that "we will see you tomorrow or the next day," Mr. Palmer and Dugan +entered the car, and proceeded on their journey.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully watched them as they disappeared down the road in a cloud +of dust, and wondered what motive could be bringing them back to the +land on which they had already lost so heavily, but, with the hope that +they probably had some information relative to the irrigation project +that had now almost become a forgotten subject, he placed Joe back on +the wagon and climbing back to his own seat, spoke to the horses and +drove on to the village, with his load of hay.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully had prospered, and his dream of a home just as he wanted +it, was fully realized. He had not developed all of his land, because +the original forty acres upon which he had pumped water from his well, +had proven so productive that it was more than he could handle alone, so +he did not see the necessity of developing more.</p> + +<p>His home, as it was, seemed an ideal place. The trees which he had +planted at the root of which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> had buried tin cans, were now affording +ample shade and serving the purpose of a wind break for his house—not +that the wind had any terror for him now. It did not harm him now as he +had mastered the situation and was reaping the reward of his +perseverence.</p> + +<p>He could now gratify his cherished ambition for nice horses and his +alfalfa fields and paddocks were the play grounds for some beautiful +colts he was raising. Numerous cattle roamed at large over the open +sagebrush range, and fattened on the succulent bunch grass, coming daily +to the Gully home for water. They all bore the Gully brand and were a +source of income to him.</p> + +<p>His wife and family were happy, and retained their health as all those +who lived in this favored country did. Ida was now a finished young +lady. She had gone to school in one of the coast cities, a school, the +selection of which had been left to Miss Anderson, who had accompanied +her during her first term.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton had fulfilled his threat made the morning after the storm +three years before, to install a pumping plant on his place, and under +the guidance of Gully was doing well. Miss Anderson, though never having +put down a well, was residing on her claim, and with what she earned +teaching the little school, was comfortable and happy. The main source +of her happiness, however, was in watching the course of the lives of +Jack and Ida, there was no longer any doubt or secret of their devotion +to each other. It had come about as naturally as the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> changes had +come, and was looked upon as a matter of course. There had been no +ardent wooing, no rivals with which to contend, just a companionship +that had grown dearer as the year passed, and the time for its final +culmination in a marriage had been set for the coming Holiday season.</p> + +<p>Minnie Gully was happy. She had never known that such happiness was +possible. She only asked for one other blessing and that was that her +parents would come and share their home. She and Travis had written +repeatedly, making this request, but always the same answer came from +the old people. They felt that they were too old to make the change, and +wanted to spend their remaining days among the surroundings they had +known so long.</p> + +<p>When Travis Gully returned from the village on the evening of the day +that he had come so unexpectedly upon Mr. Palmer and Dugan as they were +passing in the car, he eagerly told of what had happened, and upon his +telling his listening family of their intended visit to the company's +land within the next few days, they all expressed their satisfaction at +the changed conditions that would enable them to extend to the visitors +the hospitality that they had been denied on their former visit.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully and Ida, with true feminine instinct, immediately began to +plan, and offer suggestions for the most befitting way in which to +entertain. In this they were at a disadvantage, as they did not know +whether they intended to make a visit of several days, or would return +immediately after looking over the land. In any event, they decided that +they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> would prepare for them one splendid meal, the material used in the +preparation of this meal should be from the products of their desert +home, and with an unlimited supply of fresh eggs, young and tender +fowls, vegetables and milk and butter, the feast promised to be a +bounteous one.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Joe had recalled the fact that Mr. Dugan promised him a +ride in the automobile, an experience he had never enjoyed, and he was +excitedly telling his sisters how much faster it ran than Daisy his pony +could go.</p> + +<p>The morning after Gully had brought the news of the probable coming of +the party he went to Jack Norton's to acquaint him of the fact and he +and Jack discussed the probable cause of their visit, and agreed that it +must be for the purpose of irrigation, as they had never attempted to +cultivate the land since the first year that had proven such a dismal +failure. So they decided to get together that evening and prepare a +concise statement of their experiences and methods that would contain +all the information for which the land owners would probably ask.</p> + +<p>For Gully and Norton this would be a comparatively easy task, for they +had kept an accurate record of the items that effected the peculiar +conditions in the locality in which they lived, and had applied them in +a manner that had been very largely responsible for the success they had +attained. The accumulation of this data, such as the varieties of seed +to be used, time for planting and the conditions under which water +should be applied to the land had been brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> about by the +introduction into their literary society, which still held regular +meetings, of the reading weekly of a paper prepared by some homesteader +as an educational feature.</p> + +<p>Miss Anderson was also told of the return to the neighborhood of Mr. +Palmer and Mr. Dugan, and returned from school with the children that +afternoon to learn more of their coming.</p> + +<p>And when young Norton drove over to the Gully home after supper that +evening, his arrival completed the circle of faces that had gathered at +the same place on the day of the surveyors departure three years before, +and the thought that was uppermost in the minds of those present was: +"What will they think of the change that has been wrought?"</p> + +<p>It was agreed that should the party of visitors arrive the following +day, and their arrival could be plainly noted from both the school house +and Norton's home, Jack was to come over immediately and Miss Anderson +was to accompany the children home. After plans for their reception had +been completed, Jack with Miss Anderson accompanying him in his buggy, +left the Gullys, and after seeing her safely home, the night being fine, +Jack drove for several miles along the dusty road in the bright +moonlight, and as he allowed the horse to choose his own gait, he took +no notice of his surroundings or the distance he had come.</p> + +<p>He wondered to himself what motive had prompted his actions, he might +have remained at Gully's and spent a happy hour or more with Ida and +plan for the future with her, as was their custom when together. But +tonight he wanted to be alone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>The announcement of the unexpected return of Palmer and Dugan had +recalled his experience with these men on the first day they had met at +the hotel and he smiled as he thought of the opportunity it had afforded +him to match wits with them, and the satisfaction he had derived from +the occurrence.</p> + +<p>Since their departure he had not allowed his mind to be diverted from +his one purpose, the subduing of the desert sands and the forcing of the +land to yield as his analysis of it had proven it capable of doing. He +had, on two occasions during the past two years, accompanied the +Professor on a trip to the Grand Coulee and had spent days of delightful +research that had resulted in more firmly convincing him that the +country as a whole was a wonderland.</p> + +<p>But this night, while alone on the desert, driving aimlessly along a +most miserable road, his mind would dwell on his old home, on his past, +and his old Dad, whose only child he was, of how he had left and had now +for over four years, kept his whereabouts a secret, just to satisfy a +hastily made resolve to make proper restitution for a boyish prank. Now +that he was in a position to make good this resolution, another factor +had come into his life—Ida Gully.</p> + +<p>At the thought of Ida, Norton's blood tingled, and tightening up his +reins suddenly, stopped his horse. "I am foolish," he said to himself. +"I must return and get some rest," and turning his horses head toward +home, thought how proudly he would stand by Ida's side and receive +congratulations of Palmer and Dugan for they should know of their +engagement, and he would watch with pleasure, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> expressions of +astonishment their faces would betray when they noted the stately +bearing she had acquired, and heard with what grace and ease of manner +she acknowledged their expressed wishes for her future happiness.</p> + +<p>Reaching his home Jack cared for his horse, and going into the house saw +that it was almost midnight. He smiled and said, "Quite a visit I have +had with myself," and lost no time in retiring.</p> + +<p>Owing to the expected arrival of the strangers and the part he was to +have in their entertainment, Jack had not planned any work for the +morrow, so he lay and rested the following morning, much longer than was +his custom. Upon arising, he went leisurely about preparing his +breakfast. After eating he attended to his horses, and left the barn +door open so that all except his driver could go at will into the +alfalfa field. Returning to the house he dressed more carefully than +usual, for he realized that the Gullys, whose real guest he was to be on +this occasion, would put forth exceptional efforts in honor of the +strangers arrival. His toilet completed to his satisfaction, he +concluded that he would drive over to Gullys, in advance of the arrival +of the party, and have an opportunity to explain to Ida his hasty +departure of the night before, feeling that his appearance a little +ahead of time would not be a breech of etiquette under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival at the Gully home, he found the family assembled out in +the yard, looking in the direction of the village a few miles out from +which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> along the Scenic Highway could be distinctly seen the dust being +raised in clouds by two moving objects.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully turned at Jack's approach and pointed in the direction of +the moving objects, and remarked: "Guess they are coming, all right." +Jack answered that he supposed it was them, and bidding Mrs. Gully and +Ida good-morning, approached Ida, and taking her by the hand led her +into the house.</p> + +<p>Gully upon noticing that Jack had left his horse tied where the +automobiles would probably be driven, and fearing that he might become +frightened, took him to the barn, and after seeing that he was cared +for, was just returning to the house as the first of the cars came up +the driveway that led to his gate.</p> + +<p>Gully went out to meet them and recognizing Palmer and Dugan as the +occupants beside whom a stranger sat. As they drove up and greeted him +and introduced the third member of the party, Gully invited them to get +out and await the arrival of the other car, and then go into the house. +This they did, and as the driver of the car prepared to move ahead to +make room, he, through force of habit no doubt, sounded his horn.</p> + +<p>Jack Norton, who was still in the house, was startled by the familiar +sound of the auto horn. It was the first intimation of their arrival he +had been given, so busy was he talking to Mrs. Gully and Ida. Being +anxious to greet Mr. Palmer and Dugan, he asked the ladies to excuse him +and went immediately out to the group of men who had now entered the +yard. Recognizing his acquaintances he approached them with outstretched +hand and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> laughing and chatting. As the second car drove up and +stopped, he turned slightly and seeing Gully approach to welcome them, +continued his conversation with Dugan.</p> + +<p>The clicking of the latch on the gate, after the party had entered, +reminded him that it was time for him to meet the new comer, and as he +started to turn, someone remarked: "You have a nice place here, Mr. +Gully." Jack Norton's face blanched, and the words of greeting stuck in +his throat, for just one instant, and turning quickly around with a cry +of "Dad," stood face to face with his father.</p> + +<p>The elder Norton stopped as if paralyzed, but instantly recovering +exclaimed, "Jack, my boy," seized Jack in his arms and pressing his head +back, the father brushed Jack's hat from his head and pushing his hair +back, began rumpling and towseling it, just as he was wont to do when +Jack was a small boy. Then recovering himself, glanced behind him as if +in search of some thing, and simply said, "I must sit down."</p> + +<p>Jack Norton and Mr. Palmer assisted the old gentleman to the house, +where they were met by Mrs. Gully and Ida, who had witnessed the meeting +of Jack and his father, but not understanding the meaning of the strange +proceedings, had started to come out, thinking something was wrong. They +had only reached the door when they met Jack and Mr. Palmer, and +returned to prepare a comfortable place for the stricken old gentleman +they were supporting between them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ida, immediately sensing that the occurrence had in some way materially +affected Jack went, as soon as the old gentleman was comfortably seated, +to Jack, and placing her hand upon his shoulder, inquired what was +wrong. Jack laughingly assured her and told her that everything was far +from being wrong, that the old gentleman was his father, and that they +had met by the merest chance, adding that he would explain in a few +moments, as soon as he was assured that his father was all right.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully hastily secured a glass of cold water, which revived the old +gentleman, and the rest of the party came in with Travis Gully and Mr. +Dugan. Introductions immediately followed the entrance into the room of +the strangers, and as Mr. Norton had sufficiently recovered to be able +to arise, he went to where Jack and Ida were standing, and with an +amused twinkle in his eyes asked of his son: "Am I entitled to an +introduction to this estimable young lady, Jack?" Jack was plainly +embarrassed by his thoughtlessness in not having taken Ida to his father +at first, and introduced his father to her, with apologies for his +oversight.</p> + +<p>The occurrence had taken place in so short a time and so unexpectedly +that the importance of it, except to Jack and his father, had not had +time to impress those present.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was at a loss to understand the situation, but felt sure +that an explanation would be given in due time. His wife's greatest +concern was that the excellent dinner which she had prepared for the +expected guests was in a fair way of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> spoiled by the delay caused +by the occurrence. The simple fact of Jack and his father having met +after an extended separation did not impress her as being very +extraordinary. As for Ida, she realized fully the meaning of the +happening, but did not take into account the probable effect it would +have on the future as far as she and Jack were concerned. She had +noticed, however, that Jack had introduced her to his father as Miss +Gully instead of Ida, and in her simplicity she had not known that he +had but conformed to the usages of polite society. She had never heard +him speak of her as Miss Gully except in jest, and she was annoyed.</p> + +<p>The party of strangers, accompanied by Gully and Jack, the latter +clinging to his father's arm, had again gone out in the yard and were +admiring the beautiful scenery of the mountains that could be seen at an +advantage at the noon hour under the bright glare of the fall sunlight.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father stood apart from the rest, and Jack was pointing +with apparent pride in the direction of his place, while his father +stood in an attitude of listening to his evident enthusiasm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>Burns Norton, Jack's father, was of Irish descent, and had been born and +raised in the south. His father, who had been a prominent cotton broker +before the war, had amassed a fortune that consisted principally of +stocks and bonds, with occasional bits of land scattered throughout +various southern states, that had been acquired by him through deals of +such magnitude that frequently the land was absorbed and reverted to him +in lieu of cash that he had advanced to his clients.</p> + +<p>The war was the cause of the loss of the fortune thus acquired, and the +elder Norton, Jack's grandfather, had died soon after its close a poor +man, having turned over to those who had tried to help him survive these +strenuous times all the property, real and personal, that he possessed. +Among the tracts of land thus acquired was one which consisted of +several hundred acres situated in what was known as the Panhandle, in +Texas, then arid and considered worthless except for range purposes.</p> + +<p>When he had turned the deed to this over to his creditors, the board of +appraisers handed it back with the remark: "That is too far away. It is +valueless and we will not take it into consideration," and then added: +"Put it away for your boy; it may be worth something by the time he is a +man."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>Burns Norton was just past fifteen when his father joined his mother, +who had never recovered from the shock sustained when their fortune was +lost, and with this tract of barren waste land, covered with curly +mosquito grass, as his only property inheritance, he was set adrift in +the world.</p> + +<p>He accompanied a party of human derelicts, who drifted hither and +thither during the reconstruction days following the close of the war, +and finally landed in Texas, where he worked on a stock ranch, and rode +the old Santa Fe Trail from Quanah, Texas, to Topeka, Kansas, for years. +As time passed, and the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad was being +constructed, it passed through this land of Norton's. He had never +mentioned the fact that he owned the land to any one, and it had been +fenced as a part of an immense pasture, and when he went to the owners +of this pasture and demanded that his land be thrown outside by the +removal of their fence, they questioned his right to the land. Young +Norton had no difficulty in proving his ownership, and went immediately +to work improving it, and from this start sprung the immense wealth he +now controlled. It was this experience that had prompted his investment +in the land he had come to inspect at the time he discovered his lost +son Jack, living over the life that he had led when he was Jack's age, +and he understood where the adventurous disposition had originated, and +he did not blame the boy. In fact, he had never blamed Jack for +anything. He had been an indulgent father, and even now he was gratified +by the boy's spirit, and although he felt that he had been badly treated +he did not reproach him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully came to the door and called to her husband that dinner was +ready, and he invited his guests to come in. Mr. Palmer and Dugan, who +felt more at home than the rest, answered the summons promptly, and as +they were passing the well they noticed a barrel of fresh cold water +which stood temptingly near, and jokingly called to Mrs. Gully that if +she would provide them with a towel they thought they would enjoy +washing outside as they had done on their former visit.</p> + +<p>Ida brought them towels and tin basins, and the entire party prepared +themselves for their dinner at the well while Gully explained the +workings of his pumping plant.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father were the last to come to the well, and as Mr. Norton +splashed his face with an abundance of cold water he laughingly told +Jack that he did not blame him for being so enthusiastic about the +country if that was a fair sample of their water, "for," declared he, +"although it seems to have been sitting here for quite a while, it is +still sparkling and cool."</p> + +<p>Jack assured him that he had never seen or heard of a bad well of water +in the country. Going into the house, they were seated at their dinners, +while Mrs. Gully and Ida served. It was a revelation to these tired +business men, this good wholesome food, that had been brought fresh from +the soil and cool pantry and served in the simplest homelike manner, and +they did justice to Mrs. Gully's and her daughter's culinary art by +eating most heartily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the meal was finished, Mr. Norton called to Jack and told him to +look in the front of the car in which he had come and bring him the +small satchel that bore his name on the tag. Jack secured the satchel, +and upon his return and handing it to his father, the latter took from +it a box of cigars, and after passing them around said that if the +ladies had no objections, they would visit a while, and postpone their +trip to the land. "You see," he continued, "with the discovery of this +young rascal," with a fond look at Jack, "there has been a great burden +relieved from my mind, and I want to enjoy it in my own way, for there +is no dependence to be put in his next move."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully replied that she would be pleased to have Mr. Norton feel +enough at home to choose his own method of celebrating the restoration +of his son, but she did feel that she must protest the remarks about +Jack, for they had always found him a most dependable young man.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman smiled at her defense of Jack, while that young worthy +arose from his seat, and with mock gravity thanked her for her effort in +his behalf, and turning to his father, quoted:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I stand at the bar of justice,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Condemned in the cause that you plead;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My only defense the simple request<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That you judge by the motive, not deed."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mr. Norton, now in the best of spirits, turned to those present and +asked: "Shall we listen to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> plea?" A chorus of voices exclaimed: "Go +ahead; let's have the story."</p> + +<p>It was a trying moment for Jack Norton. He had not expected events to +take this turn, but he saw that his father expected an explanation of +his conduct, and there was no alternative. It must be made in the +presence of those who had assembled at the home of his dearest friends, +the Gullys, and he knew that in view of the relations that existed +between him and the family, an explanation was due.</p> + +<p>Withdrawing his chair from the table, he placed it conveniently near for +Mrs. Gully to be seated by her husband, and securing a seat for Ida, he +stood directly facing her and began the recital of his story.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," he began, "that it was Dad's original intention that I +should inflict upon you innocent persons present a recital of my boyish +prank that has resulted in this self imposed exile for the past four +years, and I wish to impress on your minds before I enter into details +that I am not making a plea for sympathy or setting up a plea of +extenuating circumstances.</p> + +<p>"For the suffering that I have caused him I am sorry, and I too have +suffered. No one will ever know the hours of torturing remorse and +regret through which I have passed. My own sufferings I have borne, I +hope, with fortitude, as will no doubt be attested to by my very dear +friends, the Gully family, who have never heard me mention in the +slightest way my affairs, and who have been most considerate of my +feelings in not asking, as they had a perfect right to do, for any +information<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> relative to myself or family, and for this evidence of +their faith in me I wish to thank them most heartily.</p> + +<p>"With the circumstances attending my leaving him, Dad is thoroughly +familiar. I had just returned from the Agricultural and Mechanical +College of which my home state, Texas, is justly proud, and had joined +him in Galveston, where he had moved his family to reside permanently +after his retirement from the land and stock business, and at which +place my poor mother lost her life at the time of the disastrous tidal +wave which almost destroyed the city.</p> + +<p>"Dad, at the time of the terrible occurrence, had gone on a short trip +to the northern part of the state to look after business interests, as +he frequently did. Why I escaped and was not taken with my mother I +never could understand, but by some caprice I was saved and cared for as +an 'unknown' until Dad returned, which he did as quickly as he could.</p> + +<p>"After a search which lasted for days I was finally located by Dad, who +has always been a most kind and indulgent father. Upon this occasion of +my return from college, the event being my twenty-first birthday, I +found him in a most generous mood, ready to grant my every wish. He took +me to his office, he having resumed business activities after the loss +of my mother, and led me through the various departments and told me +that he was anxious to take me in with him and have me become familiar +with his affairs, that I might succeed him, as he was growing old.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thanked him for this generous offer, but being imbued with the idea +that I was a thorough yachtsman, I changed the subject and began teasing +him to let me take his yacht, the 'Magnolia,' for a few days' cruise +with some half dozen of my boy friends.</p> + +<p>"The 'Magnolia' was a handsome craft, thoroughly equipped and furnished +to accommodate ten or a dozen passengers, and as her crew usually +consisted of three men, I had planned to take her out alone, with my +friends as helpers, making two watches, there being six of us, and we +would cruise to the coast of Mexico and return in about ten days.</p> + +<p>"The yacht was Dad's special pride and his only recreation, and he had +bought and fitted her up at a very great expense. He had interests at +various points along the coast and in Cuba, and this was his means of +combining pleasure and business, by visiting these interests twice a +year. I had accompanied him on all these trips, as he arranged to make +them during my vacation from school or college, and I felt that I was +capable of taking her out and returning her to her slip on the strand in +perfect safety.</p> + +<p>"But Dad did not think so and told me I had better wait and accompany +him later, at which time he would be pleased to entertain my friends on +the cruise. This did not suit me, and right here I blame Dad for not +being more firm with me. At any rate, he finally consented to let me +have the yacht, but I was to take her regular crew to man her. This I +agreed to do, but did so reluctantly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dad gave me an order to the watchman on board to have her provisioned +for a ten days' trip, and to be made ready for sailing the following +Monday, at which time she was to be turned over to me. Thanking him, I +hurried to the slip and gave the watchman Dad's orders. He took it, and +after reading saluted, and with the familiar 'Aye, Aye, Sir,' sounding +in my ears, I left him.</p> + +<p>"It was then Thursday, and I had ample time to look up the members of my +party and acquaint them with the success of my appeal to Dad. There was +one among those who accompanied me on this memorable trip with whom I +hope I may never come in contact. When I told him of the conditions +under which Dad had given me permission to use the yacht, he laughed and +said: That's easy; just forget to call her crew, and we'll take her out +alone,' and I, feeling my newly attained manhood, answered: 'I'll attend +to that; just you be ready at the appointed time,' and left him. But the +seed had been sown that finally grew and produced the bitterest fruit I +or any other misguided lad could ever taste.</p> + +<p>"I never mentioned the fact to the rest of the boys that we were +supposed to have others than ourselves aboard, as I knew there were +those among them who would have refused to accompany me unless Dad's +requirements were complied with.</p> + +<p>"Well, to make a long story short, I did not call the crew, and as Dad +was called away to St. Louis the Saturday before we were to sail he +never knew of my failure to do so until after it was too late. I went +with him to the station as he was leaving, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> he took my hand and +wished me a pleasant voyage, and handing me a generous check, he added: +'I shall expect you here on my return; be careful, Jack. Goodbye,' and +that was the last time I saw or heard from him until a few hours ago.</p> + +<p>"We left the following Monday morning, and I will never forget the +feeling of importance I experienced as the yacht drew out from her slip +at the end of a hawser and was towed out into the bay by a noisy little +steam tug which I had employed for the purpose. I knew that I was +disobeying Dad, but felt perfectly sure of myself, and I had those among +my party who were well experienced in sailing; besides, Dad was gone and +would not return until we had completed our cruise. Then I would tell +him of what I had done, how successfully I had managed the 'Magnolia' +and he would feel proud of me.</p> + +<p>"When we were well out into the bay they let go the hawser and the +little craft began to ride the swells. It was but a moment's work to run +up a bit of canvas that soon picked up the breeze, and rounding to, we +headed for Boliver Point Light, that marked the outlet to the Gulf, and +as we entered the channel through which the huge ocean going vessels +gained entrance to the bay, we navigated our craft successfully, and +passed several of these, besides numerous tugs, lighters and revenue +cutters, and this fact but convinced us more thoroughly of our ability +as seamen.</p> + +<p>"I had not taken the helm yet, but at the request of one of my guests +whom I knew to be an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> experienced yachtsman, had allowed him to see us +safely through the narrows that lay between Boliver Point and the +Jetties. After clearing the channel and entering the gulf proper I +relieved my friend, and taking the helm, steered directly south, a +course that almost paralleled the Galveston Island, but as the miles +increased the distance from the southern end of the island became so +great that we were almost in the path of the South American liners.</p> + +<p>"We were having a splendid time, and as the breeze was favorable, we +decided to put into a little coast town whose buildings could be plainly +seen glistening in the bright sunlight far ahead on the main land. We +made this port, and after going ashore for a few hours, decided to +follow the coast, laying close in, and to put into the next village, +Port Lavaca, where we would tie up for the night.</p> + +<p>"I will not undertake to describe our trip, with its many stops and +things of interest that we came in contact with at these quaint little +settlements, half Mexican and half American, that lined the Gulf shore.</p> + +<p>"Passing over the next two days of our cruise, we arrived at Matagorda +Bay, and being desirous of visiting the point at the extreme inner end +of the bay, where the little village of Indianola had been almost +completely destroyed by the great tidal wave, we put in at the entrance +and spent the night at the town of Matagorda, intending to visit the +scene of the devastated village the following day.</p> + +<p>"In this we were disappointed, for during the night a terrific gulf +storm came up, and it became so severe before morning that we were +compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> to abandon our berths aboard the yacht and go ashore. The +next two days brought no signs of an abatement of the storm, and we were +advised not to venture out until a more favorable time. Two days in this +little fishing village caused us to lose interest in its novelty, and to +a very great degree cooled our ardor and inclination to continue the +trip.</p> + +<p>"The third day was very much better, and we decided to abandon our trip +and return home, and as the force of the storm decreased in its +severity, we started immediately after noon, intending to round the +point of Matagorda Peninsula before night and put into the first harbor +we could make on the leeward side.</p> + +<p>"We experienced no difficulty in getting well under way in the Bay, +although the wind was against us, and by beating up first the inland +shore and by tacking back and forth, we reached the point just at dusk, +but we found the gale was almost as severe as it had been the day +before, and we dared not venture too far seaward. As darkness came on we +undertook to round the point to gain the leeward shore of the peninsula +and thus be protected from the force of the wind.</p> + +<p>"I was at the helm and had given instructions to my companions, who were +all alert to help, to haul down most of the canvas before we attempted +to make the point. They were busily engaged at this when we glided out +to where we caught the full force of the gale, and it required all of my +time and strength to hold her off the point. It was now quite dark and +it was impossible to distinguish the land. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> light off the point was +plainly seen, but it lay so far out, to mark the course of large +vessels, I dared not attempt to round it, but must make the space +between it and land, which I knew was ample, but I misjudged the +distance and in a few moments we were hard aground on the shoals and +were in a fair way of pounding to pieces.</p> + +<p>"Work as we would, she was immovable, except to plow further into the +slimy mud, gravel and oyster shells of which the shoals consisted. We +stripped her of every thread of canvas after trying to right her, +thinking by so doing she would hold together for the night, but it was +no use. We saw that she was doomed and prepared to leave her to her +fate.</p> + +<p>"We could hear the surf breaking off to port, and knew that we could +reach land easily, so when she finally rolled over on her side and her +hatches went awash, we gathered what we could of our effects and went +overboard. I do not know how my companions fared after they entered the +water. I had no difficulty in reaching land, for after being hurled +shoreward by the waves a few times, I found that I was not beyond my +depth, and after being knocked down and almost strangled as the breakers +came in, I scrambled ahead and finally found myself beyond their reach.</p> + +<p>"My first thoughts were for the safety of my companions, and I called to +see if I could locate them. The sound of my voice was drowned by the +roar of the surf, but in a few minutes I heard a voice calling very near +me, and it proved to be one of the boys.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> It was no time for +congratulating each other on our escape, so we set to work to try and +locate the rest of the party. One by one we heard them answer our +shouts, and as each came in they aided in the search, until the last was +found. None seemed any the worse for their experience, and as we were +wet and chilled, with no means of providing a fire, we did not know what +to do, so we decided to move a little way back, and by keeping in motion +dry our clothes as best we could, and at any rate keep warm.</p> + +<p>"We agreed to remain until morning and see what condition the Magnolia +was in before we undertook to work our way back along the peninsula to +the mainland. As the night advanced, I could hear the groaning of the +timber in our disabled craft as it was subjected to the strain of the +storm, and I thought of what I had done, and of poor old Dad, and I knew +that the loss of the yacht would not hurt him as badly as my actions. I +called my best boyhood friend, who had come as one of the party, off to +one side and told him of my trouble, of how I had disregarded Dad's +wishes, and confided to him that if the Magnolia proved to be a total +loss in the morning, I would not return to Dad, and gave him a message +to deliver to him saying that I would not return or write until, by my +own efforts, I could replace the yacht.</p> + +<p>"My friends tried to persuade me to give up the idea, as such action +would but add to Dad's trouble. But I was obdurate, and lest I be +persuaded to abandon my purpose, I left them a few hours after our +conversation without waiting to see the result of the wreck that had +been caused by my folly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After leaving my friends I followed the ridge of the peninsula back to +the mainland and continued to walk until about noon the next day, when I +was forced to seek rest, as I was completely exhausted. When I reached a +little village, I purchased a flannel shirt and overalls, and my +identity was lost. With the funds I had in my possession and the check +Dad had given me, I managed to work my way out here, and you know the +rest."</p> + +<p>Jack Norton had not been interrupted during the time he was telling his +story. His hearers sat deeply interested, but when he reached the end of +his narrative it brought them back to their surroundings. After a +moment's silence, Jack's father, who had been seated with his chair +tilted back, came down with a crash, and seizing Jack by the hand +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why, Jack, the 'Magnolia' was not hurt. Your friends brought her into +port a few days later and she is now as good as ever."</p> + +<p>Young Norton was dumfounded. "How did they do it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"By the aid of some fishermen and a small tug who sighted them in +distress the following morning. She had only keeled over in the mud, and +as there were no rocks upon which to pound she hung together and they +soon had her righted and under sail. So you see, my boy, you have had +all this suffering for nothing," explained his father.</p> + +<p>"No, not altogether for nothing, for I have learned a very great lesson; +not to jump at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> conclusions and to abide by an agreement; and besides," +he said, smiling, "I have acquired a home of my own and," stepping over +to Ida's side and taking her by the hand, assisted her to arise, "Miss +Gully has done me the honor to promise to share this home with me, which +more than repays me for my sufferings. I ask but one other favor in this +world, and that is your forgiveness and blessings, Dad."</p> + +<p>It was now Jack's father's turn to be taken by surprise, but he was too +old a diplomat to be caught off his guard, and he wanted to know more of +the step his son was contemplating before giving it his approval, so he +bowed politely to Ida and answered: "As for my forgiveness, son, you +have it, but it would be strange if I should go out into the world to +look for a lost son and should return with both a son and daughter." But +he did not commit himself.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party who had heard Jack's story and its happy ending +came forward to congratulate he and Ida, and express their hopes for +their future.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully and his wife, who had not yet been able to fully understand +the situation, were happy because the outcome had seemed to please Jack, +and they knew that after the strangers had gone he would tell them all +about it in a way they could understand.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton arose from the table and asked Gully if he could find +accommodations for the driver of his car, as he would like to spend the +night with his son in his home alone. Mr. Palmer, he said, could take +the other car and the rest of the party and return to the village and +await his coming.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The change wrought by honest toil and that magic word, +irrigation.</i></h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gully said that he thought there would be no difficulty in providing for +him, and so it was arranged. Mr. Palmer and Dugan, with the three +remaining members of the party, who proved to be some friends of Mr. +Norton's who had accompanied him on this trip with the view to investing +in land, were to return to the village and await Mr. Norton's coming.</p> + +<p>After thanking Travis Gully and his wife for their hospitality, they +shook hands with them and the young people, and with promises to see +them again in a few days, left for the village.</p> + +<p>Soon after their departure, Mr. Norton expressed a desire to visit +Jack's homestead.</p> + +<p>"All right, Dad," exclaimed Jack, "we will run over there, and I will +return later and get my horse and buggy."</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of them; you go with your father," said Gully.</p> + +<p>Jack thanked him and he and his father drove off together. Just as they +were turning from the road that led to the school house Jack noticed +that Miss Anderson had just dismissed school, and asked his father's +permission to take her and the Gully children home in the car, to which +his father consented. Turning back into the road, they soon met them, +and as the car was turned around to pick them up, Jack called to Miss +Anderson and invited her and the children to ride; when she smilingly +approached the car and before she could express her thanks, Jack +introduced his father. Miss Anderson stopped short, and her bewildered +look amused Jack,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> who had stepped out to assist her and the children to +enter the car.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask any questions now," said he, laughing.</p> + +<p>"But," she began, "I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, but Ida will tell you all about it when you get home," +answered Jack.</p> + +<p>As Miss Anderson entered the car and took the seat beside him, Mr. +Norton remarked:</p> + +<p>"This has indeed been a remarkable day, Miss Anderson; a day of +wonders."</p> + +<p>The children were assisted into the car, and Jack, with Joe upon his +knee, sat with the driver.</p> + +<p>After they had been taken to the Gully home, and the children scrambled +out, all excitement over their first auto ride. Miss Anderson, after +being assisted from the car, thanked Mr. Norton and expressed the hope +that she would be in a better position on the morrow to discuss with him +the important events that had occurred. "For you know," said she, "I am +still in the dark."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>Jack and his father then drove to his claim, and upon their arrival +there dismissed the driver with instructions to call for them the +following morning, and Jack added:</p> + +<p>"Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Gully that we will not be over to either +supper or breakfast."</p> + +<p>After the driver had gone, Jack turned to his father and said: "I have +learned, Dad, that one of the first requisites of a successful farmer is +the proper care of his stock, so if you will accompany me, I will care +for mine before we go into the house."</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton followed Jack as he went about his chores and noted with +satisfaction the care he took in the performance of each in its turn, +and passed favorable comments on the appearance of Jack's horses, their +comfortable stables and abundance of feed.</p> + +<p>Jack was proud of his father's interest in things, and with boyish +delight showed him over the place.</p> + +<p>When they entered Jack's house, the old gentleman was in an excellent +mood, and had been joking his son about his prowess as a homesteader. He +viewed the interior with a quizzical gaze and seemed to locate +everything at a glance. He removed his hat and coat, and after hanging +them on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and began removing the lids from +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> stove. Jack watched him for a moment, then took the bucket and went +to the well. When he returned, his father had the fire going.</p> + +<p>"Pretty quick work, Dad," he said.</p> + +<p>"It's not the first time, my boy," his father answered, and then he +asked: "Where's the coffee?"</p> + +<p>"In the box on the wall; I'll get it in a minute," said Jack. But his +minute was too long, for his father got the can and was measuring out a +handful of the contents before Jack finished washing his hands.</p> + +<p>Jack watched him prepare the coffee, after which he fried some bacon and +eggs, located some stale sourdough bread, and taking Jack's table cloth +from the table, set the dishes on the bare boards, and setting back the +chairs, pulled up a bench and an empty box, and looking at Jack nodded +toward the table and said:</p> + +<p>"Grub's ready."</p> + +<p>"Comin' up," answered Jack. "Want some butter?"</p> + +<p>"Nope, not with bacon grease," replied the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>After they sat down to the meal, Mr. Norton helped himself and remarked: +"This is the life." He quaffed the steaming coffee with a relish, and +looking across the table, asked suddenly:</p> + +<p>"How about the girl, Jack, who are these Gullys?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Dad," replied Jack in surprise. "I never saw them until I +came here, but they are mighty fine people."</p> + +<p>"Naturally," said his father, "but what makes you think so; the girl?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not altogether," said Jack, "I have reasons to know."</p> + +<p>"In what way?" asked his father.</p> + +<p>"In more ways than one," was Jack's answer.</p> + +<p>"Specify," said the old gentleman bluntly.</p> + +<p>Then Jack told his father of his first meeting with Gully, of how he had +sold Gully the lumber in his shack when he had become discouraged, and +had then accompanied him to the harvest field, of how Gully had +persuaded him to return and try once more, which he had done, and then +when the contract for clearing the land was under consideration, Gully +had taken him in on it and been the means of giving him a start.</p> + +<p>He explained further that it had been under Gully's directions that he +had accomplished the success he had, and when he had finished, his +father asked:</p> + +<p>"Is it out of gratitude for all this kindness that you propose to marry +his daughter?"</p> + +<p>"No," Jack replied.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know," continued his father, "that in the station in life to +which I can restore you, you can have your choice of hundreds of young +ladies?"</p> + +<p>"This is my station in life," replied Jack, "and the best thing about +it, Dad, is that I did not have to have you put me here, and as for Ida, +she does not know any other life, and I hope she never learns."</p> + +<p>"Is this Miss Anderson a relative of theirs?" asked his father.</p> + +<p>"No; just a friend who has taught this little school ever since I came +here," answered Jack.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A very able teacher," commented Mr. Norton.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?" queried Jack.</p> + +<p>"This Miss Gully did not acquire her genteel manner from her parents, +did she? And you say this is the only life she has ever known," said his +father.</p> + +<p>"Miss Anderson has taken a great deal of interest in Ida," said Jack, +"and she learns very readily."</p> + +<p>"Will you postpone this marriage until you have made final proof on your +claim, and give me one year of your life?" asked his father.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," Jack answered.</p> + +<p>Burns Norton arose from the table and began to collect the soiled dishes +and pile them together, and as he started for a pan in which to wash +them, Jack said: "Let them go until morning, Dad." "All right, we'll go +to bed then," answered the old gentleman, and the subject of the Gullys +was not again referred to that night.</p> + +<p>The following morning after Mr. Norton and Jack had eaten their +breakfast they went out and walked over Jack's claim.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton asked him many questions about the climatic conditions and +the possible future of the country. Jack answered his father as best he +could, and handed him the paper he had prepared, giving an account of +his experiences and observations, explaining to him that he had +assembled the data contained therein for the express purpose of +furnishing information to the owners of the land he and Mr. Gully had +cleared, but added that he had no idea at the time who the owner would +prove to be.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Norton glanced at the paper, and thanking Jack, said he would look +it over. He took specimens of the soil and told Jack if things looked +favorable he would arrange to have wells drilled on his land before +returning to the South.</p> + +<p>Jack assured his father that he would make no mistake in doing so, and +upon hearing the auto horn, they turned and found that the car was +awaiting them at Jack's house. After returning and arranging things for +the day, Mr. Norton asked Jack how much time it would require to run +over to his land, as he wished to see it in order to get an idea of what +condition it was in and what improvements would be required.</p> + +<p>Jack told him it would require but a few minutes, and they decided to go +before returning to the Gully home, which they did, and while there +Jack's father said to him:</p> + +<p>"Jack, in view of the fact that you have made up your mind to marry this +Miss Gully and remain on your property here, would you be willing to +take charge of my interests?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly, Dad!" Jack replied. "I only wish that I could grant +your request to accompany you home for a year, but I am afraid I could +not, in justice to all, do so."</p> + +<p>Burns Norton turned to his son and taking him by the hand, said:</p> + +<p>"I respect your feelings in this affair, Jack, and am glad that you gave +me the answer that you did last night, for I feel now that you have a +purpose in life, and the determination to see it through."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack simply said "Thank you, Dad," and they returned to the car and were +driven directly to the Gully home.</p> + +<p>It being Saturday, there was no school, and Miss Anderson, who had +remained overnight at the Gullys, had not yet returned home when they +arrived. She had been told of the occurrence of the day before, of how +Jack and his father had been brought so unexpectedly together and the +circumstances under which they had been separated, and when Mr. Norton +and Jack entered the house upon their arrival she congratulated them on +the happy event and expressed the hope that Jack's experience had taught +him to confide in his father in the future.</p> + +<p>Jack assured her that there would be no danger of a recurrence, as it +would take him the rest of his life in his effort at strict obedience to +atone for what he had done.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully, with Miss Anderson's assistance, had prepared a splendid +dinner, which they told Jack was a reunion dinner, gotten up especially +for him and his father, and they were to be the guests of honor. His +father, they told him, was to be seated at the head of the table and was +to preside, and Jack was instructed that when dinner was announced he +was to escort his father to the place assigned to him.</p> + +<p>When dinner time arrived, Jack did as he was bidden and after they were +all seated, he told his friends of how his father had played the typical +bachelor homesteader while his guest the night before, and they +suggested that they induce him to erect a shack on his land and become +one of them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + +<p>They laughed heartily at Jack's description of his father as a cook, and +agreed with him that it would be nice if he would stay.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton thanked them for their invitation, and said that nothing +would suit him better, as he was fascinated with their country, and was +sure that it had a great future; so much so, he added, that he had +determined to improve his holding, and would probably acquire more.</p> + +<p>"But," he continued, "I am an old man, and have interests in other parts +of the world that require my attention, so I cannot remain with you. But +while I am here I want to thank you, Mr. Gully, and your estimable wife +for the interest you have taken in, and the kindnesses you have shown, +my son, for I have been assured by him that it has been very largely due +to your action and assistance that he has been able to make his +achievements so great.</p> + +<p>"He has also told me, as you know, of the honor your daughter has +bestowed upon him by promising to become his wife. This knowledge is +very gratifying to me, for as he has chosen to become a farmer, he has +done wisely in selecting for his help mate one who is familiar with the +life of a farmer, and at the same time one who possesses the grace and +beauty that few are endowed with. I am proud of Jack's choice, and +gladly welcome her as my daughter."</p> + +<p>"I feel," he continued, "that under the guiding care of such worthy +people as you and Miss Anderson, who Jack tells me has watched with +patient care the shaping of their destinies, these young people have +nothing to fear for the future.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In a few days I shall return to my life, and I would like to change the +plans of these young people and take them home with me for a while. It +is but a few weeks until the date set for their marriage, and will cause +but little inconvenience, and I want them with me. What do you say, +Jack?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Jack thought for a moment before replying, and then arising, he thanked +his father for what he had said and told him that his proposition had +come so unexpectedly they would have to ask time to talk it over, but as +far as he was concerned, he thought it might be arranged.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said his father, "let me know as soon as you have made up +your minds, and I will tell you my plans."</p> + +<p>After finishing their dinner, Mr. Norton remarked that he supposed he +ought to send word to Mr. Palmer and the other members of the party that +he would be delayed for several days, and give them an opportunity to +come out and inspect the country and return to Spokane with the cars, if +they so desired, and he called to the driver of the car he had been +using to tell him of his wishes and have him drive to the village with +his message.</p> + +<p>As the driver came in response to his call, Jack asked his father if he +would let him deliver his message.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton, knowing that Jack was an expert driver, gave his consent and +dismissed the driver, telling him that young Mr. Norton would use the +car during the afternoon, and turning to his son, gave him the message +to deliver.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack listened attentively to his father's instructions, and when he had +finished, went hurriedly into the house calling to Ida and the children +to get their wraps and prepare for a ride to the village in the auto. +The children eagerly sought their mother's permission to accompany Jack, +and when this was given seized their wraps and joined Jack at the car, +where he and the driver were discussing the merits of the machine.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton and Travis Gully had gone to the barn and were inspecting +some of Gully's fine colts and discussing their points, a subject on +which Jack's father was an enthusiast. Ida was accompanied out to the +car by her mother and Miss Anderson. Jack expressed his regrets that +there was not sufficient room in the car for them to go also, but he had +unthoughtedly mentioned the trip to the children first, and now he could +not disappoint them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully laughingly replied that she had waited until the present time +without ever having ridden in an automobile, and she did not suppose +that she would suffer by waiting a little while longer, but she added:</p> + +<p>"I do propose to have you give me a ride before the car is taken back to +Spokane."</p> + +<p>Jack promised her a ride the following day, and after assisting Ida and +the children in, jumped into the driver's seat, and just as he was +starting Miss Anderson approached, and addressing he and Ida, who was +seated by his side, said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Make up your minds about your father's proposition to accompany him +home. I think it would be just simply delightful for you to do as he has +suggested."</p> + +<p>"What do you think, mother?" Jack asked, addressing Mrs. Gully.</p> + +<p>"Just as you and Ida say," she replied.</p> + +<p>"You mean just as Ida says," Jack corrected, and laughingly added: "I'm +in with Dad on the proposition."</p> + +<p>And with shouts of goodbye and with much waving of caps and hands they +started for the village.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson watched them for a few moments, and turning +to go back into the house, Minnie Gully asked Miss Anderson her opinion +of the early marriage of Jack and Ida.</p> + +<p>"I do not see that having it occur a few weeks ahead of the appointed +time would make any difference, and as Mr. Norton seems so anxious to +have them accompany him home, I would be glad to see them agree to his +proposition, but I believe I would leave the matter to them to decide."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully agreed with her and added: "As we have made no provisions for +their marriage I think should they decide to do as he asks, it would be +best to allow them to accompany Mr. Norton to Spokane and have the +ceremony performed there, and Ida be given an opportunity to prepare +herself for the trip home with him."</p> + +<p>"An excellent idea," answered Miss Anderson, "and it would be splendid +if you would accompany them as far as Spokane, be present at the +marriage, and assist Ida in her preparations."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>Minnie Gully thought for a few moments before she replied to Miss +Anderson's suggestion about her going and finally said:</p> + +<p>"How about Travis and the children? Who would care for them while I am +away."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about them; the other girls are plenty old enough to manage +things for the few days that you would be away; and besides, I will be +home, and I can come and assist them."</p> + +<p>"Are you not going?" exclaimed Mrs. Gully, in dismay.</p> + +<p>"I had not thought of going," answered Miss Anderson.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I go you must accompany me," declared Mrs. Gully in a decisive +tone.</p> + +<p>"We will not discuss our plans until we have heard from Jack and Ida," +Miss Anderson replied.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Burns Norton and Travis Gully had walked down into the +alfalfa field and had stopped and were earnestly discussing the future +of the two young people. Not the plans for their approaching marriage, +but of the bright prospects of this beautiful country in which they had +chosen to make their start in life, and the splendid opportunities it +afforded as compared with those that had been given to them when they +were their ages.</p> + +<p>Jack and his party reached the village in a very short time—as Joe +expressed it, "by the time papa could have had the horses hitched to the +wagon"—and upon their arrival Jack left them and sought Mr. Palmer, to +whom he delivered his father's message. Mr. Dugan, who was on the street +at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> time and had seen their arrival, was at the car talking to Ida +when Jack returned, and after greeting him Jack told him that the party +would probably be out to Mr. Gully's the day following, and he was +particularly anxious to have him come out, as he had a matter of +importance to discuss with him. Dugan was much surprised at this request +but promised to come.</p> + +<p>Jack purchased a supply of candy and oranges for the noisy youngsters, +and they returned home after making a detour of many miles.</p> + +<p>It was almost dark when the auto party arrived home, and the children +tumbled out of the car and ran into the house, all clamoring to tell of +the delightful time they had enjoyed. Ida was assisted from the car by +Jack, who was then preparing to drive over to his own home and care for +his stock, when he was told by the driver that Mr. Gully and Mr. Norton +had driven over in the buggy a short time before to look after things, +and were expected to return at any time. Upon hearing this Jack joined +the ladies in the house, and as he came in, he started in with the +children telling of their wonderful ride, but seeing the inquisitive +look on the faces of Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson he asked them if Ida +had not told them, of their decision?</p> + +<p>They replied that they had not had time to talk with her since her +return.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're going with Dad," Jack announced.</p> + +<p>"We are so glad," declared both ladies. "It will be such a delightful +trip for you both."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>They did not get to inquire further into their plans, as Mr. Norton and +Gully came in from their trip to Jack's, and after supper was eaten Jack +and Ida made known their decision, and agreed to abide by any +arrangements their parents might make for their marriage and the trip.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>The following day Mr. Norton's companions came out from the village and +the entire day, although it was Sunday, was devoted to a trip over the +adjoining country, where the party was given an excellent opportunity to +judge for themselves what the country was like.</p> + +<p>They expressed themselves as being favorably impressed and predicted +that at some time in the not very far distant future it would develop +into a great agricultural and stock center.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton and Jack, together with Travis Gully, who had accompanied +them on their tour of inspection, were brought back to the Gully place +and left, while the rest of the party continued their trip toward +Spokane, where they expected to take the train for their homes.</p> + +<p>Burns Norton, after telling his friends of his intention of having Jack +and Ida hurry their marriage and accompany him home, explained that this +would probably delay his return for a week or ten days, but he hoped to +rejoin them at the end of this period in their homes in the south. He +bade them goodbye, as did Jack and the Gullys, and the party continued +their trip, leaving him behind.</p> + +<p>As for Jack, he had so far figured out the details of his plans for the +wedding that he had persuaded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> Dugan to lay over in Spokane upon his +arrival there until he and Ida joined him, at which time he would have +Miss Anderson accompany them, and he wanted her and Dugan to attend them +at the marriage. Dugan agreed to this, and he now knew what the +important matter was of which Jack wished to speak. Jack, however, had +said nothing of this arrangement, not even to Miss Anderson.</p> + +<p>For the next few days Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson's time was taken up +in making preparations for Ida's departure. Old Mr. Norton entered a +protest against any preparations whatever, it having been decided that +Mrs. Gully's plan of having the marriage take place in Spokane being the +most feasible, be adopted, and she and Miss Anderson were to accompany +Ida. Mr. Norton insisted that all the necessary arrangements could be +made after their arrival in the city.</p> + +<p>The days before their departure were not only busy days for the +ladies—the men too had all they could attend to.</p> + +<p>Mr. Norton, after seeing the effect produced by the application of water +on this land, and realizing how simple a matter it was to secure the +necessary supply from the inexhaustable subterranean reservoir that +underlay the territory that constituted the desert area, did not +hesitate to invest a few thousand dollars in bringing about the +reclamation of his land. He arranged before he left to have a well and +pumping plant installed on each forty acres of his holdings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two of these wells were to be drilled during the winter that the work of +developing the first two units of his project might start early the +following spring. And he was farsighted enough to appreciate the fact +that when these two units were brought into a state of productiveness +they could be sold in fractions of ten acres each, which was sufficient +land to keep one man occupied with intensive farming, for an increased +value, sufficient to pay for the reclamation of the rest of his land.</p> + +<p>This work he arranged for Gully to attend to until Jack's return, when +they would both be busy looking after the project.</p> + +<p>At last the day came for the departure of the party for the city, and +all were ready and Ida and her mother had kissed each of the girls and +Joe goodbye, and Jack had faithfully promised Joe that they would have +an automobile when he returned, the party, consisting of Ida, her +mother, Miss Anderson, Jack and his father, were driven to the station +by Travis Gully, who saw them off on their trip and returned home to his +lonesome children, who had never been left by their mother before.</p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the wedding party in Spokane they were met at the +station by the thoughtful Dugan, who Jack had advised by telegram the +time of their departure and the number in the party, and then upon +seeing Dugan at the station, had evidenced as much surprise as the rest.</p> + +<p>They immediately went to the hotel, where Dugan had engaged apartments +for them, and that night Ida and her mother attended the theater for the +first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> time in their lives. Miss Anderson, being escorted by Dugan, made +the party complete.</p> + +<p>Two days later Jack and Ida were quietly married in the parlor of the +hotel where they had been stopping and Mr. Dugan and Miss Anderson were +their attendants, just as Jack had planned. A few hours afterward they +were on their way to Galveston under the care of Mr. Norton and Dugan, +who occupied the smoking compartment, while the young couple were left +alone to assume as much as was possible an air of indifference to the +actions of their fellow passengers, who had in some mysterious way +discovered the fact that a wedding had just occurred, and were enjoying +themselves at the young couple's expense.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson returned to their homes the following day, +tired but happy and loaded down with trinkets, both useful and +ornamental, which Mr. Norton, Jack and Ida had entrusted to their care +for distribution among the family as a token of their best wishes.</p> + +<p>Short messages and post cards mailed along the route were received from +Jack and Ida in almost every mail, but it was nearly two weeks before +the first real letter reached the home folks. They had been in Galveston +for several days, but father Norton had kept them on the go so +constantly they had not had time to write, and the letter, when it did +come, was filled with accounts of their many trips and delightful time +they were having. "Oh! mamma," wrote Ida. "Just think! I have been on +board the 'Magnolia,' the very yacht on account of which Jack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> left +home. There was some paint missing from the wheel, and Jack told me it +was where he had worn it off in his effort to keep her off the point, +but of course I know he was joking. He has promised me a trip in this +very boat, if we get time, but I have made him agree to call the regular +crew, and I mean to see that he does it too." Then after a bit she +wrote: "I am just dying for one breath of burning sagebrush; everything +here smells like fish or tar."</p> + +<p>These letters from Jack and Ida always contained messages of love to +Miss Anderson, who received them in quiet happiness, as if her life's +work was completed when these young people were wedded.</p> + +<p>Just a while after the Holidays Ida wrote: "By the time you receive this +letter we will have started on our return trip. We leave here for New +Orleans and from there we go to Chicago, and Jack has promised me one +whole week or longer, if I want it, with grandpa and grandma, and Jack +says he is going to bring them back with us."</p> + +<p>When Minnie Gully received this letter she could hardly content herself, +and immediately wrote to her parents notifying them of the coming of +Jack and Ida, and renewed her plea for them to come.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully was progressing nicely with the work Mr. Norton had +arranged for him to have done, and the first well was almost complete +when he came home from the Norton land one night and had just finished +his supper, when hearing a call at the gate, he went out and was handed +a package of mail by a neighbor who was returning late from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> the +village. Going into the house, he looked over the several letters, found +one for his wife from Ida, and handed it to her, saying: "See how the +youngsters are."</p> + +<p>Minnie Gully took the letter, and looking at the address, the date of +mailing, and then carefully seeing if the stamp had been properly +cancelled, just as most women do upon receiving a letter, opened it and +read from Ida:</p> + +<p>"We are well and happy; happy because we leave here tomorrow on the +final stage of our journey home. And listen to what I am going to tell +you, mother—grandpa and grandma are coming with us. This is no joke, +for their baggage is at the depot and we are to stay at the hotel +tonight. Jack said to please ask papa to meet us next Wednesday."</p> + +<p>There was joy in that desert home that night. The final link in their +chain of happiness was being forged, and would be welded the following +Wednesday.</p> + +<p>Travis Gully looked up and remarked: "Well, this is Monday night; day +after tomorrow; it won't be long. It will soon come."</p> + +<p>And it did. Gully, with his own family, met them at the station and +those of the passengers who witnessed the meeting from the smoky car +windows knew that happiness reigned in that little desert village for a +time at least.</p> + +<p>The following fall Mr. Norton and Dugan came back to attend Gully's +making of final proof on his claim, at which time he proposed to +celebrate. Why Dugan came was a question that was to be answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> later, +but it was a well known fact that Miss Anderson had been receiving +numerous letters that bore a Texas postmark.</p> + +<p>Burns Norton's project to irrigate one entire section of this desert +land was well under way, and the success of the venture was so well +assured that he had received many flattering offers from his capitalist +friends who had accompanied him on his former trip, to purchase an +interest in his holdings. These he promptly refused.</p> + +<p>But the credit for the practical demonstrations that had grounded his +faith in the future of the country he gave to Travis and Minnie Gully, +the homesteaders.</p> + + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Land of Lure, by Elliott Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF LURE *** + +***** This file should be named 36999-h.htm or 36999-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/9/9/36999/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/36999-h/images/cover.jpg b/36999-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8edccf4 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/36999-h/images/deco.jpg b/36999-h/images/deco.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..539ec2a --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/deco.jpg diff --git a/36999-h/images/illus1.jpg b/36999-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f9eadc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/illus1.jpg diff --git a/36999-h/images/illus2.jpg b/36999-h/images/illus2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..79640dd --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/illus2.jpg diff --git a/36999-h/images/illus3.jpg b/36999-h/images/illus3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..220a075 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/illus3.jpg diff --git a/36999-h/images/illus4.jpg b/36999-h/images/illus4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..12babe4 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999-h/images/illus4.jpg diff --git a/36999.txt b/36999.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e5a002 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6576 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Land of Lure, by Elliott Smith + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Land of Lure + A Story of the Columbia River Basin + +Author: Elliott Smith + +Release Date: August 7, 2011 [EBook #36999] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF LURE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + + + THE LAND of LURE + + A STORY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN + + By ELLIOTT SMITH + + Author of "THE BELLS OF THE BOSQUE," "HULL 97." + + + 1920 + PRESS OF + SMITH-KINNEY COMPANY + Tacoma, Wash. + + Copyright, 1920 + By ELLIOTT SMITH + + +_DEDICATED TO MARIE SMITH--HIS WIFE + +Although I was one of those who "Tried, failed and went away to try and +forget, if possible," her unfaltering faithfulness, and endurance, made +it possible for me to see and feel the things that I have written in +this--HER BOOK. + +--ELLIOTT SMITH._ + + + + +[Illustration: _Misshapen and dwaft by the pitiless rays of the +desert sun._] + + + + +INDEX TO CHAPTERS + + + Chapter I. 9 + + Chapter II. 20 + + Chapter III. 29 + + Chapter IV. 37 + + Chapter V. 42 + + Chapter VI. 57 + + Chapter VII. 64 + + Chapter VIII. 70 + + Chapter IX. 80 + + Chapter X. 90 + + Chapter XI. 96 + + Chapter XII. 104 + + Chapter XIII. 113 + + Chapter XIV. 123 + + Chapter XV. 136 + + Chapter XVI. 149 + + Chapter XVII. 163 + + Chapter XVIII. 179 + + Chapter XIX. 193 + + Chapter XX. 206 + + Chapter XXI. 223 + + Chapter XXII. 236 + + + + +The Land of Lure + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The early March wind was blowing with its usual force, and white wisps +of clouds were scurrying across the barren waste that lay between the +rough canyon, through which the raging torrents of the Columbia River +forced its way to the Pacific Ocean, and the range of hills thirty miles +farther south. The clouds seemed to mount higher, and take on greater +speed, while crossing this scene of desolation, and graveyard of buried +hopes, as if anxious to leave behind them the glare of the desert sands, +and the appealing eyes of the few unfortunate homesteaders, who were +compelled to remain on their claims until they had complied with the +demands made by a beneficient Government before they could become sole +owners of the spot upon which many of them were now making their last +efforts for a home of their own. + +The ever present sage brush and tufts of scant bunch grass, dwaft by the +ages of drouth and the pitiless glare of the hot sun's rays, bowed +before each gust of the sand ladened wind and emitted weird and +unearthly sounds, as if the deported denizens of the desert were +warning the white man against the hopeless task of trying to wrest from +the jack rabbit and coyote the haunts over which they had held +undisputed sway for ages. + +Deserted shacks, formerly the homes of earlier settlers, broken fences +posts, with tangled strands of barbed wire, each told their story of a +struggle for existence, defeat and departure, more pitiful than all the +stories of Indian massacres ever written. Here was a battle field, the +opposing forces being poverty, courage and determination, arrayed +against the elements. + +Reinforcements, in the way of hardy homesteaders, were being constantly +drawn into this unequal contest, armed with no other weapon than the +ever abiding hope that nature would so alter her laws as to conform to +this particular locality, lured by the sound of those magic words: "A +home of your own," were ready to come into this deserted territory and +take up the legacies of blasted hopes, equipped with new ideas, and +seemingly fortified by the unfortunate experiences of others who had +made the trial, failed and gone their way to try and forget, if +possible, the ordeal through which they had passed. Trusting that the +touch of the magic wand, in the form of irrigation, would cause the +crystal water to flow, and convert the region into a garden of untold +wealth. + +The winter preceding the March, during which our story opens, had been +an exceptionally hard one in the Central and Middle Western states, +floods and other unfortunate conditions having almost completely +destroyed the crops and thereby entailing a loss that was keenly felt +throughout the region, and causing a spirit of unrest among the poorer +element; a desire for a chance to throw off the yoke of dependents, as +wage earners, and to seek fields of greater opportunities. The +newspapers and magazines were filled with articles lauding the "Back to +the Soil" movement, and the country was flooded with pamphlets and +folders, in which glowing descriptions of the opportunities afforded the +homeseekers in the far Northwest was given. + +The railroads whose lines reached this vast territory were making +special rates to prospective home builders, and daily homeseekers' +excursions were being run over these routes. Trains loaded with eager +tourists, bound for the land of their dreams, the mecca of their hopes, +the happy land of somewhere; firmly believing that they, at least, had +within their reach the goal for which they, and many of their fathers, +had striven for years. To some, and in fact to a great many, this dream +was to become a reality, and to those whose hardy constitution and +indomitable determination has made such a transformation possible, is +due the development of an Empire in the far Northwest. + +It is with one of these tourist families that our story has to deal. +Travis Gully, a man of middle age, had been born and reared in the +county of Champaign, Illinois, and had lived but a few miles from the +town of that name, he had seen it grow from a small village to its +present state of importance. In the neighborhood where he had lived he +was well known, and generally liked. He had taken but casual interest +in things socially, and had mingled but little with the young people of +his set. He had always worked as a farmhand, and had acquired but little +in the way of an education. At the age of twenty-three, he married +Minnie Padgitt, the daughter of a country minister, and had settled down +to the life of a farmer, on a rented farm. At the age of thirty-eight he +was the father of four girls and one sturdy boy, and was still renting, +having made but one change in location since his marriage. Content to +toil for his family, never having had aroused in him a desire for a +better lot in life. The ambition for a home of his own, having lain +dormant for so long, it is not surprising that, when once awakened, it +was all consuming. The awakening came suddenly during one of his regular +weekly visits to town. + +On this occasion, being attracted by a crowd on the station platform, +Gully wandered down toward the center of excitement, and beheld a number +of his friends, shaking hands and bidding goodbye to others of his +acquaintances, who he judged from their dress and excited appearance, +were evidently leaving on the train, that had just pulled in and now +stood with engine panting and clanging bell, waiting for the signal to +leave with its long string of coaches, the windows of which were raised +on the station side, regardless of the cold snow-laden March wind that +came in fitful gusts into the eager faces that peered in twos and threes +from each window. Faces that bore the smile of comradeship, whether +beaming on friend or stranger. Some were an enigma; back of the smile +could be seen traces of sadness, sorrow at leaving old homes and +friends, combined with expressions of firm determination to go +brave-heartedly into the great unknown country. + +With questioning gaze, Gully approached a group of his acquaintances, +who stood apart from the crowd. As he came up, and before he could ask +the cause of the excitement, he was greeted by one of the party: + +"Hello, Trav! Going with us?" he asked, with outstretched hand. + +Gully seized the proffered hand of his friend, William Gowell. "Going +where?" he asked. "I did not know you were leaving, Bill." + +"Sure," replied Gowell, "hadn't you heard about it? Going to the +Northwest to take up a homestead. Lots of the people from here are +going," and he named over several of their mutual friends, who had sold +their possessions and were taking advantage of the homeseekers' rates. +He told him of the great advantages offered by the new country, and +added: "Better come on, Trav." + +Travis Gully, after talking with his friends, was astonished and +bewildered by what he learned. A special car had been sent into Chicago, +loaded with a display of the products of this new country, specimens of +timber, minerals, grain and fruit, apples, pears and peaches, the like +of which had never before been seen. "And just think, such land as +produced this fruit was free, open for settlement. All one had to do was +to live on it for a while, and it was theirs." + +As he listened to these astounding statements, he asked himself: "Why +was it not possible for him to take advantage of this golden +opportunity? Why could not he, like so many of his friends, sell out and +follow in a few weeks? He would see what could be done." And with this +resolve, fired by this new ambition to possess a home of his own, +prompted by the advice of those of his friends who were casting their +lot with those of the homeseekers, he eagerly sought out each source of +information, even to making inquiry as to the probable cost of tickets +for himself and family, and after bidding those of his friends who were +going goodbye, he watched the train until it rounded a curve that hid it +from view, and promising himself that he would follow at the earliest +possible moment. With pockets bulging with folders, maps and descriptive +literature, he hurried home with the eagerness of a child, to prepare +his family for their first move into the land of unlimited +possibilities. + +Gully, upon his arrival home, was met at the gate by his two eldest +girls, who, after opening the gate, received the few small bundles +brought by their father, and scurried away to the house to announce his +arrival. He watched them as they raced to the door. Ida, the eldest, a +slight girl who had just entered her teens, had been her mother's help +in caring for the younger members of the family, had taken up her share +of the household duties since she could stand upon a chair at the +kitchen table, and wash the few dishes after each meal, and then care +for the ever present baby, while her mother took up the never ending +duties of her sordid existence. This constant strain on the girl had +robbed her of her natural childhood and aged her prematurely. This fact +was noted by the father in his present frame of mind as it never had +been before. He thought of the advantages of the freedom of the far +Northwest, and pictured to himself the fields of waving grain, and +over-burdened orchards, as shown in the booklets he had hastily scanned, +and thought of them as his own, as a play ground for his children. + +Driving into the barn yard, Gully cared for his team; each little chore, +as it was done, was accompanied with thoughts that heretofore had never +been taken into consideration. As he hung up the harness he viewed it +critically, and wondered how much it would bring at a sale. He walked +around his faithful team and asked himself if their age would impair +their value. When he went to the crib for corn he estimated the quantity +on hand, and calculated its probable worth. Never before had he +considered his small possessions from such a view point. + +So absorbed was he in this new mental activity that he took no note of +time, and he was suddenly aroused by the children, who had been sent to +tell him that supper was ready. On the way to the house, in response to +the summons, his hand constantly clutched the papers in his pocket. +Nervous and abstractedly he entered the kitchen, where his wife was +busily engaged placed the supper on the table. So absorbed was she that +she failed to notice his coming in; not until they were seated at the +supper table did she note the change in his appearance, and then only +after he had made some reference to the fact that he had seen William +Gowell while in town, and that he was leaving the country; that the +Moodys and Lanes and several others of their acquaintance had also gone +on the same train. He then told her of all he had heard of this great +country to which so many of their friends had gone, of his wish to go +with his family and share the opportunities. He went into detail and +explained what the cost of going would be; what he hoped to realize from +the sale of their possessions, even if sold at a sacrifice. + +He talked on feverishly, forgetting the frugal meal set before him, +forgetting the tired children, who, little knowing the important part +this proposed move was to play in their future, had eaten their supper, +and all but the two eldest were nodding in their chairs. He showed his +wife and the two oldest girls the illustrations in the folders, showing +the pictures of just such farms as the last few hours had convinced him +he might own. + +Seizing a teaspoon from his untouched cup of coffee, he used the handle +to point out rows of--to them meaningless--figures, compiled to show the +millions of feet of timber, tons of grain and fruit produced. To him it +was equally meaningless, except in a vague way. His untrained mind was +incapable of grasping the extent of the information conveyed, but he had +accepted it all as simple facts, for had not Gowell, Moody and Lane +acknowledged their faith in it by going. Thus he talked on until +exhausted. The family retired at an unusual hour, the wife and children +to wonder what it was all about, and he to toss restlessly from the +effects of an over exhausted mind. + +He arose early the following morning, having formulated his plans during +the restless night, and immediately began to put them into execution. He +had decided to hold a public sale the following Saturday, and if +successful, would be on his way to his future home the next Monday, on +which date he had learned another homeseekers' excursion would come +through his home town. To accomplish this would require rapid work, and +before breakfast on the morning following this resolve, he was up +assembling his few belongings, getting them in shape for the sale. Old +farming implements were pulled from long forgotten nooks and corners, +incomplete sets of harness and bridles were being over hauled and made +fit to bring the best possible price, the flock of poultry was counted +and an estimate made of their probable value, the two cows, with their +calves, the three pigs, kept over to provide the following winter's +supply of meat, his team, wagon and harness, together with his household +goods, constituted his earthly possessions. + +The few days following the hastily made plans were filled with incidents +that tried the patience of the tired wife and mother. To her it was all +like a dream. It was the first time she had ever been taken into her +husband's confidence or been consulted as to his plans for the future. +She did not realize that she was expected to express an opinion as to +the wisdom of the proposed move; if he said it was advisable the matter +was settled. + +The constant demand on both her and the older children for assistance in +assembling the various articles intended for the sale was met with +unquestioning silence, and not until her aged father and mother came to +see if the rumors of their departure which had reached them were true, +did she realize to the fullest extent what her going away really meant; +that it meant the leaving behind those aged parents, from whom she had +never been separated except for a few miles; that it meant the severance +of all the ties and scenes with which she had been associated from her +earliest recollection to the present time. + +The realization of this fact came upon her with a sudden shock that +stirred within her the first semblence of rebellion that her simple +nature had ever shown. To this feeling of remonstrance she gave way but +for a moment, then with violent weeping she threw herself down at her +mother's knee, and with her head buried in the aged woman's lap, the +cradle of comfort she had always known, she vowed she would not go. +"Travis was wrong; they were doing well enough where they were; father +must stop him, and not let him sell everything and go away," but when +the aged mother placed her trembling hand upon the bowed head and +assured her that "Travis knew what was best, it was probably a wise +move, she and father had talked the matter over as soon as they had +heard that they were going, and regretted that they were not at an age, +to accompany them. She must do as her husband said for his and the +children's sakes, and then too," she added, "perhaps father and I can +come later, after you are settled in your new home." With this +assurance the kind old mother comforted her weeping daughter, who, after +recovering from her first and only outbreak, arose and resumed her +duties with such an attitude of utter indifference that her husband and +father, who had been looking over the articles arranged for the sale the +following day, saw no evidence of her grief upon returning to the house +a few moments after the occurrence. + +Gully's enthusiasm, as he discussed with his wife's father and mother +the advantages of the new country to which he was going, knew no bounds. +He had acquired from his constant reference to the descriptive +literature he had in his possession a fund of facts and figures that +were most convincing, and he referred them unhesitatingly to persons who +had seen this exhibition car while on its tour, and who could verify the +statements as set forth in the circulars. Thus he talked on until long +after the supper, to which the old people had stayed, was over, and +after promising to return the following day to be present at the sale, +they had driven home. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The notices of sale, which had been posted throughout the neighborhood, +was held the following day. The attendance was good, and its success, +financially, exceeded Travis Gully's expectations, bringing him a much +larger amount than he had hoped to realize. This was no doubt due to the +spirited bidding of numerous relatives and friends, who chose this +method of aiding the departing family. + +After the last of those who had bought had taken their purchases and +departed, and but a few of the idle curious remained, viewing the small +pile of articles that had proven unsalable, the reaction came to Travis +Gully in a manner that fairly staggered him. As he beheld this remnant +of his years of accumulation of personal effects laying discarded and +rejected by all, he glanced in the direction of his huddled wife and +children, who were awaiting the departure of the vehicle which was to +carry them to her parents home. Haggard and dejected they looked. He had +not counted on the effect on them, and it smote him. "Oh, well, they +would soon be settled again, and in a home of their own, where every +nail that was driven, every tree that was planted, would be for them, +and would be theirs." With this consoling thought, he thrust his hand +into his pocket and walked toward the barn. He started as his finger +tips came in contact with the money, the proceeds of the sale. Drawing +it forth, he held it for a moment and stared. This, then, was the price +of his wife and children's content; t'was for the acquirement of this +that he had dispoiled their poor little home, and they were, at that +very moment, looking regretfully at the little pile of rubbish, each and +every article of which, though refused by others, could be associated +with some pleasant moment of their lives. + +Returning the money to his pocket, and with such thoughts as the above +filling his mind, he entered the barn. There, too, he was overcome with +a feeling of loneliness; the empty stalls where for years his team had +stood, the unfinished feed of hay in the manger just as they had left it +when those faithful creatures had been led away by the hand of new +owners; the cobs from which the corn had been eagerly bitten were still +damp from contact with the mouths that had yielded so willingly to his +guiding hand. Noting each little detail as it gnawed its way into his +soul, he broke down, and with bowed head he wept as only a grief +stricken man can, and thus they found him when he was sought, to tell +him that they were ready to take him and his family, for the last time, +from the home they had occupied for so many years. + +The few unsold articles of household goods and those reserved to be +taken on the trip, together with the family, were taken to the home of +Mrs. Gully's parents, where they were to remain until final preparations +for the journey were completed. The evening after and the day following +the sale were both long to be remembered periods in the lives of those +concerned. At intervals friends or relatives would call to bid farewell, +and to wish the Gullys Godspeed on their journey. At such times the +subject of the trip was taken up and discussed, but was referred to at +other times as seldom as possible. + +The term "The Northwest" was usually applied in a general way. None of +those directly interested seemed to appreciate the vast area comprising +this territory. Their conception of it was confined to an area about the +size of the county in which they lived, or at best, a portion of their +home state. They readily received and promised to deliver messages to +those of their neighborhood who had preceded them on the journey. + +The selection of a final destination was the question of most +importance. The states of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon each +offered exceptional opportunities to the homesteaders with limited +means. So after deciding to buy through tickets to a coast point, with +stopover privilege, there was nothing to do but await the day of +departure. + +At last the Monday came that was to be an epoch in the lives of Travis +Gully and his family. It being but a few miles to the station, an early +noonday meal was eaten, bounteous supplies of lunches were stored neatly +away for the travelers who, with their various trunks, satchels and +bundles, were loaded into a wagon and sent to the village earlier in the +day, the family following after lunch. The intervening time between +their arrival at the station and that of the train upon which they were +going was one of intense excitement. The unaccustomed ordeal of +purchasing tickets, reserving berths in the tourist sleeper, and +checking the baggage, together with constant interruptions with offers +of well meant advice and suggestions from their friends, kept nerves +strained to the breaking point. + +At the sound of the whistle of the incoming train, hearts throbbed +wildly, or missed a stroke; the children were hurriedly embraced, the +parting kiss and tender final pat given; the mother and father came +forward to bid Gully and his wife goodbye; then pent up feeling broke +their bonds and mother and daughter wept in each others arms. Amid this +scene of sorrow, excitement and flurry the train, with grinding brakes, +hissing air valves and clanging bell, drew up to the station and +stopped. + +The time between the stopping of the train and the conductors deep, +gutteral, "All aboard," seemed but the briefest, yet 'twas ample, and +with final good-byes said and tears hastily dried, they were bundled +helter skelter into their seats, and with the waving of many hands from +the station platform, they were on their way. + +As the train's speed increased and familiar objects were being rapidly +left behind, with new and strange landscapes being reeled off, the +children, with eager faces pressed closely to the car windows, gave +joyous expressions of childish delight, while the mother sat silent, +oblivious to her surroundings. + +Travis Gully, with his newborn spirit of independent manhood struggling +within him, sat stolidly awaiting the approaching conductor, as if +uncertain of the fact that he was really going, until he had submitted +the mass of yellow and green strips of cardboard, which he was firmly +clutching in his hand, to that official for inspection. + +Settled down at last for the long journey over new country, the constant +change of new scenes and experiences kept the family entertained and +their minds diverted from their personal discomforts, and they soon gave +evidence of interest and delight. The wife's spirits being thus revived, +she viewed the panorama of passing scenes with ever increasing interest, +and discussed her future plans and hopes with feverish eagerness. As +their first night as tourists approached, and the outer world was shut +out by darkness, the berths were made ready by the deft hands of the +train porter, and both upper and lower sections were huddled full of +drowsy and fretful children. The unaccustomed noise and noisome +atmosphere gave but little promise of rest for the tired father and +mother. Long into the night they lay awake, their minds filled with +hope, fear and uncertainty, that crowded their way to the front with +such rapidly changing sensations that exhaustion finally overcame them, +and with the constant rattle of the train, as it crossed the joints in +the rails, dinning its way into their benumbed brains, they sank into +unconsciousness. + +Morning found them but little refreshed, but after partaking of the +steaming coffee, prepared on a stove with which the car was equipped for +the purpose, and eating a hearty meal, they took note of the changed +appearance of the country through which they were passing. Miles and +miles of flat level country, partially covered with snow, drifted by the +winter wind, with an occasional spot swept bare, which showed the brown +stubble of the wheat field or plowed ground made ready for the spring +planting. Fences were rare, and looking out across the country, the home +could be seen, and they appeared miles apart; straw stacks, around which +frowsey haired horses and cattle stood, dotted the landscape. + +The afternoon of their second day out the blue foothills of the Rockies +could be seen in the distance, and as they gradually drew nearer, they +were whirled through miles of barren waste of sage brush, the shrub that +was to play an ever active part in their future lives. + +The three days following were much the same; over mountains, valleys, +plains and steams they were speeded until, becoming inured to the +constant changes, they ceased to comment. The grandure of the scenery +did not appeal to their undeveloped finer senses; they were simply awed +by its vastness. + +The morning of their arrival at Wenatchee, Washington, the point chosen +for their first stop, was bright and clear. The fresh mountain air swept +down from the pine covered slopes of the hills that surrounded one of +the most fertile valleys in the state, in the heart of which nestled the +little city, justly famed for its magnificent fruit. Miles of splendid +orchards, starting at the very threshold of the business blocks, +extended back to the hills on both sides of the valley. The low drone +of the bees as they swarmed forth among the fast swelling buds in quest +of the first sip of nectar, mingled with the roar of the turbulent +Columbia river, and made music that soothed the tired travelers as +nothing else could. + +Travis Gully was impressed with the signs of plenty that were visable at +every hand. By inquiry, he learned that hundreds of acres as valuable as +that contained in the surrounding valley were available for +homesteading. All it needed was water. He soon made the acquaintance of +a professional "Locator," a human parasite that hovers around the border +of all Government land. In this particular instance the "locator" was a +venerable patriarch, with flowing white beard and benign countenance, +who assured Gully that "He had just the place for him. It was about +fifty miles back over the route he had come. Did he not remember that +beautiful stretch of rolling land through which he had passed? That was +the place. Thousands of acres of this fine land was now being taken up +by homesteaders. He must act quickly or his opportunity would be gone." +After listening to a glowing description of this paradise, Gully agreed +to accompany him to see the land, which he did the following day. + +There are times when it seems that fate plays into the hand of the +trickster, and on this particular day nature was extremely lavish with +her blessings. Never had the spring sun shone more brightly, the balmy +air was laden with the elixir of good will and contentment, every +soothing draught taken into the lungs spread like an intoxicant, +filling the brain with dreams of success and achievements that danced +just ahead, almost within reach, yet still to be striven for. + +Gully, whose mind was filled with the contents of the circulars he had +read, and who had seen the statements made therein, verified in the +locality he had chosen to make his first stop, firmly believed in the +possibilities of the land shown him, and made filing on it immediately +upon his return to the town. He did not question the possibilities of +irrigation or take into account its remoteness; neither did he +investigate the results of past efforts put forth by others in this +conquest of the desert. It was not a desert to him. The winter's snow, +that had just disappeared, had left abundance of moisture in evidence. +Grass was springing up in profusion, and countless wild flowers attested +the fertility of the soil. + +So after the necessary arrangements had been made, he came with his +family, all eager to do their part in the preparation of their future +home. Kind neighbors, though few there were, came with offers to help +erect the house. The family was provided with shelter until such time as +the structure was habitable, and they were happy under these new +conditions; they who had never known a harsher fate than the demands of +an exacting landlord for his annual toll, the regular routine of +settling the yearly account with the trusting merchant in the nearby +village, and a frugal existence through the winter on what remained of +the year's yield. Oh! happy renter, there; should his yield be scant or +insufficient, there was someone to appeal to for assistance, which was +gladly given. The homefolks were there, and others to extend help and +sympathy at the time of misfortune, but on the desert, what? A home of +your own. + +At last the home was completed; just two rooms, with a board roof, the +outer walls adorned with tar paper held in place with laths, and when +they moved in joy reigned in this primitive home. A rough board table, +two benches and a cook stove, cooking utensils, still shining with the +burnish of new tin, shone upon the walls just outside the kitchen door, +a shelf with new tin basin and water pail were provided. The remaining +room was furnished with two beds, built of scraps of lumber, the corners +of the room forming one side and the head, discarded balewire, woven +across, took the place of springs; three family portraits, done in +crayon, a gaudy calendar of the year before, bearing the general +merchandise advertisement of the faithful old merchant at home, a nickel +alarm clock upon a shelf, and the home was furnished. But it was a home +of their own. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The journey of thousands of miles, the excitement of getting settled, +and cool fresh breezes that swept down from the snow capped peaks of the +Cascades, made sleep easy, and no thought of the morrow disturbed the +rest of this emancipated renter. Morning came, and with it the bright +sunshine and oppressive silence of the desert; not a dog to bark, nor a +noisy fowl to break the stillness. As the sun rose from the horizon, and +before it assumed its brassy glare, a mirage formed across the level +plain, magnifying the humble homes of the neighboring homesteaders into +palatial mansions, and the sage brush into forests, and glistening lakes +with twinkling waves upon their surfaces. Travis Gully, with his family, +stood awed by the magnitude of the panorama unrolled before their gaze, +and looked with feverish expectancy into the vista of possibilities the +future held in store for them. The sun mounted higher into the blue +dome, the mirage passed, and objects assumed their normal proportions, +while the faithful wife told of the hopes for good this vision foretold. + +The weeks that followed, each day of which was fraught with hours of +patient toil, clearing away the brush for the first spring planting, the +honest father hewing a spot in the wilderness of sand and sage brush, +the eager children rushing in at each stroke of the mattock, seizing +the uprooted particles of brush and bearing them triumphantly away, to +be placed on one of the many piles of rubbish that marked the path of +this industrious toiler; the patient mother, appearing at the doorway, +looking out across the miles of unchanging gray toward the far east with +that indefinable expression of homesickness depicted upon her face. Of +such scenes as this is the material made of which the everlasting +monument, in the form of a prosperous farming district is built. _Every +fruit tree that grows in the far famed Northwest should be looked upon +as a sprig in the laurel wreath with which to crown the brows of the +sturdy homesteaders--those departed and yet to come._ + +At the close of each day, and after the evening meal, huge bonfires were +lit in the clearing, around which the children danced gleefully, their +shadows casting fantastic shapes in the background, where the gaunt and +hungry coyote lurked, and at intervals mingled its voice in discordant +note with their merry laughter, as if in vain endeavor to impress upon +their minds the narrowness of the space that lay between their joyous +anticipations and deepest gloom. + +Planting time arrived with all its hopes for a bounteous yield. Each day +was devoted to preparing the ground and planting. The winter just passed +had afforded sufficient snow and moisture to produce perfect planting +conditions, and many were the plans made for the expenditure of the +proceeds of this first harvest for a good home, farming implements, and +other necessities for successful farming. + +The grain was sown, and the kitchen garden planted in precise rows and +nicely shaped beds. A wagon load of scabrock was hauled from a dry +coulee that wended its way diagonally across this vast area of sand and +sage. These were used to form the border of prim walks and flower beds, +each stone being placed in position and carefully embedded in the soft +sand, _each a cornerstone for the castle of hope_, soon to be displaced +by an inexorable nature, and to allow the upper structure of dreams to +fall about the builder, a pall of utter disappointment. + +Just a few days of alluring sunshine, only a few balmy nights, and the +tiny plants were raising their tender shoots above the surface of the +sand, which through its ages of shifting now refused to remain under +control of mere man, and was growing restless, rolling in fiendish glee +down the sides of the nicely formed flower beds and rollicking in +sparkling bits across the walks, filling, with maddening persistance, +every opening made in its surface by the upspringing plants. + +The age worn battle between the Goddess Flora and the relentless desert +was being fought over. She with all her garlands, was trying to wreath +the brow of this gray monster, while he, with his withering sunrays and +constant battering with tiny particles of sharp, flinty sand, was +repulsing her every advance. + +The Gods, Jupiter, Pluvius and Boreas, standing sponsors for the +contending forces, intervened and changed at times what seemed certain +victory. One with his gentle showers or torrential downpour would rush +to the scene of the fray, settling the tiny grains of sand and thereby +quelling the galling batteries that were assailing the tender plants, at +the same time administering to their bruised and quivering stems and +foliage; then, conscious of a kindly act, he sails away, seated upon his +fleecy crafts of air, emitting an occasional growl, warning his enemy, +the wind, against his return. Scarcely has his frown disappeared over +the brow of the hills to the south, followed by his majestic guard of +chariots, with billowing gold and silver plumage, when a faint whisper +is heard in the grass. Hark! 'tis louder! See the tops of the bunchgrass +moving restlessly; Old Boreas is stalking his enemy. He creeps prone +upon the ground, like a serpent he raises his head with a hissing sound; +on, upward to the top of the tallest reeking sage brush he crawls; +maddened by the presence of those hated sparkling drops of crystal water +that bedecks this misshapen shrub, he shakes them in myriads to the +ground and laughs with glee. But in so doing he is restraining one of +the arch fiends of the desert, the sand. At this discovery he shrieks +with anger, and seizing the precious drops, hoists them into the air, +scattering them in misty spray and hurries them miles through space, +back to their natural haunts, where they are left to assemble themselves +and await another call. Thus left to their own, again the sun and sand +renew the attack, and wear down, by constant onslaught, every particle +of vegetation not originally intended to laugh to scorn their every +effort. + +But the fortitude of those alien plants was noble; gallantly they +withstood the siege. For days and weeks, constantly scorched and +blistered during the day, they came up smiling in the morning, with +heads erect, to greet the same sun their parent plant had known and +throve under, but stung, whipped and tortured by the never ceasing, ever +shifting myriads of cutting particles of sand, bleeding to the last +infinitesimal mite, they had to die; they hung their noble heads, became +discolored and withered, and when the morning sun shone forth it was +upon the same dwarfed sage brush and hissing bunchgrass it had always +known. The scabrock border, the horned toad that sought shelter beneath +the protecting edges, all one color, gray, monotonous gray. + +Small indeed would be the area of reclaimed land in the great northwest +if each homesteader had given up hopes and abandoned his dreams with his +first disappointment, and had he not awakened to renewed effort at each +stroke of misfortune administered by what seemed to be a relentless +fate. + +Nature, in her lavish distribution of blessings, had not wholly +forgotten this seemingly neglected spot. The nights were cool and +refreshing, the air pure and uncontaminated, and both he and his family +being blessed with rugged health. Travis Gully looked upon the havoc +wrought with undaunted courage and determination. He submitted to the +loss of his first planting with resignation, and hastened to seek means +whereby he might provide food and other necessities for his family. To +the north lay the never failing wheat fields of the Big Bend country; +east, the Couer d'Alene mining district; and west of the Cascade +Mountains the lumbering industries of the Puget Sound region. These each +offered a solution of a means of livelihood, ample employment and good +wages; but with the departure of the family from the homestead went the +cherished dream of a home. + +Often at night when the children, now grown sunburned and inured to the +intense heat and blistering sands, were on their pallets, enjoying the +peaceful sleep of tired but happy childhood, Gully and his wife would +sit for hours and try to devise means whereby the coming winter might be +lived through with some semblance of comfort. During these heart to +heart talks, while seated before the door of their humble home, Gully's +gaze would wander out across his broad acres, which under the pale +starlight in this clear desert air, could easily be transformed, in +vision, to fields of waving grain; conversation would cease; a restless +move made by one of the children would attract the attention of the +watchful mother, who, upon entering the house cautiously stepping with +stealthy tread among the little sleeping forms, would approach the +table, give the flame of the one small kerosene lamp a gentle turn +upward and throw into bold relief every evidence of abject poverty +within the confines of that one sparsely furnished room. With wide +staring eyes she would hastily scan the face of each sleeping child as +if in dread of finding the fiendish hand of hunger clutching at some +innocent throat; but all is quiet. Passing a trembling hand across her +weary forehead, she slowly turned, and as she did so, read in every +object that met her gaze one word, _sacrifice_. The little blue +overalls, with their numberless patches, and frayed and tattered hem, +the little gingham aprons, worn threadbare by the constant nipping, +picking and catching on the scraggling branches of the despised sage +brush, all shrieked sacrifice. Suddenly, with a quick movement, a little +foot is thrust from beneath the scant cover, and at the same time a +varicolored sand lizzard scurries across the bare floor and disappears +through a convenient crack. Seizing the lamp, she hurries to the side of +the sleeping child, takes the little brown foot in her loving hands and +seeks in vain for some mark of injury inflicted by the frightened +lizzard; finding none, she places the little foot tenderly on the pallet +and reaches for the cover; stops, and stares. What does she see? Only a +little toe, the nail gone, a partially healed wound, showing where the +cruel snag of the hated sage brush had torn its way into her very flesh +and blood. With a groan she bows her head for a moment, then hastily +scanning the room, she misses the little shoes and stockings so much +needed for the protection of those little feet. Arising, she replaces +the lamp upon the table, turns it low, and returns to her husband's +side, prepared to make one of the greatest sacrifices ever made by a +woman, and one of which little has even been said or written. She must +tell him to go, and leave her and the children alone and unprotected in +the desert. He must go, that they might live, go until the winter snows +drive him home. O God! it would be lonely, days of constant watching +across the quivering sea of unchanging gray, nights of wakeful +listening, broken by the sound of the ghoulish yip of the hungry coyote +and the mournful hoot of the ground owl. + +_Give honor to the famous women of our land, if you must. She who first +made our glorious flag, those who devoted their lives to nursing back to +health and strength our nation's heroes, and the sainted mothers of +distinguished men; but, oh! remember the wives of the pioneer and +homesteader, and ask yourself; is she not entitled to a place among +these?_ + +Travis Gully, being completely lost in his dreams of independence, had +not missed her from his side. The good wife stole softly up to him, and +placing her hand upon his knee, slipped down beside his chair. He, being +thus suddenly aroused from his reverie, and noting her appearance of +abject misery, assisted her to arise, drew her trembling form near him, +and spoke cheerfully of the situation, assuring her all would be well in +the end. He forbade her to discuss his departure at that time, and there +beneath the broad expanse of star bedecked sky, surrounded by the vast +and desolate desert, they renewed their faith in each other and resolved +to continue the battle, and with revived hopes they planned for the +future, and for hours rebuilt the castle so ruthlessly destroyed by the +desert storm. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The month of June had arrived, and with it came the intensified summer +heat, now almost unbearable in the shadeless glare, and as the time +approached for Gully's departure, it was finally decided that the wheat +fields of the north would be the easiest of access for his journey in +search of work. The question of water for domestic use being the most +difficult to solve, it was decided to build a cistern sufficiently large +to hold enough to last until his return, and for the next few weeks the +time was devoted to this work. It was while thus engaged that the family +received its first ray of hopes for the ultimate consummation of their +dream, and the hope to which their minds would frequently revert during +the long fall and winter months that were to follow. + +After the cistern had been dug and Gully, with painstaking care, was +trying to cement the interior, patiently replacing each trovel of wet +cement as it rolled from the sides, as the sand gave way and allowing it +to fall repeatedly to the bottom, each time being taken up and carefully +replaced, gradually setting, inch by inch, until the task was +accomplished; his wife on the surface, mixing the sand and cement in +small quantities and handing it down to him, as required; doing her part +to conquer the wilderness as valiantly as any man; when there was a +hurried scampering of little feet, and the children came breathlessly +up, calling to their parent that "Wagons were coming, lots of them." +This announcement to the uninitiated would seem but small cause for +comment, but to those who live for weeks and months without the advent +of a stranger within miles of their habitation, the approach of an +unknown horseman or vehicle is hailed with excitement and wonder. + +Gully hastily emerged from his work beneath the surface and looked +inquiringly in the direction indicated by the excited youngsters, where +a few miles to the west a dense cloud of dust could be seen. An +occasional horseman, driving loose stock, or a covered wagon or +buckboard, could be distinguished through the dense pall of dust that +hung with maddening persistence over the approaching caravan. +Speculation was rife among the now excited family, and many were the +theories advanced as to the cause of this unusual sight. It being +definitely determined that the approaching wagon train was wending its +weary way along the road that terminated at their humble abode, hurried +arrangements were made to greet the strangers, the children were +assembled at the kitchen door, and their faces washed to remove, if +possible, a small portion of the desert grime; their sunburned locks, +that the wind had whipped into wild confusion, were hastily untangled, +and arranged into semblence of order. When this task was completed and +each little bronzed cheek shone with the too strenuous application of +common laundry soap, that only resulted in bringing out in bold relief +the myriads of copper colored freckles with which they were covered +with generous profusion, they were admonished by their mother to "keep +clean," and were allowed to scurry away, to watch in wide eyed wonder +the approach of the strangers. The mother, with purely feminine +instinct, removed all evidence of the white splashes of cement from her +hands and shoes, changed her dress, and after these pitiful efforts at +making herself presentable, joined with the waiting children. + +Many of my readers have, no doubt, waited with feverish expectancy the +ringing up of the curtain on some notable drama, or looked forward with +a mingling of joyous anticipation and dread to the arrival of a relative +or friend whom they had not seen for years. But few indeed are left who +can describe or define the sensation of commingled joy, dread and +uncertainty that fills the heart of the lonely homesteader on an +occasion like this. Hours seemed to pass during the interval between the +discovery of their approach and the arrival of the strangers, the +hundreds of questions that rushed, unbidden, to the minds of the +isolated desert dwellers. Who were they, and what was their motive for +coming? Were they transient visitors on an idle tour, or some wandering +band of nomads, drifting derelicts, who had strayed from the beaten +paths to evade if possible, contact with civil authorities; or better +yet, were they new neighbors coming to cast their lot with them, to +assist in the reclamation, the conquest of the desert? Such were the +multitude of questions recurring to the minds of the anxious watchers, +each, in its turn, being cast aside to be replaced by others, in +bewildering succession. + +Travis Gully, who, owing to the narrowness of his self constituted +domain and the wild desert environments, had allowed himself to drift +backward, and contact with conditions with which he was unfamiliar had +awakened in him the spirit of alert defensiveness of primitive man. He +felt the sting of resentment at the approach of the strangers, and it +was with a forced smile, and hesitating handshake that he greeted the +foremost of the party, who had at last ridden within the front dooryard. +Glancing over his shoulder, he assured himself of the safety of his +family. The wife and three eldest children had remained standing near +the door, while two little towheads, that protruded from behind the +building, showed where the two youngest had taken refuge. + +Gully invited the stranger to dismount, but the latter, thanking him +curtly, remained mounted until the entire party, consisting of some +twenty-five or thirty men, equipped with a complete field outfit, wagons +loaded with tents and provisions, abundance of stock, both draft and +pack animals, had arrived within hailing distance. Turning in his +saddle, the chief, or man in charge, raised his gauntleted hand with a +commanding jesture, and with brakeblocks grinding against glistening and +heated tires, rattle of chains and shouts from the teamsters, the +procession came to a stop. Dismounting, he gave a few instructions to +his men, who remained on their wagons; then returning to the waiting +homesteader, asked as to the conditions for making permanent camp in the +neighborhood. On being assured that there was no water for the stock +nearer than three miles, the windmill overtopping the well at that point +being in full view, was pointed out to him, and minute directions for +finding the road that ran tortuously through the miles of sagebrush to +this oasis, was given. With a courteous bow, the chief mounted, gave +orders to his men to follow, and moved off in the direction of the well. + +As the last sound of the departing cavalcade was stifled in the muffling +sand, Mrs. Gully came to where her husband was standing, gazing absently +in the direction the strangers had gone. Who were they and what were +they here for, was the absorbing and unanswered question; who was this +clean, trim man, dressed in his khaki suit and neat leather leggings, +who had such absolute authority over this thoroughly equipped +expedition; not a homesteader, this was evident by his professional +appearance; not a fugitive, because his manner was too gentle. Who was +he, and what was his business? + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +As the season approached for the exodus of homesteaders for the harvest +field, hurried preparations for the departure was made, the cistern was +completed, huge piles of sage brush was gathered for fuel and placed +conveniently near the house. Thus was Travis Gully's time taken up for +the next few days following the arrival of the campers at the well. Many +were the inquiring glances that were cast in the direction of the group +of glistening white tents. Parties of men could be seen going and +coming, morning and night, some walking, others mounted or in vehicles. +Once a band of what seemed to be loose horses was seen to be approaching +the home of the Gullys, but when within a short distance of the house a +mounted man, emerging from the tent village, followed them and turned +them westward, soon being lost in the sea of gray sagebrush, but not +before it was discovered that it was a pack train, going out for +supplies. + +At last the day came when the mystery of their purpose was to be solved. +On his first trip to the well for water with which to fill his now +completed cistern, Gully noted a fact that had been overlooked by him on +the occasion of their visit to his home; each wagon and all the +equipment was stamped U. S. G. S. This fact, however, left no clue in +his crude mind as to who they were, and not until he saw one of the +party with an instrument on a tripod, mounted upon a small knoll near +the road to his home, did he awake to the realization of the fact that +they had something to do with a survey. + +The task of filling the cistern consumed many days, and required +numberless trips to and from the well. During these frequent visits the +acquaintance of some of the men around camp was made and the information +was volunteered by one of their number that they were a party of United +States Geological Surveyors sent out by the Government to make a survey +of the desert with the view to ascertaining if it was feasible to +irrigate the region by gravity from some of the numerous lakes and +streams that lay hidden away in the mountains that surrounded the entire +valley. + +Irrigation! So this was the reason for all this activity. Gully's heart +leaped at the sound of this magic word. Here was the realization of his +dream. It was to be--and why not? Was not the Government making the +survey, had not the authorities awakened to the fact that here was a +country of some seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of valuable land +laying idle. Why not convert it into homes for thousands, who, like +himself, though less venturesome, were dreaming of a home of their own. +With gladdened heart, forgetful of poverty and past disappointments, he +hurriedly filled his barrels with water and drove home eager to tell his +wife the good news. + +"I knew it was coming," he told her. Had he not talked with the men who +had been sent to bring about this transformation? "Just think, Minnie," +he exclaimed, "we are among the first. Others may follow, but we have +our land." + +Water, bright sparkling water, flowing in rippling streams; all they +wanted; no more wearisome trips across the dry parched waste, with the +constant drum, drum of the empty barrels dinning in his ears--no more +return trips with the barrels filled at starting, but now sadly +depleted, and the wagon box reeking and dripping with the waste caused +by the splash, splash of the precious fluid. Irrigation--and a home of +his own. + +A few days after the discovery of the object of the party encamped at +the well was made, it became generally known, and the glad news was +being discussed in every home throughout the sparsely settled +neighborhood. Men could be seen loitering around the camp or mingling +with the surveyors in the field, eagerly gathering such scraps of +information as was given out and hastily departing to add fuel to the +already inflamed imagination of the settlers. + +It never occurred to them that even though the survey resulted in a +favorable report, it would probably take years before the accomplishment +of the purpose for which it was being made, and the added strain of +uncertainty, waiting and watching made the life of the homesteader more +unbearable. + +When the morning came for the departure of the little band of harvesters +for the broad wheatfields of the big bend country, it was an unusual +sight that greeted the vision. It had been previously arranged that +they should assemble at the well and make that the starting point for +their journey. Small puffs of dust might be seen arising miles away, +each marking the approach of one or more of the sturdy homesteaders, +many of whom had made the trip the fall before and knew of the many long +hours of toil that awaited them. Yet they were marching forth, with grim +determination to put as many hours into each day as mortal man could +stand. It was their harvest as well as the wheat growers; their season +for retrieving the few hard-earned dollars lost in seeding and planting +during the spring just passed; theirs, to accumulate the necessary food +and clothing for the wives and little ones they were leaving behind in +the desert, to watch longingly for their return when the harvest was +ended. + +The party with which Gully was going had decided to take one wagon with +four horses to convey their crew, with the camp equipment, to the grain +fields. The men came in every conceivable means of conveyance, +accompanied by a member or, in some instances, by the entire family, who +were to return with the rigs to their homes, after seeing them safely on +their way. Each came with his blanket roll neatly tied with a cord or +strap. Two dilapidated telescope grips, made of canvas, were provided to +carry the extra clothing of the party; a writing tablet and a package of +plain white envelopes, by means of which the messages, scribbled with +pencil, and often by lantern light, of love, sorrow, success or defeat, +were to be conveyed to the lonely ones in the desert wilds; a spool of +black cotton thread, some needles and a few extra buttons, for an +emergency, were carefully stored deep in one corner of the grip. All to +be used in common, all brothers in the wilds; there was no business +rivalry, no competition there; just an equal desire that all might live. + +They were late in getting started, owing to the distance some of them +had to come, and when the last of the party rode up, seated upon a horse +fully harnessed, complaining that his delay was caused by the collapsing +of one of the wheels of his vehicle, the poor old weather beaten buggy +rendered unserviceable by its constant use on many trips to and fro +across the sandy waste; the spiteful particles of sand, gnawing, cutting +and grinding their way into each tiny crevice, between the rim and +spoke, into the hub and under the tire, until its wheels, after days, +weeks and months of rattling, squeaking and groaning, could no longer +stand the strain, the inanimate thing sank helplessly down, to be cast +to one side, among the harsh, rasping sagebrush, and left there to +sizzle, shrink and bleach in the blistering sun rays, until called for +and taken helplessly back to the home of its owner for repairs, in the +way of having hard bits of sun parched leather, cut from well worn and +discarded shoes, forced between its once perfectly fitting rim and tire, +the whole being wound and rewound with the indispensable balewire. Such +an end; what could be expected of a thing of flesh and blood? + +"Never mind," cried his waiting companions, cheerfully. "You can soak +the old critter up in the irrigation ditch pretty soon." And with this +merry jest, at the same time recalling to their minds the condition of +their own means of conveyance, and also one of the many uses to which +the abundance of water could be put when once turned loose, to run +rampant across the stretch of barren waste. They prepared to start on +their journey. + +Each of the party, with sad heart and quivering voice, all doing their +best to present an indifferent exterior, bade the waiting members of +their families, the gathered neighbors, and the members of the survey +crew a hearty goodbye, and drove northward, knowing full well that their +toilsome progress across the valley would be followed by tear stained +eyes and aching hearts, until the evening shades settled and the thin +spiral column of dust, watched for a time after the object which caused +it to mount high into the heated atmosphere had been hidden by a cloak +of darkness. + +The first night out the travelers spent at a small spring that flowed in +a feeble stream down the rock ledge that formed the northern boundary of +the desert, and sank from sight, being swallowed by the thirsty sands. +It was a hard drive that brought them to this place, and during the +hours that intervened between their departure from the well and arrival +at their first camp, was spent in almost silence. Each of those present +seemed lost in silent contemplation of the difficulties that confronted +him. Various subjects had been brought up for discussion, followed for a +few moments, and then were allowed to drop. All except Travis Gully, who +was driving, seemed lost to their surroundings. + +It was a varied assortment of which this little group of men was +composed, taken at random from various points, from different walks of +life, no common interest in the way of mechanics or profession, yet +bound together by stronger ties, a mutual understanding of each other's +absorbing ambition to build a home; appreciating to the fullest extent +the difficulties and hardships endured, the disappointments and +suffering caused by the one common affliction, poverty. + +There was the muscular iron molder from Pittsburg, who would sit, with +half closed eyes, and liken the heat of the desert to the fiery glow of +the familiar furnaces; the clouds of dust to the dense smoke of his home +city, and ask himself: "Had he moved wisely?" The pressman, from one of +the largest printing establishments in Denver, who would in dreamy +silence listen to the constant clatter of the wagon, and in fancy +hearing the rumble of his once favorite machine, the press, rolling out +in endless sheets items of news, gathered from all over the world; +suddenly the wagon wheel strikes a stone, and with a lurch, he starts +with outstretched hand to adjust a roller, replace a belt, or take up +the torn web. Smiles feebly at his absentmindedness and resumes his +seat. The professor, who for years taught in a college in Kansas, +watched with earnest gaze each specimen of desert plant life that +struggled for existence beside the dusty road, unable to release himself +from the desire to increase his botanical knowledge. An exsoldier and +Travis Gully, the farmer, completed this incongruous party. + +Upon their arrival at the spring just before sundown, they arose from +their seats in the wagon, cramped and dusty from their long ride, and +shambling to the rock ledge, relieved their parched throats with copious +draughts from the spring. Knowing that the scarcity of water on the road +over which their route lay would necessitate a forced drive on the +morrow, they hastily unharnessed the horses, gave them water and +picketed them to munch the scant herbage until sufficiently cooled to be +given their ration of grain, they then prepared their own frugal supper, +after which, with pipes lit, and each seated around the smoldering +sagebrush fire, their faces turned homeward, watched the shades of +evening settle, and noted the twinkling lights that shone from their +humble homes miles away across the level plain. Conversation no longer +lagged; each was eager to express his views as to the result of the +survey now being made, and the certainty of the wealth to follow the +reclamation of the thousands of acres of fertile land that lay stretched +for miles to the south. No one doubted for a moment but what it would +come. Was not each of the railroads that extended across the great +Continental Divide, advertising the fertile valleys of the Northwest as +the goal of the poor man? Was not every Commercial Club in the cities +through which these avenues of commerce and forerunners of civilization +ran, sending out and scattering among the inhabitants of the entire +territory from the Atlantic seaboard to the Rocky Mountains, pamphlets +in which was set forth, in glowing word pictures, accounts of the +possibilities of the undeveloped lands now laying idle, yours for the +asking? Were they not morally responsible for the welfare of each family +who, lured by their flattering descriptions, had given up their means of +a livelihood, and sold their small accumulation of personal property, in +most instances for what they could get; frequently scarcely enough to +reach this land of dreams, and at best with but a few hundred dollars? + +Would these mighty forces that were being brought to bear for the +purpose of converting the undeveloped resources of this vast country +into a merchantable article, going to accomplish their end by the +sacrifice of thousands of human ambitions, and even lives? Certainly +not; give them a chance. + +This survey was being made with the view to placing within the reach of +the settlers the means whereby wealth and affluence might be obtained. + +Such was the opinion of all, and with optimistic views and hopes +renewed, the blankets were unrolled and spread upon the bare ground, and +with a cheery "Goodnight," each of these champions of right and justice +lay down to enter the enchanted land of dreams, and live through the +realization of all they had hoped for. + +Just before daylight the following morning all were astir and the horses +fed, and with the never to be forgotten acrid smell of burning sagebrush +permeating the cool air, which, gathered amid the eternal snows that lay +undisturbed for ages on the glistening sides of the mountain peaks to +the west, was wafted and filtered through miles of spruce and pine +forests and delivered in all its exhilerating morning freshness to fill +with health and vigor the lungs of these conquerors of the wilderness; +breakfast was eaten, blankets rolled, and just as the rosy tint of the +pitiless sun shone in the east, the start was made. + +The road which had led them for weary miles across the desert the +afternoon before came to an abrupt ending at the spring. The solid cliff +of basaltic rock formed an impassible barrier to the north. There seemed +no reason for the road leading squarely up to the ledge other than to +gain access to the scant water supply the small spring afforded, this +spot having been for years the stopping place for weary travelers and +hordes of thirsty stock. No road leading from the spring being visable, +a return drive was made until a road leading directly east was +encountered. This road was followed for several miles, when a break in +the range of hills afforded an exit verging a little to the northeast. +After a few miles the road turned directly north again, leading into a +break in the barrier of hills and out through a coulee to the plateau, +where lay the wheat fields that were the destination of the little band +of harvesters. + +The trip through the coulee, once made, would never be forgotten. +Immediately at the entrance of the funnel like gorge, with its +precipitous walls of stone towering in heights from a few hundred to two +thousand feet, the way seemed blocked by a lake several miles in length. +Clear and cool it lay, constantly lashed into fury by the strong +current of air rushing from the chasm above. The white, foam crested +waves, spending their force upon the sandy shore at the lower end, +retreating after each attack, leaving behind a deposit of white frothy +foam that was picked up by the wind and scattered far beyond the reach +of the next incoming wave, there to be dried by the sun, and the +residue, a white crystal, powdered salts, left sparkling in the +sunlight. Nothing in the way of vegetation except a species of harsh +quackgrass grew within the radius covered by this deposit. The waters of +this lake possessed strong mineral properties that were fatal to plant +life, also rendering it extremely nauseating and unfit for drinking. +Owing to this fact, it had been known to the Indians of Chief Moses' +tribe as "Poison Water." Yet cool and sparkling it lay, a gem in the +barren gulch, relieving the eye of those who chanced to pass that way, +but often proving a sad disappointment to both the travel worn man and +beast, who, unacquainted with its peculiar qualities, upon first +beholding its rippling surface, hastened to its brink to appease a +desert born thirst. + +As the lake was approached by the party, the members of which had +previously heard of its existence and the nature of its waters, no stop +was made. A passage around it was sought and soon discovered in a well +worn trail that followed a dry ravine which led down to the lake, and +extending around its head, reentered the coulee some miles above. They +continued their journey along this ravine, the route being marked at +intervals by the bleached bones of animals which had perished of thirst +within a short distance of abundance of cool dear water that a caprice +of nature had rendered, like fools gold, alluring, but of no value. + +For fifteen or twenty miles the road ran tortuously among the huge +boulders that had fallen from the crest of the solid walls that arose +hundreds of feet on either side, the crevices and nooks of which were +the haunts of the rattlesnake and lizard. The projecting ledges that +occasionally occurred showed signs of being the nesting place of +hundreds of hawks that circled in an aimless manner at dizzy heights +above this giant crevice. Limpid pools of alkaline water lay teeming +beneath the blistering suns rays, their white salty rim unmarked by the +footprints of any living thing, accursed by nature and abhorred by all +God's creatures, wasting their contents by evaporation during the +summer, and replenished by the torrents that rushed through this +abandoned water course during the annual spring thaw. + +That it had been a water course was evidenced by the beds of well worn +gravel, devoid of all soil, and the marks of the constant wash of the +waves on the face of the cliffs on either side. Who knows but what at +some remote period the mighty Columbia river had flowed through this +grand coulee, emptying into an inland sea, the bed of which now formed +the desert of almost a million acres, destined to be the home of half as +many people? Flowing thus for ages, nourishing plants now unknown; its +limpid waters, cooling and refreshing the prehistoric monsters that +came daily to drink at its brink; sheltering beneath its rippling waves +species of fish now extinct, their fossalized forms only remaining to +remind us of the mighty changes that have taken place. Flowing +peacefully on, secure in its mightiness, yet all the while somewhere +along its course was being assembled the power that wrought this change, +the terrific force in the nature of gases generated far in the depths of +the earth. It might be thousands of miles away, conducted through +unknown channels and crevices, seeking the point of least resistance, +forced hither and thither by the ever increasing pressure, until a +subterranean cavity is formed by a slight upheaval or displacement of +the stratification. Into this rush the gases, followed by the raging +fires, until further resistance is impossible. The imprisoned demon +crouches in narrow confines, trapped at last; and with a mighty shudder, +the effects of which are felt on the surface, causing the ponderous +mastodon to halt unsteadily, and raising his gigantic head in alarm, +sounds a note of warning, and followed by his herd, rushes madly through +the mass of huge ferns in search of safety. + +The imprisoned force, no longer able to confine its strength, furiously +gathers its reenforcement, and with terrific, thunderous roar, forces +the crust and breaks through, tearing asunder this sphere that has taken +eons to form, disgorging in fiery torrents upon the surface of half a +continent the contents of its seething cauldron. + +Back rush the floods of the Columbia, as if aghast at the havoc wrought; +stays its flow but for a moment, and charges this indomitable foe that +dares to impede its progress, and pours its waters, now made black and +muddy by the tons of ashes and stone sent hurtling into its waves, into +the thousands of crevices and fissures trying in vain to throttle this +fiery demon who greets the oncoming stream with flaming tongue, converts +it into steam and additional power with which it throws out huge volumes +of mud that seal the crevices and cool the lava about its glaring +throat, thus using its enemy to erect a barrier against itself. +Hopelessly defeated, the mighty river seeks a course whereby it may +reach its former terminus, the inland sea. It wanders on with +indefatigable persistence, taking the abandoned beds of some of its +former tributaries; follows it until overtaking the original stream at +some unaccustomed place, absorbs it and hurries on its way over boulders +and through canyons and gorges, rapids and cataracts harrassing its +waters in a manner heretofore unknown. In its wild flight it makes a +detour of more than a hundred miles, appropriates the channel of another +stream, and turns back toward the inland sea, still determined to do its +part in replenishing this vast storage place. + +Upon reaching its western boundary, oh! what a change had taken place. +Stretching away as far as could be seen was a mass of oozing matter, +decaying seaweed and pools of slimy water, heated to almost boiling, +reeking with the stench of dead fish, the whole being sprinkled with +cinders and ashes, and teeming with muck and filth. + +A break in the southern boundary of the former body of water showed +where a fissure had been opened up, through which its contents had +drained, following the outlet until it had emptied into the Pacific +Ocean. The noble Columbia, unable to gain access to refill the basin, +took up the course of the liberated deluge and followed resignedly in +its wake. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The third day out the harvesters reached the scene of action in the +grain fields, and by noon of that day had found employment, the entire +party being engaged for the season with promise of work for their +horses. This was indeed an agreeable surprise. They had expected to +remain in the same neighborhood, but to be employed together was more +than they had hoped for. + +The afternoon of the same day they drove to the home of their employer. +Here the scene that greeted them was something of a disappointment to +them, as the home of the wheat grower was but little better than their +own desert shacks, save that it had one redeeming feature, an abundance +of water. A well, surmounted by a large windmill, was located near the +center of a large enclosure, and was the attraction for a number of +horses and cattle. A few lazy hogs wallowed contentedly in the mud +beneath the long watering trough, into which flowed, with fitful gushes, +at each stroke of the slender pumprod, a stream of pure cold water, +which was consumed by the waiting stock or allowed to overflow at will +from the trough. The large barn, the dilapidated machine shed, and the +typical home of the wheat grower was complete. No, not complete. There +was yet another object. It was located in the further corner of the barn +yard. It was an old wagon, with huge frame mounted upon it. This frame +was covered with flimsy, dirty canvas, and had a stovepipe protruding +from the top. From a door in the back, three narrow rickety steps +reached down to the ground as if inviting one to enter, and at the same +time daring them to take the chance. Off to one side was a pile of +sagebrush, with a broken handled axe near by, and a barrel of stale +water with a tin cup hung by a piece of wire over its chime, two tin +basins laying upon the ground, while to a nail driven in the corner post +of the canvas covered structure hung a piece of sack twine with a +twisted aluminum comb dangling at its ends, and a dirty towel which the +constant action of the wind kept from becoming rigid and stiff. This was +the "cook house," where the toilers were to get their meals during the +harvest. + +With faint misgivings at the uninviting prospects the strangers, +beholding the broad acres of grain now just turning to gold on the high +ground, and gradually shading to a dark green in the swails and hollows, +and extending over from one and a half to two or three sections of rich +land, asked themselves why conditions were not better. + +The men already engaged at harvesting on this wheat ranch not yet having +come in from their day's work, our party cared for their horses and +strolled about the place, wondering at the absence of signs of life, but +being unfamiliar with such conditions, among the stalks of heavily +headed grain that reached to their shoulders, and taking the plump, well +filled heads in their hands, fondled them lovingly, and their minds +went back to their own desert homes, to their lonesome wives and +children, and asked themselves if the time would ever come when their +land would produce such a bounteous yield, and thought with proud +satisfaction of how, in case of such an event, they would remain at home +and enjoy the sweet sound of the harvest machinery as it garnered for +them and theirs. + +Wonderingly they waited for someone to come, some friendly voice to +greet them, if not in profuse welcome, to at least tell them where they +were to put their few effects and where they were to receive the +accommodation that, being strangers, they had every reason to expect. +They had brought their blankets, it was true, but it was with the view +to using them while camping out. They little realized that, had they not +brought them, they would have been provided with little more +accommodation than a beast of burden. + +The sun went down and they sauntered back to the barn yard, where they +had left their wagon, and loitered around it with a fondness due the +only familiar object in sight. Still no one came. From the grain field +the clicking of the sickle as it mowed down the grain could be plainly +heard, wafted from afar on the rapidly cooling twilight breeze. Travis +Gully arose from his seat on the wagon pole as if moved by some +uncontrollable impulse, and going around to the side of the wagon, threw +back the rolls of blankets and drew forth the old canvas telescope grip. +Taking it fondly in his rough hands, he knelt beside it on the ground, +unloosened the straps, removed the tablet and envelopes, and taking from +his overall pocket a stub of a pencil, resumed his seat and began to +write, with a slow cramped movement, the first letter home. Slowly he +poured out from his own burdened heart the cry of a distressed soul. + +The remaining members of the party, realizing that this was to be the +anxiously looked for first news, sent loving messages to their homes. No +mention was made of the tiresome trip, of the forbidding aspect of their +first employment; just a letter of encouragement, reassuring them of +their success, and hopes for a profitable season and safe return. +"Simple enough," you might say, but oh! what relief to the pent up +feelings of those sturdy homebuilders. + +Think, if you can, of what might have been written and read between the +lines, of the anguish and uncertainty that was tugging at the heart +strings of each of them, knowing, as they did, the conditions under +which they had left their families; out alone on the desert, realizing +that they, themselves, knew absolutely nothing of the duties they would +be called upon to perform on the morrow, and tell me if you do not agree +with me when I say that there, in the evening shades, under environments +that would try the strength of the bravest, was not endured to the +fullest extent, misery. + +The letter was finished, and after placing it in the envelope, Gully sat +with it in his hand and gazed thoughtfully at the address. The iron +molder lit his pipe and moved off in the direction of the barn; the +professor and the soldier arose and strolled to the well; all silent, +lost in their own thoughts, the nature of which can only be guessed. + +The sudden opening of a door at the main house aroused them from their +reverie, and turning in the direction of the noise, they saw a woman +come out and secure an armful of stovewood and reenter the building. In +a few moments a dense smoke was emitted from the stovepipe, an +indication that supper was being prepared. Darkness was fast obscuring +the landscape, and from the distant field the conversation of the men +returning from their work could be plainly heard, and mingling with it +were the sounds of rattling chains and creaking harness. Upon their +arrival at the barnyard, and while some of the horses were still +drinking at the well, a man was seen to emerge from the house bearing a +lighted lantern, and go to the barn, where other lanterns were lighted +and carried about by the men. + +Our friends went to the barn and upon making their presence known, were +greeted with a tired "Howdy do" from the workers, as they unharnessed +and distributed grain among their horses. + +The owner of the wheat ranch, for it was he who had come from the house +with a lighted lantern, came hurriedly up, and after pointing out a row +of empty stalls, instructed the strangers to put their horses inside. +This they gladly did, after which the lanterns were hung on pegs outside +the barn and the workmen disappeared in the darkness. Our friends, +hearing sounds at the well, went there and found several of the men +stripped to their waists, washing the dust and perspiration in the +trough and drying their faces on large red handkerchiefs with which they +had mopped their faces during the heat of the day. As they completed +their ablutions, they disappeared, until there was but one who, upon +raising his streaming face from its immersion in the trough, inquired of +our friends: "You fellows had supper." Upon being assured they had not, +he advised them to "wash up, and come on down to the cook house," the +location of which was easy, owing to the light which shone through the +canvas cover, bringing out in bold relief the silhouette figures of +several men seated at the table, with elbows in the air, working +industriously, making way with generous portions of food, as was +indicated by the shadows of dark objects before them. + +Thoroughly tired and hungry, not being accustomed to waiting until this +unseemly hour for their evening meal, they followed their new +acquaintance and mounted the rickety stairs leading up to the entrance +of the cook house. They were astonished at the arrangement of the +interior; every available inch of space was taken up and made to serve +some purpose. The forward end of the canvas structure was partitioned +off and used for a kitchen--the rear portion, with a table running the +full length, served as the dining room--while boards, fastened with +hinges to either side, could be either raised or lowered, doing duty as +seats. The sides of the structure was so arranged that the upper portion +could be swung outward and propped, thus being converted into awnings +and at the same time affording ventilation. Immediately over the table +and drawn up to the top of the canvas canopy by means of a rope fastened +to each corner, and running through pulleys, was a woven wire bed +spring. This could be lowered at night and was the sleeping place of "my +lady," the cook, a haggard, sad-eyed individual, the widow of an +unfortunate homesteader who, unable to endure the hardships of a +pioneer, had gone to his reward the summer before. + +When the first two members of our party had entered the cook house the +rest were compelled to remain outside until some of those who had +finished vacated, for when the table was filled those who went in first +had to remain seated until the last one who entered had finished his +meal. + +The food was abundant and good, well cooked and served, when you take +into consideration the difficulties under which it was prepared, and was +eaten by the tired and overworked harvesters in a manner indicating a +complete indifference to after effect. When supper was finished, there +being no opportunity for gaining information, the hour being late, our +friends returned to their wagon, unrolled their blankets, and lay down +to ponder over this unheard of way of treating hired help. But not for +long. Being fatigued to the limit of human endurance, they fell asleep, +with the faint sound of the clatter of tin pans and cups that emanated +from the cook house and the incessant rattle of the windmill dinning in +their ears. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +When morning came--not morning proper--but it was sometime after +midnight, Travis Gully was awakened by the sound of someone cutting +wood. Peering from beneath his blankets, he saw a lighted lantern at the +cook house. Other lanterns were being carried to and fro among the +horses in the barn. Sleepy individuals were crawling out from every +conceivable place--from the hay mow and machine shed, carrying their +inseparable blanket rolls. At the well men were busily pumping water by +hand, the wind having died down during the night. Not being sufficiently +awake to fully realize the meaning of this activity, Travis Gully +stretched his tired limbs, rolled over, gave his blankets an extra tuck +and drifted away in slumber. Not long, however, was he allowed to remain +in this condition, for he was suddenly startled from his dreams by a +gruff voice shouting: "Roll out, here, you fellows," and started to a +sitting position, with tired sleepy eyes blinking in the bright glare of +the lantern light, he beheld the boss standing over them, smiling +amusedly at their bewildered looks. Their first day in the harvest field +had begun, the first of many just such days that were to follow before +they could return to their homes, and during the long winter evenings +recount to the eager listening wife and children the varied experiences +through which they had passed, embellishing each little incident with a +tinge of humor that could not be appreciated at the time of its +occurrence. + +Dressing hurriedly, they went to the barn to care for their horses and +found them munching contentedly at their morning feed, which had already +been given them. Seeing the other men busily harnessing their teams +they, without question, did likewise, resolving to be governed in their +actions by the example of the older hands; they waited expectantly for +each move. One of the men, more congenial than the others had proven, +asked them how they had slept. Upon being told, he suggested that they +bring their blankets into the hay mow where, he assured them, they would +be more comfortable. This was the first intimation they had that they +were not to be provided with a bed, but must choose their own resting +place. They were soon to realize that the hours for rest were as scant +as the accommodations for enjoying them, and adapted themselves to +prevailing conditions. So after converting the watering trough into a +lavatory for making their morning toilet, they proceeded with the rest +of the men to the cook house for breakfast; after which, having no +special duty assigned them, they were at a loss to know how to proceed. +It being yet dark, they stood awkwardly around, while some of the men +brought out their teams, watered them, and springing upon one of the +horses rode back in the direction from which they had come the evening +before. + +They did not remain long in doubt, however, for the owner of the ranch +came from the house and instructed them to follow the road over the +hill, where they were heading grain, and to await his arrival, adding +that their horses would be sent out later by one of the boys, who would +drive them while on the job. This arrangement was a disappointment to +Gully, who had hoped that he might be permitted to drive them, but he +made no complaint, and they did as they were bidden. + +When they arrived at the place indicated by the owner, they found the +header with the horses hitched ready for starting. Three header boxes +were awaiting the arrival of teams and drivers. A circle had been cut in +a large area of ripe grain and a few loads piled in the center, +indicating where the stack setting was to be made. The driver of the +heading machine, or "header puncher," as he was called, was groping +around in the uncertain light, oiling up or adjusting the drapers or +elevator canvas. + +In a few moments a wagon came from the house with a barrel of water, a +few additional pitchforks, and some extra parts of machinery that might +be needed in case of a breakdown. Our friends were assigned their +respective duties; Gully was to be stacker, the molder as "spike pitch" +or helper in the stack yard, the professor was "loader," and the soldier +was given a pitchfork and sent to turn the grain in the "backswarth," a +narrow strip cut around the entire field before the regular heading is +begun. This is usually cut green and allowed to cure for hay. So with +their horses being driven to a header box the siege had begun. + +For five weeks, each day being identical, days of constant grind, short +nights, and three trips to the cook house, days of blistering heat, the +sunrays being intensified by concentration and reflection from the +shining surface of the glistening straw. The light soil, mostly volcanic +ash, being pounded and loosened by the constant tramping of the horses +in their many trips to and from header to stack; lifted high at each +turn of the "bullwheel" of the header and sent flying in stifling +clouds, clogging the eyes, ears, nose and mouths of the workers, while +trickling streams of perspiration from beneath their hatbands washed +furrows through the accumulated mass on their faces. + +The first week of this toil tried the spirit of our party almost to the +breaking point. Night would find them bowed down with aching backs from +the unaccustomed strain of pitching the heavy grain; hands numb and +cramped, with blistered palms; throats dry and parched from the intense +heat and dust from the straw. They would sink down upon their blankets +in the hay mow and sleep the sleep of utter exhaustion, but the hopes of +our homesteaders were being constantly revived by the receipt of +encouraging letters from home. + +Opportunities for getting these letters mailed were few, it was +explained, but by sending them to the camp of the surveyors they were +taken to the distant town and forwarded; and such news as they brought. +"All are well at home. Do not worry; we are doing splendidly. Of course +we miss you very much and want you with us, but when you do come home, +you can stay. Just think, a party of the surveyors were on our land +today and have driven stakes showing exactly where the irrigation ditch +is to run." Thus wrote Gully's wife, and others would tell of rumors of +large land deals, whole sections and half of townships, being purchased +by big companies, all to be immediately improved. Houses were being +erected in every direction; parcels of land heretofore considered +worthless were being filed on; a school house was being built and, +really, things were beginning to be quite homelike. + +Upon receipt of these cheerful missives the disappointment of the first +season was for the time forgotten, and the men entered into their daily +toil with cheerful hearts, filled with the anticipation of the +realization of their dreams. Thus on through the ensuing threshing +season up until the later fall, when it seemed that a snowfall might +occur any day, did our sturdy homesteaders toil on until the last of the +golden grain was sacked and hauled to a place of safety. Then only did +they turn their faces homeward, with the indispensable blanket rolls, +the old canvas telescope grip, now more dilapidated than ever, thrown at +random in the wagon; with overalls out a knee, the frazzled threads of +many colored patches indicating the earnest efforts of their wearers to +make them last the season through; hats out at crown, and well worn +shoes, they were indeed a travesty on the party who had left their homes +only a few months before. But each sun tanned face was wreathed in +smiles, for securely tucked away in those well worn overalls was a snug +sum, their harvest wages, that insured them and their loved ones +against want during the coming winter. + +They were going to their "own homes." They did not have to move or worry +about a new location for the following year; things were different now. +This money they had earned, hard earned, it was true. Think of the many +comforts it would buy--shoes for the little ones, and much provisions, +and by judicious expenditure additions might be made to their homes. +They could at least weatherboard them and make them more comfortable. +Such were the thoughts and suggestions that filled the minds of these +faithful home builders throughout the first day of their journey home. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +I have often wondered, as no doubt many of my readers have, what there +is in a man's nature that makes him blush and feel ashamed of doing a +little act that is in every respect perfectly natural, and one, that if +publicly known, would raise him in the estimation of his fellow men, and +yet while condemning himself for his weakness, his heart actually throbs +with the pleasure he derives from doing as he has done. + +The first day on their return journey from the harvest field was a +joyous one, the relaxation from the strain and the diversion acting as +an elixir. Freed from the noise of clattering machinery out upon the +highway, and relieved of the sight of miles of brown fields of stubble, +our friends rejoiced at the sight of the desert with its thousands of +acres of bunch grass and sagebrush that stretched far ahead of them to +the foothills, there to be met by the dark green shade of the mountain +pine and fir, above which shone in all its glittering splendor the +eternal snow on the mountain peaks. They spoke in endearing terms of the +mighty wilderness as theirs, as if little realizing that the small +portion of that vast domain to which they actually held claim was +insignificant. + +They had chosen a different route by which to make their return, one +that led them through a small village situated at the edge of the +desert. It was here that the last night out from home was spent, and +here too was demonstrated the peculiar traits of man's character +referred to at the opening of this chapter. + +After the establishment of the camp for the night and after the team had +been cared for, Travis Gully was noticeably restless, and at length +wandered away from his companions and entered the village store. No +thought of his own disheveled appearance entered his mind. It was of the +dear wife and little ones he thought. The morrow would see him with +them, and the long summer's watching and waiting would be at an end. +What more natural than that he should wish to take some little token to +the children and to her, who had borne the burden of the long summer's +separation that they might retain their homestead? + +He thought of her as he had last seen her, as she stood at the camp near +the well, struggling to withhold the tears that he know too well had +flown many times since he left. He recalled the pitiful effort she had +made to dress for the occasion of his departure; of her brown dress, her +best dress, the one that had been carefully made, stitch by stitch, in +preparation for their long journey from their old home to the land of +promise; how it had withstood the days of constant wear while she was +cramped up in the tourist coach, being whirled away across the +continent, and how guardedly she had spread the cloth upon her lap to +protect the precious fabric from being soiled by the touch of many +little fingers made greasy by clutching the huge sandwiches of fried +chicken, ham and cheese, with which the spacious hamper, their traveling +companion, was bounteously provisioned; and how after their arrival, and +while seeking a suitable location, it had been subjected to countless +brushings and spongings, until at last it bore all too plainly the +evidences of the hard usages to which it had been called up to submit. +And yet, it was still her best. + +She should have a new dress, one that he himself had bought, and without +hesitating he approached the expectant merchant to make known his wants, +and here his confusion was made evident. Never having made a purchase of +this nature, he was at a loss as to quantity, quality and color. After +numerous suggestions from the over-anxious merchant a selection was +made, the required number of yards guessed at and measured off. Then +after purchasing a small carton of animal crackers and some peanuts and +candy for each of the children, he paid the amount of his purchase, and +with his precious bundles tucked beneath his arm sought the camping +place. + +As he approached the camp fire around which his companions were seated, +he was seized with a desire to hide his bundles lest they might jeer him +good-naturedly about his extravagance. He tried to reach the wagon by a +circuitous route to avoid observation until he had hidden his bundles. +In this effort he was partially successful, but the others had seen him +in time to arouse their suspicions, and they accused him of buying a new +suit. To this he entered a strenuous denial, but looked guilty and felt +uncomfortable the remainder of the evening. He did not join in the +conversation that followed his arrival, but sat, as the firelight died +down, and watched across the barren waste for the first twinkling light +that might give evidence that human beings inhabited this vast region +of hidden possibilities. + +Thus he sat long after the other members of the party had gone to bed, +sat dreaming, as his watchful gaze centered on the darkened space made +more dense by the rays of the fitful flicker of the dying fire, space +that for the lack of distinguishable form might be likened unto a +yawning cavern, a bottomless abyss, whose only known content was stygian +darkness. Was it into the unsatiable maw of this monstrous dungeon by +night and inferno by day that he had allowed himself and loved ones to +be drawn; unwittingly, it was true, but as irrestistably as a disabled +craft into the vortex of some mighty whirlpool, carried around and +around the outer circle, fascinated by the charm of the smooth gliding +movement. Suddenly the arc of the circle decreases, and looking further +toward the center, other objects are seen, but it is noted that they +seem to be moving more rapidly. Why this increased speed? Is the goal in +sight, or has their proximity to the desired end given them a vantage +view? Ah! they will keep speed with the large object just ahead of their +craft; perhaps they can learn what motive drew them to this delightful +place. But a moment, a pause, a quiver and a plunge downward; one mighty +wail of despair, followed by a gurgling sound of gluttenous +satisfaction, and they realize too late their fate. Casting a +despairing look backward to warn those in sight not to follow, but on +they come, heedless of their warning, offering themselves unconscious +sacrifices to the ever increasing demand for new territory for new +outlets, for the ever populated districts of the world. + +It was the same old story. The pioneer fighting the first great fight, +blazing the trail and marking the route with suffering, tears and even +death, that future generations might follow at their ease. + +Travis Gully wondered if he, as its helmsman, had allowed his craft to +be drawn into dangerous waters, bearing with him his family, the +precious passengers whose lives had been intrusted to his care. Had he, +at the first narrowing of the circle, gone and left them in this vast +wilderness. Was it justice? Were they safe? A few more hours would tell. +And let the conditions in the future be what they may, he would never +leave them again. With this resolve, and with a feeling of comfortable +assurance that his leaving would not again become necessary he, with one +more look to see that his bundles remained where he had hidden them, +went to his rest. + +Taking advantage of an early start, the following morning the party was +well on its way when the sun shone above the jagged ridge of hills that +marked the eastern boundary of the desert, shown as mellow and as soft +as the spring sunshine in their old eastern homes. The lateness of the +fall season had robbed it of its brassy glare and the cool wind that had +swept over the valley during the night had driven out the quivering heat +units with which the blistering sands had been surcharged. + +The drive home was a pleasant one and good progress was made. Everyone +was intent on locating at the very earliest possible moment the +windmill, surrounded by its village of glistening white tents, that they +were sure could be seen for miles. Numerous windmills were in sight far +across the plain, but none that they could distinguish as the one +marking their journey's end. + +As they drew nearer to their homes, and after they had reentered the +road over which they had made their outward trip, evidence of a changed +condition was everywhere apparent. New houses, their unpainted outer +wall reflecting the bright sunrays, could be seen for miles; hundreds of +acres had been cleared of sagebrush, and small mounds of white ashes +surrounded by charred ends of brush over which the reawakening bunch +grass waved, showed where the bonfires had been made. In some instances +many acres had been plowed and harrowed, made ready for the sowing of +grain that would immediately follow the first of the winter's rains. +This evidence of advancement gladdened the hearts of our worthy friends +and speculation was rife among them as to the probable value of land +under these changed conditions. + +In their eagerness to reach their homes no stop was made for lunch. +Water for their horses was obtained from a newly made cistern at the +edge of a large area of newly plowed land. Evidence of a recently +abandoned camp was near at hand, but no sign of life. The journey was +resumed after watering the horses and in a short while familiar objects +could be pointed out, and in some instances their individual homes could +be located. There was the old windmill, its weather stained wheel and +vane contrasting strangely with other windmills that glittered with +their newness on adjoining sections, the old landmark that had withstood +the onslaught of the terrific wind and sand storms for years, warped by +the intense heat of the blistering desert sun, drawing with tireless +energy the cool sparkling water from the depths of the well over which +it stood guard, and beckoning to the chance wayfarer to come and partake +of its refreshing draughts. Thus it had stood, known as "The Windmill," +the friend of every stockman, homesteader, land owner or wandering +Indian that chanced its way since the day, many years ago, a progressive +sheep man, seeing the value to his herds of this extensive grazing +ground, had caused to be hauled for many miles, across mountain, stream +and plain, the machinery for its erection, for the establishment of this +oasis in the desert. Unconscious of the fact that he was erecting a +monument to himself and a source of comfort and blessings to hundreds of +human being for many years to follow. + +Upon their arrival at the windmill they were disappointed to find that +the tents were gone; the party of surveyors had left the field. The only +remaining evidence of their having been there was an occasional white +stake driven into a mound of earth, marking a corner, or an iron pipe +with a brass cap on which was recorded the elevation above sea level. +The busy groups of men, the hurrying camp wagons and pack trains, were +missing, so the anxiously awaited information as to the probability of +irrigation in the near future was not to be gotten. + +The families of the homesteaders having been informed of the day and +time of their probable arrival, had assembled at the well to greet them. +Travis Gully's wife and three of his children were there. Being unable +to find the horses that had gotten loose upon the range, they had walked +the three miles to the well to meet him. Ida, the eldest girl, had +remained at home to care for the youngest child, who was too small to +take the trip. + +Here, at the same place where they had assembled a few months before, +they separated and went to their several homes. A neighbor whose horses +had been taken on the trip to the harvest field assisted Gully and his +family to reach their home. As they approached the house the children +who had been left at home came running out to greet them with joyous +shouts of welcome. + +Thanking his friend for the ride, Gully threw his blanket roll from the +wagon and sprang down, seized his boy in his arms, lifted him high on +his shoulder and marched triumphantly into the house. His wife having +taken possession of the canvas grip, and with the rest of the children +eagerly crowding around, they followed him. A shaggy tramp dog who had +come unbidden, a self constituted guardian of his family during his +absence, came from beneath the kitchen table, sniffed suspiciously at +Gully's overalls, and scenting no evidence of danger, wagged his tail in +approval and returned to complete his nap. The three chickens of which +Joe was the proud owner, feeling that some event of importance was +taking place, crowded noisily around the door. + +All these little incidents were unnoticed by the tired father who, now +being seated, was in a fair way of being smothered by the demonstrations +of his devoted children. Boisterously they crowded around and over him, +plying him with a constant volley of questions and recitals of +happenings during his absence. The mother, forgetting for the time the +long months of anxious waiting, beamed with satisfaction on this happy +scene. Curiosity to know the contents of the canvas grip soon aroused +the children, and after Gully had emerged from the mass of clinging arms +and tangled locks, he directed Joe to bring the grip to him. + +Upon receiving the grip, and with his children seated around him on the +bare floor, with eager and expectant faces, he opened it, and as he +handed each their little bundle they scampered away to investigate its +contents. He handed his wife the package he had brought for her and +asked if she could guess its contents? After several attempts to do so, +all of which ended in failure, she opened it, and realizing at a glance +the nature of his gift, she was speechless with pleasure, and with her +eyes filled with tears, she threw her arms about his neck and laughed +with girlish glee. For the first time in the course of their married +life Minnie Gully had a glimpse of her husband's heart. + +It was a happy family that gathered around the supper table that +evening. After the meal was eaten and the dishes removed the smaller +children brought their boxes of crackers, cut in grotesque forms of +various animals, and arranged them in rows to correspond with their idea +of a circus parade, of which they had once seen a picture. The mother +and two eldest girls unrolled the goods for the dress, and holding it to +the light, admired its beauty and discussed how it had best be made. +Gully sat silently smoking his pipe, enjoying for the first time a +feeling of absolute independence. He was in his own house, on his own +land, with funds to provide for the winter, and being undismayed by the +failure of his first effort on his homestead to raise a crop, dreamed +peacefully of the future. + +Late into the night, long after the excited children had gone to sleep, +Gully and his wife sat and planned for the expenditure of the sum he had +earned during the harvest season. They talked of the many requirements +of the children, of the supply of provisions that would be necessary to +do their family until spring. Feed had to be purchased for the two +horses with which it had been necessary for him to provide himself when +he came upon the homestead. If the snowfall was light the amount of feed +required would be correspondingly small, but should the snow become +sufficiently deep to hide the bunch grass it would be necessary to feed +the whole winter through. Thus they planned, making numberless lists of +necessary purchases, and after comparing the amount required with the +funds on hand, revised and readjusted the list until finally giving up, +bewildered but happy, they went to their rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Travis Gully having acquired the habit of early rising during his +sojourn among the harvesters, was awake the following morning before the +rest of the family was astir. He lay for a short time drowsing and +enjoying the unaccustomed rest, but being unable to content himself, +arose, and after dressing stepped outside in the crisp morning air. +Daylight was just appearing over the brow of the hills to the east, a +narrow thread of silver light with a faint tinge of rosy dawn. The deep +shades of night, disappearing behind the peaks of the Cascade mountains +to the west, cast their purple hues over the snow covered expanse at +their summit, faded away and were lost amid the gloomy blackness of the +heavily timbered gorges that cut deeply down their sides to the Columbia +river. + +Lighting his pipe, Gully strolled out near the cistern, where, seated +upon an upturned barrel, he breathed with exhilerating delight the +morning air and tried, in fancy, to picture to himself what the +reclamation of the thousands of acres that lay before him would mean. He +could see miles of just such grain as he had been helping to harvest, +and long avenues of fruit trees, extending across the clearing he had +made the spring before; trees like those he had seen growing in the +orchards at Wenatchee, where he had made his first stop. The little +strip of land that lay between his present humble home and the dusty +road, then no longer dusty, but a glistening well kept highway extending +away in the distance until lost to view by its ever decreasing +narrowness; this little strip of land would be a waving mass of +luxuriant alfalfa through which would wander his cows, horses and pigs. + +His flights of imagination suggested to his mind a number of comfortable +cottages in close proximity to his own then pretentious home, in which +were domiciled each of his children. They should have homes of their +own. + +Travis Gully sat dreaming his delightful dreams of the future, when he +was suddenly brought back to a realization of his surroundings by a hot +breath, immediately followed by a cold, damp muzzle being thrust against +his hand. Starting suddenly at this rude awakening, he frightened away +the faithful old dog who, having discovered his presence, had approached +to make his acquaintance. Appreciating the situation at a glance, Gully +spoke kindly to the dog, calling him back; he patted him on the head and +laughed good naturedly at his shaggy, woe begone appearance, and +promised him better times for the future than he had evidently been +accustomed to in the past. + +It was now day, and the smoke was coming from the stoves within the +homes of some of his neighbors. Upon noting this fact, he went inside +the house, and after kindling a fire in his own kitchen stove, called to +his wife, who having been awakened by his movements, immediately came +out and joined him in the kitchen door, where they together watched the +rising sun shed its splendor over the scene. + +The delight of having their father with them once more clung to the +family throughout the day. His every movement was followed by the joyous +band of happy children. They led him to the point where the surveyors +had set their instruments on their land and showed him the little stakes +upon which the plumb bob had been centered, and which they had carefully +preserved, telling him it was there the water was to flow. They told him +of the many little kindnesses bestowed upon them by these good men who +were to provide them with the much needed water, of how they had carried +their letters to and from the distant post office, and had distributed +pennies among the smaller children. + +Thus the constant chatter flowed, each little incident doing its part to +reconstruct the tower of hope that was being built, and in which Travis +Gully and his family were to fortify themselves during the coming long +winter months. The remaining few days of pretty weather could not be +wasted in idleness. The trip to the distant town for supplies must be +made; the cistern must be refilled, and more ground gotten ready for +seeding before the frost came. All this Gully realized, and with hopes +and aspirations at their highest point, he was eager to begin +activities. + +The horses that had been astray for several days returned for water and +were taken up and held in readiness for daily use. The second day after +Gully's return being Friday, it was decided by he and his wife that the +trip to the town should be made first, as the supplies were running +short. They were to go the following morning, and as it was to be a gala +day the whole family was going. + +At this announcement the children danced with glee, as they had not been +further from home than the well since they came the March before, and +little realizing how tiresome the long trip across the desert would be, +they anxiously awaited the arrival of the time to start. Everything was +gotten ready that evening in preparation for the trip, Gully knowing +that the going and coming over the long sandy roads would consume most +of the day. It would require an early start to allow time for their +trading. + +Sunrise the following morning found them well on their road to the town, +which could be seen in the distance, although many miles away, and as +the morning hours passed the enthusiasm of the children gradually +exhausted itself, and the last few miles of the trip were made in almost +complete silence, broken only by the monotonous squeaking of the harness +and rattle of the wagon, the box of which was a home made affair, almost +completely wrecked by the strain of being overloaded with barrels of +water, but which had been wired together with bale wire in order that +the boards extending from side to side would sustain the weight of those +seated upon them. + +When they reached the town, which consisted of a few residences, a +railroad station and some half dozen stores, Gully drove to a vacant lot +a short distance from the main street, where a number of wagons were +already standing, with horses contentedly eating hay while their owners +were transacting their business. + +After assisting his wife and children to alight he unhitched his team, +and then making them fast to the wheels, that they might eat, returned +to where his family had assembled and assisted them to brush from their +clothing the accumulation of sand and volcanic ash that had transformed +them into gray figures that blended with the buildings, fences and +sagebrush with which they were surrounded, all gray, the eternal gray of +the desert. + +Had those of their friends who had known Travis Gully and his family in +their old home met them in their present condition, it is doubtful if +the most intimate among them would have been able to recognize them. The +changes that had taken place were in some respects advantageous. Minnie +Gully was no longer the tired, care worn mother of the year before. She +had thrown off that spirit of lassitude that marks so unmistakably the +drudge, the farmer's wife. That she had health was evidenced by the tinge +of color that shone through the coat of tan produced by the desert wind +and sun, and also by her buoyant step and actions. The children had +grown hardy and rugged by their unrestrained freedom in the wilderness, +and while showing a disposition to be more timid, were as yet unspoiled +by their isolation. + +It was in Travis Gully that the change was most noticeable. He was no +longer the disinterested slave, the irresponsible renter with no higher +ambition than to grow an abundant crop for his landlord, that he might +be allowed to remain on the premises another year and thereby avoid the +exertion of a forced move. His summer spent in the harvest field had +netted him other than financial returns. It had developed in him a +firmer resolve to own a home of his own, and hardened his muscles for +the fray. His bearing was more independent, and the fire of a newborn +ambition shone in his eyes. + +He was now the aggressor, and had dropped the role of a passive +follower. It was his first awakening, and never having been compelled to +feel the sting of defeat, was as yet undaunted. Thus it may be seen that +while the first year's planting on the homestead was a failure the +venture, as a whole, had its element of success. + +The next few hours of their stay in the village was devoted to shopping, +and were filled with many incidents both amusing and trying. The +constant care of the children as they tugged at their mother's skirts, +calling her attention to various articles that caught their wondering +eyes, the trying on of shoes and selection of ginghams and calicoes, +with one ever present thought, that the purchases must be confined to a +certain amount, made the task a tiresome and nerve racking one. At last +it was finished, and when Travis Gully, who had gone for his team, drove +up to the store and loaded on his purchases, it was a tired and hungry +family that climbed into the wagon and took their places among the many +bundles and boxes with which it was piled and turned their faces +homeward, to drive back over the same dusty road; to listen for hours to +the rattle of the particles of sand as they were lifted high by the +revolving wheels and then allowed to drop upon the paper wrapped +bundles with which the bottom of the wagon was strewn; to listen to the +continuous crackling of the dry sagebrush as the wheels passed over it, +pressing it deep into the yielding sand, and which sprang back into +position after the vehicle had passed and awaited, with a patience born +of years of solitude upon the desert, for the next onslaught, continuing +this torture until ground to powder and mixed with the sand that had +lashed it for years. Take, if you will, a pinch of sand from the sage +covered desert, and seek out from its many particles the tiny atoms of +sagebrush and examine them. They are all the same misshapen, dwarfed and +gray. + +It was far into the night before the Gully's reached their home and were +greeted by the faithful old dog who had remained behind, but little +notice was taken of his demonstration of welcome, so after he had +assured himself that all were present, and had tugged at the blanket in +which little Joe was brought, sleeping soundly, into the house, he +retired to his place under the kitchen table. Gully lost no time, after +caring for his horses and seeing that his purchases were safe for the +night, in going to his rest, conscious of the fact that an eventful day +in his life had passed. + +It now being late in November, Gully knew that but a short time could be +expected before the first winter snow would come, and he had learned +that it sometimes came in such quantities as to drift in the roads and +make it very difficult to travel, and not caring to be caught unprepared +in such an event, left the following Monday in search of a place where +feed for his horses might be purchased. Accompanied by one of his +neighbors, he went back into the hills, and there they purchased a +sufficient amount to do them both. The roads being very sandy and the +distance great, it required several days with both their teams to haul +the hay to their claims. After this was accomplished and the winter's +supply of wood procured, the rest of the time before the snow fell was +devoted to clearing land in preparation for plowing the following +spring. + +At last, upon awakening one morning Travis Gully found that the long +looked for snow had arrived, several inches having fallen during the +night, and it was still snowing quite hard. He looked out across the +level plain, and thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight. Not a +breath of air was stirring, and the huge flakes were coming down in +myriads, falling on the high tufts of bunch grass and remaining where +they had fallen. The unsightly sagebrush was transformed into every +conceivable shape, and its stubby, unyielding branches bedecked with soft, +fleecy snow that completely hid their identity and brought their +grotesque forms out in cameo like relief. The changed color and altered +conditions from its former sameness gave the landscape a weird, ghastly +appearance. + +Gully stood fascinated by the dazzling whiteness, and wondered in a +vague, uncertain way why, if such a change was possible in so short a +time by a simple variation in climatic conditions, would it not be +possible to make the change permanent and productive of some good. Why +not change from the torturing dull gray to green and then a golden hue, +to be followed by the spotless mantle of white? Was it within the power +of man, with his advanced ideas and modern methods, to bring about such +a transformation? If so, would the change be permanent? That they had in +some instances, and over small areas, accomplished this feat it was +true, but it was noticeable in every instance of this kind new +complications had arisen to test their ingenuity, new difficulties were +constantly arising for mankind to combat. + +Could it be possible that Dame Nature in her magnanimity in giving the +greater portion of the earth had reserved these few, isolated places for +the gratification of her whims, for reconstruction by her hand alone, to +be handed down in ages yet to come to a different, better and wiser +race. If it was possible for this once inland sea to be transformed into +a blistering barren waste, why would it not be equally possible for this +same power to tear down and remove the barriers that now arise between +this desert and its natural source of water supply, the mountains that +so change the currents of air and rend asunder the vaporous clouds, and +thereby render condensation impossible. What right had man to dictate +the conditions that shall obtain in certain localities, and would nature +concede their demands? + +To Travis Gully the possibilities of irrigation were unknown. He had +never seen its results, except on the one occasion when he had stopped +for a few days in the little city, surrounded by its extensive +orchards, that had marked the end of his journey in quest of a home. +That similar conditions as those he was now called upon to combat once +existed in that now fertile valley he well knew, and the scenes of +beautiful homes surrounded by miles and miles of orchards, with +occasional patches of green alfalfa, was so indelibly impressed on his +mind that they were constantly recurring to his memory, and were easily +within the bounds of possibility as applicable to the locality in which +he had chosen to cast his lot. Would the change be made, would he and +his neighbors be given an opportunity to demonstrate to the world, the +results of intelligent handling of these greatest productive agents, +water, sunshine and soil? + +He was sure they would. The coming of the Geological Surveyors was proof +that the authorities were at last going to reclaim this arid district +and bring it into a state of productiveness. That they had left the +vicinity of where he lived was true, but he had learned that they had +established a new camp farther into the desert, where their work was to +be continued, and as soon as the result of their investigation as to the +feasibility of the plan had been reported to the Department of the +Interior at Washington, D. C., actual work would start, and he would +soon see the realization of his dream, "A home of his own." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The first snow was of short duration, although the fall was heavy. The +sun shone brightly before the end of the week and as it melted the +moisture was hastily consumed by the thirsty sands. The days that +followed the disappearance of the snow were ideal. No clouds of dust +arose to obscure the vision, and the quivering, dancing mirage that had +transformed the desert into a veritable fairy land appeared regularly +each morning and lingered, as if loath to deprive the desert dwellers of +the pleasure of its hypnotic influence, until compelled to retreat +before the advancing army of glinting sunbeams. + +The invincible bunch grass, aroused from its lethargy by the magic touch +of moisture, sent forth from its withered roots tender shoots of green +that peeped shyly from the mass of sun parched stalks that, unable to +withstand the summer's heat, had fallen helplessly back, thus forming a +shield for their parent turf. + +These days of sunshine were taken advantage of by Travis Gully and his +family, and rapid progress was made in clearing the land. With the +coming of the shades of evening his place, like those of hundreds of +others, was aglow with bonfires, the pyre of the burning sagebrush that +sizzled, crackled and fried as the blazing torch was applied, and when +the last faint glow of the remaining embers had died out and only ashes +were left, they could still feel the penetrating leer of the ghastly +gray that would not down. + +As the winter approached every possible preparation was made for the +months of enforced idleness, and when it finally came the family, who +had never acquired the habit of reading, and were lacking in other forms +of amusement, the time hung heavily on their hands. The letters that +came from their old home at irregular intervals were anxiously awaited, +and upon receipt of them a sense of homesickness seemed to overcome the +family. Little incidents were recounted that recalled scenes and +recollections that during the busy season would have been lightly passed +and soon forgotten. + +They had never met any of their former friends since coming to the +northwest, but had learned that the Gowells and Moodys had settled +somewhere in Montana, and word had been received from the Lane boys, who +had taken up a homestead in Washington, but the address given was a +remote point from the Gullys. The letters stated that those mentioned +were all doing well and were satisfied with the change. Not a word of +complaint had ever been written by Travis Gully or the members of his +family. They had failed the first year, but it was probably due to +unusual conditions, they thought, so they made no mention of the fact. + +They had written home at regular intervals, stating that all were well, +the happy, healthy growth of the children was noted, and an amusing +description of their home, and experience in building the cistern and +hauling water with which to fill it, was faithfully chronicled. An +account of the trip to the harvest field was written, telling of the +enormous yield and the methods used in saving the grain, also of how a +sufficient amount was earned to meet the winter's requirements, but +never a word of the heart breaking failure of their first planting nor +of the tortures endured in the grain fields, feeling that the +possibilities of a reoccurrence of these unfortunate conditions was +remote. They looked only to a more successful future. + +The little district school house, the erection of which had been started +early in the fall, was now complete, but no teacher could be found who +was willing to come into the wilderness to teach the few children of +which the district boasted. The neighborhood finally by common consent +organized what they called a "Literary Society," and a Sunday School. +The society met twice a month, and these meetings were looked forward to +as events of great importance, the program usually consisting of debates +by the older members and recitations, dialogues and songs by the +children of the community. The Sunday School met weekly, and the +homesteaders came with their families for distances of from ten to +fifteen miles to be in attendance. + +As the holiday season approached; arrangements were made for a +neighborhood Christmas tree, contributions were taken up at a meeting of +the society, and a committee of arrangements appointed to take charge of +the affair. Someone being the fortunate possessor of a catalogue from an +eastern mail order house, it was brought into requisition and a +selection of decorations and trinkets for the tree was made and the +order for their shipment forwarded. A census of the community was taken +and no one forgotten. + +[Illustration: _At dusk faint lights twinkled from the scattered homes +in this sea of eternal gray sage._] + +For days before that memorable Christmas Eve an air of mystery +surrounded the actions of everyone concerned. Packages that came through +the regular mails from the home folks in the east were carefully hidden +away, not to be opened until Christmas. The age worn spirit of the +season's cheer had invaded the desert, bringing with it a feeling of +comradeship not possible to engender in a community without the desert +environments, the vastness and the solitude impressed upon the +homesteader a sense of his individual smallness and the necessity of +association with one another. They were there for a common purpose, the +conquest of the desert and the building of a home. + +When the anxiously looked for package from the mail order house arrived +it was left at the Gully home until time to get the tree in readiness. +The morning of the day before Christmas was ushered in by a blizzard +that drove the finely powdered snow in blinding sheets into the faces of +Travis Gully and the two of his neighbors who had been chosen to meet at +the school house and make preparations for the assembly in the +afternoon. Gully, after hitching his team to the wagon in which had been +placed the packages and bundles, covered them snugly with old blankets +to protect them from the blowing snow, and drove to the school house, +where he found his two neighbors awaiting his arrival. They came out to +meet him with forlorn and hopeless expressions depicted on their faces. +Noting this, he asked them the cause of their distressed appearance, +when, both speaking at the same time, they exclaimed: "How about the +tree? We have no Christmas tree." Gully was amazed. Here they had made +arrangements for a befitting celebration, with the decorations to adorn +a Christmas tree, the time was at hand, and everyone had forgotten to +provide a tree for the occasion. + +With crestfallen expressions, the men turned slowly and allowed their +gaze to sweep the plain in every direction, but could see no way out of +their difficulty. Not a shrub in all that vast area raised its scrawny +head to a height above four feet. What would they do? The wives and +children must not be disappointed. They had set their hearts on this +event as the nearest approach to a Christmas with the home folks. Here +at this Christmas celebration would be opened packages containing tokens +of love and thoughtfulness. The very knots in the cord that bound them, +and the creases in the paper with which they were wrapped, had been made +by fond hands that were separated from them by thousands of miles. No! +they must have a Christmas tree. + +At this point in their dilemma, the resourcefulness of the true pioneer +asserted itself. With an exclamation of "I have it, boys," Gully sprang +from the wagon, and throwing back the blankets from the packages he +directed that they be taken inside, and after using the blankets to +protect his horses from the cold, he went to a huge pile of sagebrush +that had been hauled into the school yard for fuel, drew from its midst +and shook the snow from several of its largest branches. These he and +his companions carried into the school room. Gully's friends, not +knowing his ideas, fetched and carried at his command like eager +children. From beneath the newly constructed building was procured a +piece of discarded scantling which was appropriated and cut to the +desired length. The branches of the sagebrush were then cut from the +stalk and nailed with painstaking care to the smooth surface of one side +of the two by six inch scantling. Starting near the bottom with short +branches, the longer ones were worked in near the center and tapering as +the top was approached, the whole structure being topped with one +crowning bough; and thus completed, the crude affair was placed in +position, with the flat side securely nailed to the back wall of the +building. Upon stepping back to study the results of their efforts, the +men were surprised at the effect, the oddity of its appearance. + +Procuring the box of trimmings, they proceeded with their task. By means +of the generous distribution of cotton batting which was originally +intended to create the effect of a snow drift at the base of the tree +they succeeded in hiding the background and the rough bark of the +boughs, and at the same time producing a decidedly wintery effect. Upon +having completed the tree thus far they decided to return to their homes +for their families, and to leave the final touches to the deft hands of +their wives. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Owing to the great distance it was necessary for some of the +homesteaders to come, it had been agreed upon to meet at the school +building during the afternoon, bringing their lunch and eating, after +which they would light the Christmas tree as soon after dark as would +give the best effect, and to distribute the presents early that those +who came from afar might return home at a reasonable hour. + +It was shortly after the noon hour that Travis Gully and his two friends +returned with their families, as they were anxious to have the tree as +nearly completed as was possible before the arrival of those from a +distance. The wives of the designers of this novel Christmas tree, +having been in a measure prepared by having been told of its nature, +were astonished, upon entering the building, at the attractiveness of +the tree. They had expected to find some crude arrangement as a +substitute for the usual evergreen, but when they appreciated the +possibilities of the unfinished work before them, they were delighted, +and went eagerly at the task of its completion. + +Taking up the work where the men had left off, they readjusted the +indiscriminate distribution of the fleecy cotton, sprinkling it with the +glistening powder so commonly used to produce the sparkling, frosty +effect, clipping an unruly bough here and there, placing the glittering +tin candle holders, with their assorted colored candles, so as to avoid +contact with the cotton when lighted, and after filling many small red, +green and blue stocking shaped mosquito netting bags with candies and +nuts, after which a tag bearing the name of some child of the +neighborhood was attached, these they distributed among the branches of +the tree, festooning the whole with a bewildering mass of yards of pure +white popcorn strung on a thread for the occasion, tissue paper designs +and sparkling tinsel that reflected the lights of the many candles in +rapidly changing hues and giving it the effect of a dazzling fountain +that persisted in its activities, though in the grasp of the frost king. + +Before the completion of the decoration of the tree and for several +hours after the neighboring homesteaders began to arrive with their +families, each bringing their share of the Christmas packages and boxes +of lunch. Many and varied were the expressions of amazement and delight +that greeted the workers upon the arrival of each family. "Isn't it +lovely, and made of sagebrush, too. How did you do it?" Some, more +inquisitive than others, would have to handle the branches to convince +themselves that it was purely a local product. "Well, it beats the trees +we used to have back home. I wish they could see it," many would +exclaim. + +As the neighbors arrived, their packages were taken and either hung on +the tree or placed conveniently near its base. + +It was a happy gathering of pioneers. The little school building, though +being used for a purpose other than for which it was built, radiated +with warmth from the one huge sheet iron stove that stood in its center +and into which was being constantly fed handful after handful of crushed +and twisted sagebrush. As evening approached and the last of those who +were expected arrived and were met at the door and relieved of their +bundles and wraps, places were made for them near the stove that they +might warm their frosted fingers and toes. + +It was soon growing quite dark, and the excited children were eagerly +clamoring for the candles to be lighted. Benches were drawn away from +the walls, and after being placed together, the lunch was spread, and +the Christmas festivities were begun. There was no snow white linen or +sparkling silver nor cut glass, no wines or imported beverages, not a +flower or sprig of green graced this banquet board. The benches were +covered with the paper removed from such of the packages as had been +unwrapped, and plain porcelain, granite and tin were the plates. The +knives, forks and spoons were the iron handled or plated varieties. All +evidence of stately ceremony was absent, but over all a spirit of good +fellowship reigned. Faith, Hope and Charity were their guests and +hovered close around this isolated gathering and directed their every +thought, word and action. The plain food was eaten with a relish, and +the steaming coffee, served from a granite pitcher that was constantly +being refilled from a large boiler on the sheet iron stove, was drank +with an appreciation of its warmth and invigorating effect. + +The supper over and all evidence of it removed, with the benches so +arranged that all could get a view of the tree, the lighted lanterns +that had been hanging upon the walls, were lowered, and the tree +lighted. Breathlessly both young and old awaited the effect. Faintly the +little candles flickered and sputtered, trying with their tiny wicks to +allow the consuming flames to survive. A few went out, but were quickly +relighted, and as the hand that applied the match was withdrawn and a +slight current of air created, they flared and fluttered, but as the +pointed tip of each candle was burned away and the little cups of molten +wax formed around the wicks, they shot forth their flames. One by one +they came, like stars as night rapidly falls; more quickly they came, +and as the last one flared up and revealed the tree in all its sparkling +brilliancy, bated breathing ceased, and with a sudden chorus of many +childish expressions of delight and much noisy handclapping of their +parents in appreciation of the spectacle before them, the little school +room was filled with din that was taken up by the icy night wind and +wafted for miles across the snow and mingled with the swish of the +treacherous currents of the Columbia river, or mounting higher were lost +amidst the phantomlike whispering of the soughing pines on the rugged +mountain side. + +There were among those who had assembled there that Christmas Eve many +who had in their earlier childhood attended many Christmas tree +entertainments, both community and family trees, but none were present +who could recall ever having seen one more beautiful. Their minds flew +back for just one fleeting moment to scenes in the past, trying in vain +to recall the most beautiful tree they had ever seen, that they might +compare it with the one they now beheld, and wondered at the possible +effect the sight of such a one as this would have upon the home folks. + +Travis Gully was chosen to distribute the presents, and this he soon +accomplished. As each person's name was called they arose and the parcel +was passed to them, and when the last of the packages had reached the +hand of its excited owner and had been opened and admired, they were +passed to curious onlookers for their inspection and comment. The tree +was denuded of all its gaudy decorations. The candle holders, with their +short bits of candle, were distributed among the children, and the long +strings of popcorn and sparkling tinsel, together with the cotton, were +carefully stored away in a box for future use. While mothers secured +their wraps and shook to a state of wakefulness many sleepy little tots, +each step they took resounding with the crunch of peanut shells with +which the bare floor was strewn, the first Christmas tree the desert had +ever known had come and gone. + +The men went out, and hitching their teams, drove to the entrance for +their families, and as each stepped inside the building to say +good-night and wish for his neighbor a Merry Christmas and Happy New +Year, he took a final look toward the back of the room and shuddered. +One smoky lantern hung on a nail near the tree, now robbed of all its +tawdry loveliness; sagebrush, just a skeleton of a thing, once made +beautiful for a transient moment but now back to it original state, a +product of the desert, a diabolical fiend clothed in its haunting gray. + +Gully with his family were the last to leave, and the hour being late, +the drive home was made without comment by either he or his wife. The +older children chattered away about what they and their friends had +gotten from the tree. Little Joe, tucked snugly away among the blankets, +one chubby hand clutching the now almost empty mosquito net stocking, +the other, with fingers stuck fast together, was thrust beneath his head +amidst a mass of towsled locks of sunburned hair, now smeared with red +dye from a moist stock of peppermint candy, slept unconsciously +throughout the trip home. + +Christmas morning, when it dawned, was accompanied by a terrific +blizzard that kept Travis Gully and his family indoors. But being happy +with the success of the Christmas tree, they were content to stay by the +fire and discuss that event and plan for the weeks of fair weather that +they hoped would follow the storm. + +Gully realizing that his family was comfortable, his only care was for +his horses. These he had provided with as good protection as he had been +able to construct after his return from the harvest field, but he knew +that the flimsy structure he had erected and on three sides of which he +had piled sagebrush as a windbreak, could not long withstand such a +storm as was now raging. Upon going to the barn he discovered that the +brush had already blown away and he set to work to replace it and to +make it more secure by weighting it down with numerous old discarded +railroad ties that had been hauled out for fuel. The stinging fine snow +and icy blast of the blizzard made his task a most difficult one, and he +was repeatedly forced to go to the house to thaw out his frosted fingers +and toes. + +As evening approached the fury of the gale increased, and huge +snowdrifts formed around the little home and completely cut off exit by +means of the kitchen door. The front door opened directly facing the +blizzard, and at its every opening the two small rooms were filled with +the cold wind and drifting snow. The shrieking and howling of the wind +warned Gully of the wild night through which he and his family had to +pass, and he made ready by providing an abundance of sagebrush for fuel. +He fed and blanketed his horses early, and after spreading the straw for +their bedding, he left them as comfortable as was possible under the +circumstances. + +Supper being over and he and his family seated comfortably around the +roaring stove enjoying the genial heat that was now filling the rooms, +and laughing merrily at the novel experience of being snowbound out in +the desert. Incidents of other Christmas nights back in the old home +were recounted by both Gully and his wife, to which the children eagerly +listened. Laughing and chatting, the evening was spent in this snug +little retreat, while outside the storm raged. + +One by one the children became sleepy and were tucked away for the +night, and the fastening of the front door was made more secure by +having a crude bench turned on end and braced against it, and the cracks +around its casing, through which the cold wind was driving the snow, was +stopped by an old piece of canvas that was fastened at the top with +nails and allowed to extend down to the floor. Thus fortified against +the elements, Travis and Minnie Gully returned to their places near the +fire and sat for a long time in silence, listening to the regular +breathing and dreamy mumbling of their sleeping children. For them the +storm had no terrors. + +The wife placing her hand upon her husband's knee aroused him from his +reverie, and she expressed her satisfaction with their changed +condition, not that their material wealth had increased, but that she +had been taken into his confidence and had become a factor in his life. +In the old home she had been content to be the mother of his children, +the keeper of his house. But now things were different. She was appealed +to in all affairs, her suggestions were asked for the expenditure of the +few dollars he had earned, she was consulted as to the plans for the +improvement of their home, and she was happy in the thought that her +ideas were of value, and were of assistance to him. She was experiencing +her awakening, and while it was not as startling nor as sudden as his +had been on that first day when he had determined to have a home of his +own, it was just as real, and she was spurred on to new hopes and new +ambitions, and was happy in their contemplation. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The wail of the wind grew louder as the night advanced, and the constant +peppering of the particles of snow as they were being hurled in never +ceasing volleys against the tar paper with which the outer walls of the +building were covered could be distinctly heard. The old dog came from +his accustomed place beneath the kitchen table, and going behind the +stove seated himself amidst the shoes and stockings that had been placed +there by the children. After sniffing the air he yawned, curled himself +up, tucked his head with a contented sigh, blinked his watery eyes and +was soon snoring contentedly. + +Scarcely had he dozed off when suddenly he sprang to a sitting position, +and pricking up his ears, emitted a vicious growl. Gully, fearing that +he would awaken the sleeping children, spoke to him, commanding him to +lay down and be quiet. This order he disregarded, and hurriedly went +into the kitchen, with hair bristling. Suddenly the startling yap of +several coyotes was heard above the din of the wind and pelting snow. A +pack of these skulkers, driven from their lairs by hunger and the biting +cold, had in their desperation overcome their fear of mankind, and +emboldened by numbers, had entered the very dooryard in search of food +or shelter. + +Gully, after assuring his now thoroughly frightened wife that they were +harmless, took the lamp, and going to the window pulled aside the +curtain and allowed it to shine on the outside to frighten them away. At +the same time he recalled the fact that little Joe's three chickens were +roosting insecurely in a box in the barn and would fall an easy prey to +the coyotes should they return. Taking his coat and hat, he pulled aside +the canvas covering from the door and slipped out into the storm, +returning in a few moments with the box containing the chickens, and put +them in a place of safety in the kitchen. + +Saying nothing to his wife about the fierceness of the blizzard, he +resumed his place by the fire, and wondered if their little shack would +withstand the strain. He thought of his poorly protected horses and how +they must be suffering with the intense cold, and consoled himself with +the thought that he had done all within his power to make them +comfortable, even to covering them with the sadly worn blankets that +could be used to an advantage on his own poorly provided bed. As for +him, he could stay awake and keep the fire burning, and provide warmth +for himself and family. With this thought he suggested to his wife that +she retire, as the hour was growing late, and he would replenish the +fire and follow as soon as he assured himself that all was well. + +To this arrangement she protested mildly; she felt that should anything +go wrong her place was by his side. After assuring her that everything +was safe and that he would call her if she was needed, she finally +consented, and going to where the sleeping children lay, placed each +little straggling arm beneath the cover, and after smoothing their +pillows she placed their scattered garments on the foot of the bed for +additional warmth, and preparing her own bed, in which little Joe was +sleeping soundly, she partially undressed and lay down. + +Travis Gully, left alone, sat dreaming by the stove, while outside the +blizzard raged and tore at the walls of his home. Its intensity was +increasing, he thought, or it might be that his loneliness made its +varied sounds more audible. Blast after blast was hurled against the +structure, and its every timber creaked and groaned with the strain. The +canvas covering at the door became inflated and collapsed at irregular +intervals, flapping lazily against the door, rising and falling like a +sail amidst errant breezes. + +Gully was soon lulled to drowsiness by the warmth of the stove and +varied sounds produced by the gale, and was soon dozing peacefully in +his chair. How long he remained in this position he never knew. He was +suddenly aroused by a call from his wife, who asked as to the cause of +an unusual sound that had awakened her. Gully, thus awakened, noted the +chilliness of the room, and renewed the fire, after which he listened +intently for a repetition of the sound. He had not long to wait. A +sudden fierce blast made the building quiver, and he could distinctly +hear a lashing, tearing sound on the north wall. + +Approaching the window to ascertain, if possible, the cause, he noticed +the crunching sound of the trodden snow upon the floor, and felt the +cold wind. He instantly realized what had happened. The wind in its +maddened fury had torn the tar paper from the outer wall and was driving +the finely powdered snow through the cracks and was forming it in +slender drifts across the floor. The break was slight at the time of its +discovery, but each new onslaught increased the size of the rent and was +opening new inlets for the snow and icy wind. + +Gully knew full well that to repair the break from the outside would be +impossible, as the paper would be torn from his hands, and to drive +nails in the dark, with numbed fingers, was out of the question. The +havoc that was being wrought by the wind was rapidly growing in extent, +and snow was being driven into the house through new openings at every +gust. Sheets of paper were being torn off and could be heard rattling +away across the snow and ice, being driven before the wind. Prompt +action of some kind was imperative. The bed occupied by little Joe and +his mother being built against the north wall of the room, it was +necessary for them to move, as the snow was pouring in and covering the +bedding, which would soon be made damp by the melting snow. + +Joe was placed in the remaining crowded bed with the other children and +Minnie Gully, hastily dressing, came with the broom to sweep back the +advancing snow drifts. + +The now vacant bed was hurriedly cleared of its bedding and the frame +work torn from the wall to give access to the openings. Travis Gully +worked feverishly, filling the cracks in the wall with paper and torn +rags, pressing them in securely with a case knife, his wife bringing for +this purpose every available scrap of material. The unused bedding was +tacked up to temporarily stay the advance of the snow and wind. The +melting snow in the room required constant sweeping back, the fire was +kept burning brightly and the battle raged on. Not a complaint or wail +of discouragement escaped either Gully or his wife. With set faces and +determination they fought back the storm, and a smile of satisfaction +greeted each successful effort, as inch by inch the cracks in the wall +were closed and the advance of the enemy checked. + +The children having been awakened by the unusual commotion were told to +keep quiet and stay covered up, as everything was all right. Being thus +reassured, they were soon fast asleep. Daylight came with the Gullys +victors, but brought with it no abatement of the storm. The blinding +snow obscured the vision and no idea of the extent of the damage done +could be had. + +Exhausted by the loss of sleep and the excitement, Minnie Gully had sunk +into a chair near the stove. Her husband, noticing her tired look, tried +to persuade her to lie down and rest for a while, but this she refused +to do, so throwing an old coat over her shoulders to keep out the chill, +he left her and went out to investigate the condition of his horses. +These he found had fared much better than he had hoped. The drifting +snow had been blown into the sagebrush windbreak and formed a solid and +almost impenetrable mass, behind which the horses, protected by their +blankets, stood in comparative comfort. + +The task of digging from his meager supply of hay, now almost covered by +a huge snowdrift, a sufficient amount for their morning feed was a hard +one, but upon its completion he felt fully repaid by the hearty manner +in which it was eaten. Upon his returning to the house he found that his +wife and daughters were up and busily engaged preparing breakfast. They +asked eagerly as to the condition of the horses, and upon being assured +that they had fared splendidly, they laughed and joked over their wild +night's experience. + +All through that day and the day following the blizzard raged without +any appreciable lull in its terrific force. No effort was made to repair +the torn paper on the outer wall. The cracks that had been hastily +filled with paper and rags were gone over and made more secure, the +blankets that had been used as a shield in their emergency were taken +down and dried, and the crude bed that had been so ruthlessly torn away +from the north wall was temporarily reconstructed on the opposite side +of the room and held out inviting prospects to Gully, who was now +beginning to feel more keenly the effect of his long vigil of the night +before. + +All efforts at accomplishing anything on the outside were abandoned, and +meals were prepared and served at irregular hours. The chickens had +taken kindly to their new quarters, and becoming quite tame, were a +source of amusement to the children. Travis Gully devoted his time to +the care of his horses and providing fuel, the latter occupation +requiring most of his time, as the enormous quantity consumed soon +exhausted the supply near the house, and as more could not be gotten +while the storm raged he was forced to dig out the old railroad ties +from the wind break at the barn and to use them for fuel. + +The storm spent its fury on the desert dwellers sometime during the +third night. The lull came while Gully and his family, now inured to its +sound, were soundly sleeping, and when they awoke the following morning +they lay for several moments listening for the roar of the wind; not +hearing it, Gully knew that the long wished for calm had come. Dressing +himself, he kindled the fire, and calling to his wife that the storm had +ceased, he went out to view its work. + +The sun had risen, but was unable to penetrate the haze of thin clouds +and snow left floating along the horizon, and looked down on the +desolate scene without warmth. The air was cold and penetrating, huge +piles of snow had drifted behind every stationery object, and in places +where the ground had been cleared of brush and grass the snow was swept +entirely away and the wind had eaten its way into the sandy soil and +scattered it over the adjoining snowdrifts, giving them a yellow, dingy +appearance. Loose sagebrush that had been left piled and ready to burn +had been taken up and blown before the wind until finding lodgement +against some object, had become the base for the formation of additional +snowdrifts that extended in long mounds in the direction the wind had +blown. The whole landscape had a changed and unnatural appearance. + +Gully could see the homes of some of his neighbors, but they seemed far +off, and no signs of life were visible except in one or two instances +where streams of thin, blue smoke was issuing from their stove pipes. +Not a horse nor cow could be seen upon the range, and the ever present +hawks that were wont to soar at dizzy heights above the plain were +missing. Noting these changes in detail, Gully wondered if these same +conditions existed throughout the vast area. After feeding his horses, +he returned to the house, where his breakfast awaited him. + +A few days after the passing of the storm the sun resumed its +brilliancy, but with little increased warmth; the days were clear and +the nights frosty. No effort was made by Gully toward venturing away +from home. He replenished his supply of fuel and covered the exposed +cracks in the wall of his shack by nailing over them laths. The space +between the cracks where the tar paper had been torn away was left bare, +and the new boards thus exposed glared in the bright sunlight. + +During the time they had been forced by the storm to remain in the house +many letters had been written to the home folks, in which a description +of the Christmas tree and the blizzard had been given. These Gully was +anxious to get to the post office, as well as to receive the mail that +he felt sure was awaiting his coming. + +Deciding one morning that he would try to reach the village, he set +about arranging his plans to go the following day. To undertake to drive +through he knew would be useless, as the snow was drifted so badly he +could not follow the road. As the village could be plainly seen from his +house and there were no fences to obstruct his way, he thought it best +to take one of his horses on which to pack out some provisions, and go +straight across the wide snow covered plain. + +Knowing that the trip, without mishap, would require the whole of the +following day, he decided to start as soon as it was light enough to get +his bearings. All preparations for the trip were made the night before, +the little bundle containing his lunch, the letters that were to be +mailed, and a list of the purchases that were to be made were placed +where they would not be forgotten, and when Gully awoke the following +morning he quietly arose, and after feeding his horses prepared for +himself some strong, black coffee, which was all the breakfast he +required, and without awakening the members of his family started on his +trip. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was a strange sight to behold, in the dull gray of the winter +morning, a man floundering through the snowdrifts, leading behind him an +unwilling horse that could hardly be induced to leave its unattractive +but comfortable stable. In Travis Gully, garbed as he was, the horse +could not be expected to recognize its owner. Over his hat he had tied a +large red handkerchief that held the brim down over his ears and caused +a peak at front and rear like an old fashioned cockaded hat, his +mackinaw was bound around his waist with a piece of rope, and strips of +burlap wound around his legs extended over and completely hid his shoes. +His appearance was more that of a typical tramp than the sturdy +homesteader he really was. + +Owing to the many difficulties encountered, caused principally by the +sagebrush that lay hidden beneath the snow into which his feet sank at +every step, he did not reach his destination until shortly after noon. +There were many in the village who expressed their surprise at his +undertaking such a trip. None of his neighbors had been in, and no word +had been received from the district that lay far to the south as to what +the result of the blizzard had been. It was feared that there had been +great suffering among the homesteaders, as it was well known that many +of them were poorly prepared for the rigor of such a storm. + +After attending to his business no time was lost in starting on the +homeward trip. With his few groceries securely wrapped in two compact +bundles and fastened to each end of a rope, they were thrown across a +comfortable canvas pad and lashed to the horse's back, the weight being +as nearly equally divided as was possible, the crude pack was adjusted +and the tedious retracing of their tracks begun. + +Gully had not taken time to eat his lunch, but had placed it in the +pocket of his mackinaw, intending to eat it as he traveled, thereby +avoiding the loss of time. The mail that he had found waiting for him +was tied in a packet and placed securely in his inside pocket, that it +might be kept dry in case he was overtaken by another blizzard. He had +not read any of the letters or even glanced at the headlines of the +little home weekly, several issues of which had accumulated at the post +office, and as he trudged his weary way through the deep snow he tried +to imagine to himself what messages they bore, whether their contents +were joyous or sad, and in his wandering thoughts he compared his +present plight with the winters he had spent in the East and asked +himself if he would be willing to exchange the present hardships and +inconveniences for the old condition, and laughed at the thought. + +"No, I will not go back to the life of a renter under any circumstances. +I have hardly started on the task of making a home," he told himself, +and the thought of abandoning the dream was ridiculous. "Minnie and the +children are well and happy, and even if we did not raise good crops for +the first year or so, think what it will be when the irrigation ditch +comes through," and as he discussed these questions in his mind he ate +his lunch, never stopping for a moment. + +The horse, now that he was headed in the direction of home, kept pace +with its master, and with his nose at his elbow was ready to receive the +occasional piece of crust that was given him, and not satisfied with his +scant allowance, nipped at his sleeve and teased for more. + +Upon looking back Gully noticed that the pack had slipped and stopped to +replace it and to tighten the rope. He then saw that evening was +approaching, and glanced back toward the village to estimate the +distance he had covered. His own home he could plainly see, and he noted +the smoke as it poured from the stovepipe and realized that this meant +the preparation of a warm supper with which he would be greeted upon his +return. + +He pushed on. The constant snagging of the burlaps in which his feet +were encased, as he sank deep in the snow and sagebrush, had torn it +away until his shoes were exposed, and as he wore no rubbers, his feet +were wet and numb, and he knew that later the cold would become more +severe. The sky was overcast with clouds, and he realized the dangers of +being lost on the desert on such a night as this promised to be, so he +put forth his every effort to reach his home before the darkness fell. + +The horse, now eager to reach home and enjoy the long deferred feed and +warmth of the stable, was crowding his master's footsteps and threatened +at every faltering movement to be upon him. Gully was soon forced from +fatigue to give up all hopes of reaching his home before dark, and was +satisfied to think that he was near enough to be guided by a beacon +light that he felt sure would be placed in the window. Stopping for a +few moments to recover his breath, he looked longingly toward the little +black dot that could be dimly seen against the background of snow, +knowing that it was but a mere speck on the desert. Yet it was his +refuge and contained his world. + +As he rested and watched the shades of evening settle and creep down the +distant mountain side, he took his horse's nose between his hands and, +caressing it, enjoyed the warmth of the hot steaming breath. Then he +cast one more glance in the direction of his home; it had faded from his +view and was lost in the corresponding darkness, but in its stead a +small twinkling light gleamed feebly across the snow. It was scarcely +larger than the flame of one of the Christmas tree candles and was many +miles away; yet it warmed his heart as no other flame could have done. + +Speaking encouragingly to his horse, they resumed their toilsome +journey, and never faltering or stopping, followed the guidance of the +little light for another hour, and Gully staggered into his yard, his +trip ended. But conditions had been reversed; the horse had led him +home. Wearily he removed the pack, and placing it upon the ground near +the kitchen door, was in the act of reaching for the mail to hand to his +wife when his strength gave out and he collapsed. Numb with the cold, +and with his trousers frozen fast to his shoes, he was helped into the +house. The horse, upon gaining his freedom when his master's hand had +released its hold on the rope, went to its place in the barn and munched +hungrily at the hay that had been placed there to await his coming. + +The warmth of the room and a cup of steaming hot coffee soon revived +Gully, and after being provided with warm dry clothing he ate supper +with his family and listened in a dazed manner to the reading of the +news from home. But the stupor induced by the exposure and tremendous +exertion finally overcome him, and he was forced to retire. + +After Minnie Gully had assured herself that her husband was comfortable +and sleeping soundly, she quietly slipped from the room, closing the +door that led into the kitchen as she came out for fear that the chatter +of the children might disturb him. Clearing away the dishes from the +supper table she brought out the letters and papers that had been +received that day and carefully reread every line of the letters from +home. An occasional smile would brighten her countenance as she came +upon some bit of homely advice or some suggestion from her dear old +mother, suggestions that would have been applicable to the Minnie Gully +of old, the tired, haggard daughter her mother had last seen, but to the +robust, cheerful woman she had now grown to be they were amusing. + +After having read the last of the letters she dropped her hands upon the +table before her and sat staring at the open pages, reading between the +lines. How plainly she could see the old home, the very room in which +this letter was written. 'Twas evening, probably Saturday. Yes, it was +Saturday, for there was father's Bible and scattered notes. He had been +preparing his sermon for the morrow. His spectacle case was laying on +the loose pages. He had got up and moved his chair to the opposite side +of the table, and was seated by mother, who with toil stiffened fingers +was laborously writing this letter. How plain it all was, and how her +heart ached, not from homesickness nor from a desire to see and be with +them, but rather to cry out to them and tell them what they had missed. +They, in their crowded communities, even in the rural districts, knew +nothing of the wild delights of perfect freedom and unlimited space. She +had always been crowded; she knew it now. She had never known or felt +until now the exhilerating thrills of doing something, doing something +worth while. Fighting, yes, that was the word; fighting the elements, +doing battle with unadorned nature, free from the artifices of mankind. + +Oh! if she could only make them understand the inexpressable joy of +conquest. The joy of breathing pure air; breathing it out in the open; +air that had probably never come in contact with the nostrils of a +living creature. Even though the air at times might be laden with sand +that stifled and choked, it was dust that had been torn from a virgin +soil, and was uncontaminated from having been trodden under foot by a +hurrying multitude of human beings. And the mountains--how she loved +them--she never tired of their ever changing beauty and grandeur. Still +retaining the hold on the letter, Minnie Gully arose from the table, and +going to the outside kitchen door, threw it open and stepped out. Not +until she was met by the cold air and the blackness of the night did she +realize how completely she had been lost to her surroundings. + +Laughing aloud at her foolish flights of thought, she hurriedly tossed +back the few strands of hair that had been displaced by the cold breeze +and returned immediately into the room. She gathered up the letters and +scattered papers and put them away, after which she joined in the +conversation and games with the children; but the thoughts of the home +folks remained with her. She wanted them to feel as she felt and to reap +some of the benefits of this land of health, and be a factor in its +development. + +Long after she and the children had gone to bed she lay and thought of +her girlhood friends, whom she knew would live their prosaic lives +without ever having known the joys, miseries, delights and sorrows that +enter into the daily life of a pioneer, and she wanted to help them; she +went to sleep with visions of herself as a great benefactress +distributing happiness to thousands of her kind. + +The passing of the blizzard marked the turning point of the winter, and +the weather throughout the month of January was nice, and while the snow +did not disappear, there was only an occasional flurry added nothing to +the quantity on the ground. The social meetings at the school house were +not resumed after the Christmas tree, owing to the extreme cold, but the +neighbors visited with each other and met frequently at the store in the +village. At such times when two or more were together the principal +topic was the blizzard. Although the country was comparatively new in +its settlement there was always the proverbial "oldest inhabitant" who +could recall "Just such another winter," but to those who actually knew, +it had been by far the worst blizzard the country had ever known since +the advent of the white man. + +There was a legend told by the Indians of the Northwest of the winter of +the long ago when the snow was so deep in the mountains that the deer, +driven from their natural haunts in the mountains, had crossed on the +surface of the frozen Columbia river in search of food and died by the +thousands on the plain. This, to a certain extent, was verified by the +occasional finding of antlers, bleached white by years of exposure to +the rays of the desert sun. + +The matter of irrigation was now seldom mentioned. That the party of +Government surveyors who had worked on the project the summer before had +left with their equipment at the first approach of winter was known, but +as to whether they were to return, or had completed their investigation, +was left to conjecture. + +With the arrival of February came the first real spring weather. A +chinook wind came, and after blowing for two nights and a day, had +melted the snow to such an extent that the only traces of it to be found +was where it had drifted into an abandoned badger or coyote den and +escaped the warm breath of the chinook. There being no frost in the +ground the moisture created by the melting snow sank deep into the soil +and was stored away for future use. The sun, as it rose higher with each +lengthening day, dispensed its increasing warmth, thereby reviving the +earlier varieties of plant life with startling rapidity. + +Gully having cleared a number of acres of sagebrush, was anxiously +awaiting seasonable weather for plowing, that he might sow his grain +early and get it up and well rooted before the spring winds came, +thinking that by adopting this method it would survive. There was plenty +to do before the ground was in a condition for plowing. Seed grain and +feed was to be hauled from the wheat growing district of the Big Bend +country, and a supply of provisions procured, that a trip to the village +would not be required of the team during the plowing and seeding time. +The cistern was to be filled and as much more ground made ready for the +plow as was possible before the rush. + +Plans for the accomplishment of all this had been carefully made by +Gully and his wife, and they were eager to begin. As the roads were in +excellent condition while the sand was wet and settled, Gully borrowed a +team to work with his own from one of his neighbors and went for his +seed grain, the trip requiring two days. + +Upon his return from this trip he and his entire family drove to the +village. There was no great amount of shopping to be done, as Gully's +funds were about exhausted, but one of the merchants in the town had +promised to supply him with provisions until the harvest season. The +family was taken along that they might enjoy the outing, and as the +weather was bright and there was no dust or blistering sun, the trip was +often looked back to as one of the most pleasant they had ever taken. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +By the last of March the grain had all been sown and the first of the +planting was beginning to force its tender shoots through the surface. +The sun was growing brighter with each day and everything pointed to an +early spring. + +Travis Gully, with his wife and children, toiled early and late, making +the best of the favorable season. Grudgingly they stopped for their +meals and time for their horses to feed. Night brought no diminishing of +their labors; brush was piled and burned, and even trips to the well for +water were made by moonlight. + +It became the custom of the settler that when one of them went to town +to bring out the mail for the neighbors who lived along their route +home, and to call and deliver it when passing. Almost daily mail came to +the Gullys by this means, letters from people with whom they had been +but slightly acquainted, asking for information in regard to the +Northwest, of the chances for a man with but limited means, and the +possibilities of their procuring a piece of the free land for a home. + +Gully made no effort to reply to all these inquiries, nor did he feel +justified in holding out alluring prospects to the writers, although he +himself had absolute faith and confidence in the ultimate success of +his undertaking. He was not certain as to whether all the anxious +seekers for a home would be willing to endure, or could withstand, the +hardships incident to the establishment of a home in the desert. + +He would sit and talk the matter over with his wife during the evenings +and at other spare times, and they agreed that while it would be nice to +have some of their old friends as neighbors, the pleasure of their +coming would be marred should conditions prove unsatisfactory upon their +arrival. + +They could recall a few of those among their former friends whom they +felt assured would be easily convinced of the splendid future this +country had, but there were others, many others, who they knew would +expect to find conditions such as would guarantee immediate profitable +results from their efforts. Of this latter class they were afraid, as +evidence of their kind having been there and tried, failed and gone +their way, was at every hand visible, and they did not care to be held +to blame for their disappointment. + +So they finally decided to write a letter to the editor of their little +home paper, that it might be published, a letter setting forth bare +facts. Conditions as they existed, without embellishment, the good and +the evil alike, and let those who might read choose for themselves. + +The preparation of this letter was a source of both worry and amusement +to Travis Gully and his wife, and required several nights for its +completion. Worry that in their enthusiasm and optimism they might make +it too favorable in its tone, that they might infuse into it too much +of their individual hopes and aspirations of which they had dreamed +until they had become almost a reality. And again they would burst into +hearty laughter at the recounting of some of their experiences, never +realizing that these little incidents must be lived through to be +appreciated. + +When the letter was written, and after having been read and altered and +rewritten a number of times, it was finally pronounced satisfactory and +sealed, ready for mailing. Nearly a week elapsed before an opportunity +to send the important packet to the post office came, and then only by +the merest chance. + +The news of the activities of the Government surveyors in the region the +summer before had been spread broadcast throughout the East, and +unscrupulous land boomers had announced that the reclamation by the +Government of the vast area was an assured fact, some even going so far +as to announce the exact amount of the appropriation made by Congress +for this purpose and so, as a result of this, and also to the fact that +the railroads had again put on a homeseekers excursion rate, the early +spring brought an unusually large number of prospective settlers into +the community. + +They came in parties, toiling their way across the level stretch of +country, now still moist from the melted snow, showed no evidence of the +clouds of sand and dust that would follow after a few short weeks of +sunshine. The surface of the unplowed ground was thickly carpeted with a +specie of fine grass, known as sheep grass, that always came first in +the spring, to be followed by the more succulent bunch grass. + +Myriads of tiny plants were pushing their way through the surface and +many were bursting into full blossom before they had lifted their dainty +heads more than a few inches above the grass roots. Many and varied were +their shapes and colors, each vieing with the other in hastening to +bloom, that it might flaunt its beauty for the longest possible time +before being forced to close its petals by the ever increasing heat of +the sun. + +To those of the tourists who came at this season of the year the +prospects were most inviting. Never had they, in their homes in the +East, had such a range of vision, such an unlimited expanse to sweep +with their bewildered eyes, and the kaleidoscopic changes came so +rapidly, as they turned to admire it. + +It was like a dream. Starting with the snow capped peaks of the +mountains, they could follow the scene downward past the snowline, over +the barren space that intervenes between it and the timber, which starts +in with its varied shades of green, the peculiar, yellowish green of the +tamarack, that seldom grows at an altitude of less than three thousand +feet. Intermingled with this would appear the spots of dull brown, +showing the clumps of sarvic berries and choke cherries, the favorite +haunts of the bear and deer. Towering above these thickets the slender +white trunks and branches of the quaking asp could be plainly seen. +Farther down the shades of green become darker as the forests of fir, +pine and cedar come within the range of vision. Flaming patches of +sumach adorn the edges of the rocky spots that occasionally occurred in +the picture. On downward the dull gray of the sagebrush marks the upper +rim of the breaks of the Columbia river, then a blank of smooth rock +wall that drops for hundreds of feet to the water's edge. The river +itself is hidden from view by the undulating hills that lay immediately +adjacent to the plains. Here the scene changes from its wild rugged +beauty to one indicating the presence of mankind. The vast expanse of +sagebrush is dotted here and there with square patches of a new and +different shade of green, the green of the freshly growing grain, each +of these being marked by the presence of a newly constructed home. The +green of the grain fields and the bare, unpainted walls of the homes +refuse to harmonize with the color scheme of the desert and are easily +distinguished as not being a part thereof, and do not figure in the +picture. Passing them by with a hasty glance, barely sufficient to note +their remoteness, one from the other, the beholder allows his gaze to +gradually take notice of objects nearer at hand, and finally to lower +his eyes, with a sigh of satisfaction, and looks with wonder into the +faces of the little desert flowers blooming happily at his very feet, +and asks himself what connection there is between these two, the glacial +peaks and the tiny desert flower, so different in every way, and yet +both so necessary for the completion of the picture. + +Travis Gully and his wife anxiously awaited the arrival of the copy of +the paper in which their letter was to be published and given to the +world, and when it came they reread every word, and felt reassured that +it contained no misleading statements, no invitation to others to come +unprepared to take up the hardships of the life of a homesteader, but +the entire article teemed with the elements of hope and optimism that +showed their faith in a successful end. + +During April and May the influx of homeseekers was at its height, and +almost daily parties of prospective settlers stopped at the Gully home +for information as to directions and locations of pieces of land they +wished to secure. Gully's first year's experience had given him +knowledge of conditions that had enabled him to overcome to a certain +degree some of the difficulties with which he had to contend. During his +enforced idleness of the winter just passed he had planned the course he +proposed to pursue during the ensuing year. He had decided to introduce +some of the dry land farming methods that had been successfully tried +out in other sections of the Northwest, an idea of which he had gleaned +from some Government Bulletins that had been given him by the postmaster +of the village. + +As a result of his experiments along these lines, and due to a most +favorable season in the way of absence of hard winds and seasonable +showers, Gully's homestead presented a most creditable appearance. His +field of wheat was by far the best in the neighborhood, and as he had +planted nothing but the most hardy varieties of corn and vegetables his +garden promised to be a success, and as a result of the showing he was +making, his place became one of the points of interest to which most of +the visitors were directed by the people of the village, or to which the +real estate agents always brought their clients, and would exclaim: +"What this man has done in this country others can do." + +Spurred on by his success and the ever increasing feeling of +independence, Travis Gully toiled on thruout the spring. The constant +recurrence of visitors to view their home was a source of diversion to +the Gullys, and a means whereby many dollars came into their possession. + +They made no charge for the hospitality extended to the strangers who +came their way, but the offering of a glass of water or, as was often +the case, a lunch and an hour's rest to the tired, dusty travelers who +could not but see and appreciate their condition, was always rewarded by +liberal offerings of change, made in most instances to the children. +Thus the immediate requirements of the family were met and a small +amount saved. + +As the summer approached and the unusual showers became less frequent, +the fitful gusts of wind started the restless sand, but too late to harm +the grain that was now beginning to assume the golden tint that foretold +an early harvest. The garden was beginning to wilt beneath the hot +sunrays, but the ingenuity of Gully saved it. At the root of the melon +vines and other plants empty cans were imbedded into which the waste +water was poured and allowed to filter slow through, and by this method +sufficient moisture was given the plants to mature them, and the yield +was abundant. + +The favorable season in the desert region had renewed the hopes of those +who had chosen to make it their home, and scenes of unusual activity +were apparent at every hand. New tracts of land were being cleared and +plowed, and new buildings sprang up overnight; their glistening bare +walls could be seen in many directions. + +The services of a Miss Anderson as teacher for the little school had +been secured, and though the season was late for starting, it was +opened, and each school morning, early, the Gully children went joyfully +across the sagebrush plain to the little school building, where they +were joined by some half dozen other children who came from as many +different directions. + +The glint of the sunrays on their brightly shining dinner pails flashed +heliographic warning of their approach long before the small pupils +could be seen. The Sunday School was reorganized and the meetings of the +literary society resumed. The hardships of the past winter were almost +forgotten and were seldom referred to. + +The middle of the month of June brought the harvest season. The grain in +the desert maturing and ripening several weeks in advance of that in the +grain belt to the north, thus affording the homesteader an opportunity +to harvest their grain at home before leaving for the grain fields for +their regular season's run. + +Gully, whose harvest at home had yielded exceptional returns for which +he found a ready market among his neighbors, was undecided as to whether +to make another trip into the Big Bend country or remain at home and +improve his place. But the desire to have a well, with abundance of +water, which would give him an opportunity to irrigate and develop his +home, soon caused him to decide to go. He had not forgotten his +experience of the fall before, and his firm resolve never to leave his +family alone in the desert again, but conditions had changed since them. +They were better provided for, and there were neighbors, many of whom +would have to leave for the winter, but still there were among them many +who would leave their families behind. Besides he had bought another +team and what they could earn, together with his earnings, would enable +him to secure the coveted well, and he would not have to leave again. + +As for the work, he was better equipped now and would know what to +expect and consequently make the best of it. Thus he reasoned, and after +fully determining to go, he wrote to the grower for whom he had worked +the previous fall and arranged for work during the coming season. + +The summer now being on, the heat of the sun was terrific, and no effort +was made to accomplish anything during the day. When trips to the +village became necessary the start was made early, and the home coming +frequently postponed until after sundown, to avoid as much as possible +the midday drive over the hot dusty roads. Rains were a thing of the +past now, and the desert began to assume its accustomed dry, parched +appearance. Many of the newcomers who had moved in during the early +spring, when conditions were most favorable, were now becoming alarmed, +and questioned the wisdom of their choice, and had it not been for the +positive evidence of the possibilities of the district as seen at the +Gully place, many of them would have become discouraged and given up in +despair. + +To many of these unfortunates the village was the only source of +comfort. They would congregate there during the day and discuss the +various subjects pertaining to home building in the wilderness. Many of +them had had no experience at farming even under the most favorable +conditions, and these presented a most pitiful appearance and woebegone +manner. Fresh from within the confines of shop or office and launched +upon a life of hardships and exposure, upon a sea of blistering sands, +sizzling sagebrush and bunch grass, it was no wonder they blistered, +peeled, freckled and tanned and seemed to shrivel and slouch when they +had lain aside their neat fitting business suit and donned their +overalls. It was a cruel test of stamina and manhood, and a surprising +few that withstood it. + +Many of the earlier settlers adhered to the belief that help would come +to them through irrigation, and the fact of the surveyors having been in +the field the summer before was related to the new settlers with +convincing arguments that it had to come. Still no one had ever heard +the slightest intimation of what the surveyors had accomplished in the +way of favorable results or the nature of their official report. + +The fact of this silence was looked upon by many as a good omen, and +wild rumors were set afloat that the survey had been successful, and the +plans for the installation of the gigantic system were then being +prepared. On one occasion, while gathering driftwood along the shores of +the Columbia, a homesteader saw a man working among the rocky cliffs far +above him. He hastily drove home and reported his discovery to his +neighbors, who added their ideas to the importance of this discovery, +and by the next day it was a matter of common talk upon the streets of +the village that work had started on the foundation for a huge power +plant, to generate electricity for pumping. And so it went, every +mysterious move or unusual occurrence immediately became the subject for +speculation, and was supposed to have some bearing on the reclamation of +the land with which they were now battling to bring into a state of +productiveness. + +Travis Gully was looked upon as a wizard, and his accomplishments under +the existing conditions were the wonder of the neighborhood. Each little +real estate office and many of the stores contained specimens of the +stalks of grain, corn or other varieties of products grown by him. Many +articles appeared in the papers published throughout the territory +telling of what he had accomplished under his system of farming, and he +frequently received communications asking for information as to the +methods or kind of seed he had used. To all such he could only reply +that his success was as much of a surprise to him as to others, and he +took no special credit to himself. But it pleased him to think that it +had fallen to his lot to prove to the world that his faith in the +productiveness of the soil was well founded. + +To Minnie Gully the effect of their success for the year was entirely +different. She knew, or thought she knew, that it was due to the +superiority of Travis' management. "Had he not studied the matter, and +learned the exact time for plowing and seeding? Had he not so arranged +the clearing of the land as to leave the sagebrush intact upon the high +ground, that it might break the force of the wind, thus protecting the +tender plants? And who but he would have had the forethought to save +every condensed milk can that had been emptied, and had even brought +hundreds of others to utilize in his novel method of irrigation for the +vegetables and few nicely growing fruit and shade trees? Had she not +saved every particle of waste water, even to the water used for the +weekly laundering, and she and the children poured it carefully into the +cans at the roots of the plants and covered them that the sand might not +drift in and absorb the precious moisture?" + +It was not chance to her. She felt that if they had acquired the +distinction of being the most successful homesteaders in the district, +they were entitled to it, and she prided herself on the fact; and she +resolved that in the event of their securing a well, with abundance of +water, even though irrigation never came, she would show the world +further proof of what could be done, and would devote her life to making +their home an ideal one. + +Her blood would surge through her veins, and with flushed face and +sparkling eyes she would go out into the yard and approaching one of the +growing trees, then mere switches, would fondle its few green leaves and +look upward, as if measuring the vast expanse above to see if she might +imagine the height to which it would attain. She would go to the grain +stack, and rubbing out in the palm of her hand a few of the well filled +heads, blow away the husks and chaff, and admire the plump red grains, +finally casting them to the patiently waiting chickens, and return +singing joyously into the house and resume her household duties, a +different Minnie Gully of a short year before. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +By the last of July the heat had become so intense that it was decided +to close the school until the cooler weather in the fall. The children +had made good progress, and as Miss Anderson had taken up a homestead +near by, her services for the winter months were assured. So it was +planned that when the school was closed she was to visit her home for a +few weeks, returning before the harvest season, and was to remain at the +Gully home until his return from harvest, after which she was to take up +her abode upon her own claim. This arrangement pleased Gully, as it +assured him that his family would not be alone during his absence. + +The few remaining weeks before his departure Gully devoted to the +improvement of his house. Material for this purpose was obtained by his +having purchased a building erected upon a claim a short ways from his +own by Jack Norton, a young man, who having become discouraged, had +proposed to accompany Gully to the harvest fields and to use the +proceeds of the sale of the building, together with his earnings while +harvesting, to purchase a return ticket to the East, thereby abandoning +his claim. + +The price paid by Gully for the material in the building was +insignificant, but added very materially to his unpretentious home when +reconstructed in connection with it, and assured him against the +recurrence of his experience of the winter before. + +The conditions under which Travis Gully made his second trip to the +harvest fields were entirely different. Now he knew where he was going +and exactly what to expect upon his arrival. The horses he drove were +his own, and he reserved the right to have absolute control of them +during the entire trip. He had been requested by his former employer to +bring as nearly as possible the same crew as had come on the former +occasion. In this he was successful, with the exception of one of the +party who had become discouraged and left the country soon after the +passing of the severe blizzard of the winter before. + +The iron molder, the pressman, and the professor were there, and as the +progress each had made on their homestead was fair, it was a more jovial +party that had left on this occasion. The start was made from the Gully +home, where the party had assembled the evening before, and instead of +the tear stained cheeks and pitiful sighs that had marked their first +departure from the well, there had been a happy gathering of all the +neighbors for miles around who had assembled at Travis Gully's home to +bid the harvesters farewell. This gathering was not only for those who +were going with the Gully party, but was for all the men of the +neighborhood who were going forth to replenish their funds ere the +winter came. + +Each had brought their lunch basket, and the scene of the feast at the +Christmas tree was reenacted, only under more favorable circumstances +and on a much larger scale. The festivities continued until far into the +night. Rollicking games of blindman's buff and others of its like were +played out in the open under the brilliance of the huge, desert moon. +Young and old alike joined in the spirit of the games, and merry peals +of laughter proclaimed their evident enjoyment. + +When the time came for the merry makers to go to their several homes, +and after the final good-byes had been said, those of the party who were +to remain overnight and start the following morning chose their sleeping +places, and unrolling their blankets, lay down and were soon lulled to +sleep by the sound of the distant singing and talking of the departing +guests which was wafted back by the cool night air for miles across the +silent desert. The sounds were broken at intervals by the sharp staccato +yap of the startled coyotes. + +The following morning the men were all astir just at the break of day. +The horses were fed and harnessed and everything made ready for the +start. Ample lunch was put up to last the entire party until they +reached their destination, and when breakfast had been eaten the start +was made. + +The sun had not yet appeared, but the jagged ridge of hills to the east +was plainly outlined, and Gully, now being thoroughly acquainted with +the lay of the country and not caring to lose time by making a long +detour to reach the main road, went directly across the plain to the gap +in the hills that he knew would afford him an exit. + +Minnie Gully and the children, as well as their guest, Miss Anderson, +who had now returned from her visit home, were out to see them off. The +old dog was leaping frantically at the horses' heads as if he too +understood the importance of the occasion. His loud barking and frisky +capers caused little Joe to shriek with laughter, and amidst all this +din and shouting of good-byes they rolled away. + +Jack Norton, who had remained at the Gully home from the time of the +sale of the building on his own claim until its removal and +reconstruction as a part of the Gully residence, was seated with Gully +on the driver's seat when the party started on their journey. + +Knowing the road as the party now did, the trip was not nearly so +tiresome as on the former occasion. Time passed much more rapidly, and a +constant flow of conversation and quips and jokes were kept up by those +of the party except young Norton who, though usually full of life and +ordinarily a good companion, was on this occasion sullen and morose. +Travis Gully was quick to note this change in Norton's demeanor and +watched him closely to see if he could find its cause. Thinking perhaps +it was due to his disappointment at his failure at success as a +homesteader, he jibed him good-naturedly upon his giving up so easily. + +Jack Norton turned, and taking one more long look at their starting +point, allowing his gaze to wander out across the desert and after a few +minutes pause answered Gully's remark by saying: "It might be that I +have not given up." Travis Gully, who rather liked the young fellow, +slapped him on the back and exclaimed: "That's the spirit. You might +take a notion to come back with us. Well, if you do, your claim will +still be safe. You know you have six months off." Jack Norton did not +reply to this. He evidently did not know or had not thought but what his +temporary absence from his claim would forfeit it. He sat silent for a +few moments, looked back in the direction from which they had come, and +remarked, "Looks good to me," and was noticeably more cheerful during +the remainder of the day. + +The early morning start and favorable conditions enabled them to cover +the worst of their journey the first day, and the camp for the night was +made far up in the grand coulee, within a few miles of where they would +emerge upon the plateau where the grain fields began. + +A small stream trickled down from the face of the bluff that formed the +east wall of the coulee. The spring from which it flowed was +inaccessable, so it was necessary to catch the water in pails as it +dripped from the rock ledge far above, for it disappeared as soon as it +reached the sandy bottom of the coulee. + +Beautiful grasses grew at the bottom of the cliff, where the water +wasted away, and rare specimens of ferns adorned the face of the rock +over which it flowed, far above the reach of man. The place had been +noted by those of the party who were on the trip the fall before, and +the professor had expressed a desire to obtain some of the ferns for +specimens during their stay in the camp. Knowing that they had ample +time, as they were not due at their destination for two days, and that +they could reach it the following afternoon, they decided to remain in +camp the forenoon of the following day and rest their horses. + +It was just before sundown when they went into camp, but knowing from +past experience that the twilight between those towering walls was +short, they hurriedly accumulated a sufficient quantity of sagebrush for +fuel during the night, and after placing their only water pail beneath +the drip of the trickling stream, awaited its filling for water with +which to make coffee. + +After this was procured and the coffee set to boil, Travis Gully led his +horses to the patch of grass and allowed them to browse while the water +dripped into the pail, and as it filled he gave each horse in its turn a +drink. The evening shadows were slowly creeping upward and could be +clearly outlined upon the face of the cliff that formed the west wall of +the coulee. An occasional bird fluttered into one of the crevices that +marred the face of the cliff, seeking shelter for the night. The only +sound that disturbed the oppressive silence was that produced by the +horses cropping the succulent grass and the drip, drip of the water in +the pail. + +The conversation at the camp fire had ceased. Gully noticing this +glanced toward the small group of men assembled there in search of the +cause; apparently there was none. The lunch box had been brought from +the wagon and stood open near the camp fire; the blanket rolls had been +thrown into a pile off to one side, and reclining against this, with his +back toward the fire, young Jack Norton sat and gazed wistfully down the +coulee. Gully noted the expression on the young man's face and wondered +at its seriousness. He had never questioned Norton as to his affairs, +and such knowledge as he had gained of the young man's life had been +volunteered by him. + +That he was from the south, Texas he thought, and that he had left his +home the year before, when he had reached his twenty-first birthday. No +reference had ever been made by him as to his relatives or home. He had +come into the neighborhood where Gully met him with a party consisting +of several different families, none of whom had known or seen him until +he happened to drive out from the station with a number of prospective +settlers under the guidance of a real estate agent who had located the +majority of them. + +His pleasing personality had won him much favor at the literary society, +where he took an active part. Being the possessor of a splendid voice +his singing was highly appreciated, and Travis Gully recalled the fact +that Miss Anderson, the school teacher, had at one time expressed the +opinion that his education was far above the average. Yet knowing as +little as he did, Gully's heart went out to the lonely young fellow, and +he attributed his failure as a homesteader to the lack of advice and +encouragement, so he determined, if the opportunity presented itself, +and it probably would on this trip, to speak to him and to try and +persuade him to remain on his claim and try again the following year. + +Darkness had now fallen, and when additional fuel had been thrown onto +the dying embers of the camp fire and flared up, illuminating the +surroundings, Gully called to Jack Norton to come and lend a helping +hand with the horses and to another member of the party to get the pail +of water that had accumulated, after which he returned to the wagon, and +when his horses had been fed he joined the others at the fire. + +No time was lost. After supper the blankets were spread and all were +soon sleeping soundly. Nothing disturbed their slumber. The prowling +coyote, scenting the remains of the supper on the cool night air, sent +up its mournful wail to the dim stars, and the flutter of birds wings, +as the owls routed them from their refuge in the rocks, were the only +sounds to be heard. + +The campers were aroused the next morning by the restless pawing of the +horses who, realizing that they were in a strange locality, were anxious +for their feed, that they might be on the road. Travis Gully was +awakened by one of his companions calling to him and saying that he was +afraid something had gone wrong with the horses. Springing from beneath +his blankets, he hurried over to where they were tied, but could find no +cause for their nervous actions. He gave them their morning allowance of +hay and after they had quieted down and begun eating he returned to the +camp, and it being then broad daylight, he raked together the charred +ends of the partially burned sagebrush and started the fire. Calling to +his companions to "Roll out," he took the pail and started to catch some +water at the dripping spring; as he did so, he noticed that Jack Norton +was not in camp. + +His neatly rolled blankets were laying at the point where he had chosen +to make his bed. Gully knew that he had slept there, for he had spoken +to him after going to bed. Thinking that he had probably gotten up early +and had strolled a little way from camp, he gave the matter no further +concern. Upon his return from getting the water his companions asked him +if he had seen Jack; replying that he had not, but that he had noticed +his absence and that he supposed he had gone for a walk, they passed the +matter by and proceeded with the preparation of the coffee for +breakfast. + +No hurried preparations for their departure were made, as they intended +to remain in camp until noon. The sun was several hours high before its +rays reached the depth of the coulee, the walls of which cast their +shadows across its full width. It was a delightful place to camp and +while away a few idle hours. There were no trees or brush under which to +lie and enjoy the shade, and the only spot of green that gladdened the +eye was that of the grass at the foot of the cliff, but it was this very +novelty that made the location so fascinating. Laying prone upon their +backs they could gaze into the blue sky without being dazzled by the +brilliancy of the sun or having a thing to obstruct their view, like +viewing the heavens from the depth of a well without that same cramped +or crowded feeling. + +After awaiting Jack Norton's return for a reasonable length of time +without his coming, breakfast was eaten, and the coffee pot replaced +near the fire that it might be kept warm. Travis Gully took the pail, +and leading two of his horses to the grassy spot, was allowing them to +graze while the bucket was being filled when someone called to him: +"Bring the horses up here, Mr. Gully; there is lots of water." +Recognizing the voice as that of young Norton, Gully tried to locate +him, but the resounding echoes along the coulee walls made it difficult +to catch the direction from which the call came. The professor, who had +strolled over near the cliff and was picking up and examining the pieces +of rock that had fallen from above, had also heard Jack Norton's call, +and knowing that it came from the coulee wall above, was searching the +face of the cliff in order to locate him. + +Gully, seeing the professor's gaze centered on the cliff, knew at once +where the boy was and called to him to come down, lest he fall and get +hurt. To this Jack replied that he would soon be down, and as he moved +they could easily distinguish his form, a mere speck it seemed at that +dizzy height, flattened out with his back to the wall as he worked his +way cautiously along the slippery ledge over which the water flowed. His +hands were filled with ferns and plants, and he shouted jesting replies +to the anxious watchers as they called to him to be careful. After a few +moments he disappeared behind a jutting point; a few minutes later only +the top of his head could be seen protruding from a crevice; after a +half hour he came into camp, disheveled, tired and hungry, but all +excitement over his adventure. + +He ate his breakfast while Travis Gully and the others each took their +turn at telling him of the dangers that lurked in those cliffs in the +way of loose boulders, hidden crevices and rattlesnakes. Gully expressed +himself in no uncertain terms about his leaving camp without first +having told them of his intention, and pictured to him the possibilities +of a fall or other accident that might have befallen him and they, not +knowing where he was, could render no assistance. Jack Norton submitted +gracefully to this scolding and explained that he had heard the +professor express a desire to obtain some of the specimens of ferns, and +as he too was interested in the geological formations of the coulee he +could not resist the temptation to explore the bluff. + +He had left camp before daylight and gone down the coulee in search of a +place where he might scale the wall; after he had reached the ledge he +assured them it was no trouble to work back to the point where he was +discovered. His only regret was that he had caused them any uneasiness, +and that he did not have more time for his investigations, as the +locality afforded splendid opportunities for geological research. + +He had brought back with him some beautiful specimens of rare ferns and +other plant life for the professor, and his pockets were bulging with +pieces of various kinds of stone with which, he told them, he proposed +to amuse himself later. + +The professor was profuse in his thanks for the ferns, but expressed his +regret that he had taken such a chance in getting them for him, and all +the while his face beamed with his appreciation of the motive, the +desire of the student, that had prompted young Norton to explore the +coulee. He too could devote many happy days with these environments to +the gratification of this same desire. + +The party resumed their journey immediately after the noon lunch was +eaten and camped that night at the home of the wheat grower for whom +they were going to work during the harvest season. When they entered the +harvest field two days later, to commence the season's run, it was the +same old scenes and endless days of toil and strain with which they had +contended on their former trip, and nothing occurred to break the +monotony. + +The professor and Jack Norton became inseparable companions, and planned +many excursions together at some future time, when they proposed to +explore the coulee. The idea of abandoning his claim and returning to +the East was given up by Norton, and he talked incessantly of the +wonders of the coulee and the desert. Travis Gully smiled at the young +fellow's enthusiasm and encouraged him to renewed effort with promises +of assistance to construct another building on his claim and with such +other help as he might require. + +The party of homesteaders were not worried by the thoughts of the +conditions at home as they had been during their first absence. They +wrote and received letters regularly, and in every instance the reports +received from their homes were most encouraging. Minnie Gully's letters +to her husband were filled with recitals of incidents that showed very +plainly that she was very much alive to his interests and had assumed +the management of affairs on the homestead during his absence with a +thoroughness of detail that was surprising. "I have bargained," she +wrote, "with a new neighbor for two pigs and a half dozen more +chickens," this neighbor having brought chickens and pigs into the newly +settled district without first having investigated the source of the +supply of feed for them, and was now compelled by its scarcity to sell +some of his stock. Gully's wife, seeing the opportunity, had traded some +wheat for the chickens and pigs, and as she wrote in her letter, had +"made the place look more like a farm." Miss Anderson, she continued, +"had proven herself a jewel. She did not see how she could get along +without her. She had taken complete charge of the children and was +teaching the girls to sew and cook, while she was leading a life of +ease." Travis Gully read her letters with an amused smile and wondered +at the change in her that had taken place. The constant flow of home +talk kept him from getting homesick. And so the harvest season was +passed, and when the morning came for the harvesters to return to their +homes each had planned his work for the coming winter and was eager to +begin. + +Travis Gully was to see the realization of his dream of a well on his +claim and was anxious to reach home that he might complete arrangements +with the well drillers and have them begin work before the snow fell. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +When the party reached the Gully home upon their return they found the +members of their families had assembled there to await their arrival. +Minnie Gully and Miss Anderson had prepared a good supper, which was +waiting, and which was heartily enjoyed by the returned harvesters. They +did not linger long at Gully's, however, as the men were worn out by +their long siege and were anxious to reach their own homes. + +The second morning after their return Gully drove to the village in +search of a man to drill his well. In this he was successful, and +completed the deal before his return. The selection of a site for the +well and the assembling of the machinery occupied his time for several +days following. As the well drilling crew consisted of three men besides +Jack Norton, who had arranged to stay with Gully until the well was +completed, it would entail considerable additional work for Mrs. Gully, +so Miss Anderson agreed to remain and assist her during their stay. In +return for this service Gully was to haul the lumber and erect a small +house on her claim. + +With these arrangements all complete and the arrival of the driller the +work progressed nicely, and in less than a month from the time of his +return from the harvest field, Gully's well was completed. The flow +that was struck by the drillers differed but little from that reached in +the dozens of other wells that had been sunk at various points +throughout the area; the only variation was in depth, and this was due +to the difference in elevation. The flow was abundant, as was proven by +a test that failed to lower it, and the water was the purest. + +The sinking of the well had almost exhausted Gully's supply of funds, +and fearing the recurrence of another severe winter, he was on the alert +for employment. While hauling the lumber for the erection of the houses +on the claims of Miss Anderson and young Norton he had learned of the +intention of a large company who held extensive land interests in the +desert to clear and prepare for seeding several hundred acres during the +winter. Securing the address of the company, he wrote to them, proposing +to take the work under contract. + +The small shack was soon erected on Miss Anderson's claim near the +school house and school was opened for the winter. With her comfortably +settled her earnings as teacher were ample for her requirements, and a +sufficient amount was left to hire the necessary improvements made. This +work was given to Gully, who cleared several acres, fenced it, and put +her down a cistern similar to the one he had constructed on his own +place. In the performance of this work he was assisted by Jack Norton, +who had now settled down on his own claim, a determined and confident +homesteader. + +The attendance at the little school had more than doubled since the +winter before by the arrival of additional families with children. It +had become necessary to erect another school house some miles distant to +accommodate the increased population. This new school district was in +charge of our old friend the professor, and the meetings of the Sunday +School and literary society were so arranged as to alternate between the +two districts, and debates and old fashioned spelling bees were +conducted with the separate districts as contestants. + +Thus was the social life of the community kept alive and much simple +pleasure added to the lives of the homesteaders. The arrival of a few +young people in the neighborhood added to the dignity of the social +functions, and as distance was a matter of secondary consideration with +these hardy pioneers, it was no uncommon thing during the winter months +to see a wagon being driven from the home of one settler to that of +another, picking up a load of jolly people, both young and old, that +were for some point, it might be ten miles distant, where a surprise +party or some such gathering was to be held. They were always +accompanied by an abundance of lunch. + +Ida Gully, who was not attending school, as she had grown to be quite a +young lady, was a great favorite, and was always eager to attend these +gatherings and was usually accompanied by Jack Norton on these +occasions. + +The winter season was now well advanced and there had been no snow; the +nights were growing colder but the days were yet clear and warm. Travis +Gully had given up hopes of hearing from the company to whom he had +written in regard to clearing their land and was working on his own +place. He did not have sufficient funds to erect a pump and windmill +over his well, but had substituted an old hand pump in hopes that he +could make it answer his purpose for securing water for domestic use +until the irrigating season came. He had installed this makeshift of a +pump and was trying to devise some scheme whereby he could make its +operation less laborious by attaching a longer lever, when upon looking +up from his work he saw a party of men approaching in a vehicle that was +being driven along the road that led to his place. + +The advent of a stranger being no longer a matter of interest he +proceeded with his work after looking to see if he could by chance +recognize the team. A few minutes later the barking of his dog announced +the approach of the vehicle, and he saw that they had driven within his +inclosure and were coming toward the house. Leaving his work at the +well, he went to the house, where he awaited their coming. + +Gully did not recognize any of the occupants of the vehicle, of whom +there were four. He supposed that they were some persons who were +looking over the country, probably with the view to investing, as they +did not look like the type of settlers he was accustomed to seeing. +Three of the men had the appearance of business or professional men. One +of them was well advanced in years, but the remaining three were very +much younger. One of these he recognized, as they drew nearer, as a man +whom he had seen on frequent occasions when he had visited the village, +and supposed that he was only the driver. + +The party had by now driven up to the yard and Gully stepped out to meet +them. Upon being asked if he were Mr. Gully, and after answering in the +affirmative, the elderly man took from his pocket a card which he handed +to Travis Gully, who, glancing at it, recognized the name of the company +to whom he had written. He invited the visitors to "get out and come +in." This they said was not necessary, as they had only a limited time +in which to state the purpose of their visit, which they did by +explaining to him that they had gotten his letter and had come with the +view to looking the proposition of clearing the land over, and if they +found him ready to undertake the work and his terms satisfactory they +were prepared to enter into an agreement with him. First, however, they +wished to visit the land in question, which they proposed to do before +returning to the village. + +Taking from a wallet a blue print of the locality, they traced the lines +and looked over the section numbers for a few minutes, and then asked +Gully as to the roads leading to their lands. He gave them directions +and stated that roads across the plains were not necessary, as a person +could not get far out of the way. + +They explained further to Gully that they had brought with them from the +East tents and surveying instruments which had been left behind in the +village and asked that in case of an agreement being reached with them, +if he was in a position to accommodate them with meals during the few +days that would be required to survey the land they wished to put into +cultivation. Gully explained that his means of accommodation were crude +and limited, but they were entirely welcome to such as his home +afforded. + +After arranging with him to come to the village with his wagon the +following day, when they would talk the matter over, and if satisfactory +would have him return with them and their equipment, they drove away in +the direction of their land. + +Travis Gully stood and watched them for a few moments, his mind filled +with the problem of the terms of the contract that he knew he would be +called on to submit the following day. His wife having noticed the +presence of strangers and seeing the thoughtful attitude of her husband +after their departure came to him, and after learning the nature of +their business, was greatly relieved and much delighted at the prospect +of his securing the big contract. They both realized, however, that the +success of the venture would depend very largely upon the continuance of +the favorable weather, and spoke of the probability of it remaining +fair. + +Returning to the well where he took up his interrupted work, Gully +discussed the proposition of the contract with his wife. Never having +undertaken anything of the kind, he was at a loss how to begin. He knew +what it was worth per acre to clear and plow the land and approximately +how long it would take, everything being favorable, but he could not +get it in tangible form. Finally his wife suggested that he call on +young Norton, who could probably assist him as to arranging the details. +This was a happy thought! Gully had intended to give Jack employment if +he got the work, so why not let him be a party to the deal, and let him +handle the business part of the transaction? He would see Norton and +talk the matter over with him, he told her. + +It was now getting well on toward evening and Ida had gone to Miss +Anderson's to await the dismissal of school, as she frequently did, and +would return with the children when they came home; and as Jack Norton +usually walked home with them, Gully awaited their return in hopes he +would do so on this occasion. In this he was not disappointed, for a +short time afterwards the children were seen returning from school, and +Norton was accompanying them home. + +Upon Jack Norton's arrival Gully told him of what had occurred, of the +coming of the strangers and the arrangements he had made for the morrow, +and told him if he would remain until after supper he would like to talk +the matter over with him. Jack listened attentively to what Gully told +him, but could not understand why he should be consulted in the matter. +Thanking Gully for the invitation he told him he would be glad to assist +him in any way he could. + +Continuing his work at the well, Gully did not again refer to the +matter, and Norton went to the house, where he amused little Joe and the +other children by romping with them until they were called to their +supper. After the supper was over and Gully and Norton had strolled to +the barn. Gully told him of his desire to have him take an active +interest in the proposed deal, and explained why. He told him plainly +that he needed the assistance of someone who was better equipped in the +way of an education than he himself was, that they might look after the +business features, and he made young Norton an offer of a partnership +under the conditions of which Jack would greatly profit should they get +the work. + +Jack Norton listened to the plans and proposal that Gully had to make. +After Gully had finished he turned to Gully and asked: "Do you mean that +you want me to take hold of this affair and look after your interest, +and is it for this purpose that you are making me this liberal offer? If +such is the case, Mr. Gully, I will tell you now that although I were +only working for you by the day, as a laborer, I would still have your +interests at heart as much as if I were your business partner." + +Gully being taken by surprise at the young man's earnestness, replied +that such was his intention. "If you care to take an interest in the +transaction, I need you to look after the accounts, the handling of the +funds for the purchase of supplies that will be necessary, and securing +the help that will be required, for you are worth more to me as a +business partner than on a daily wage," he told him. + +Norton smiled, and extending his hand to Gully, said: "That being the +case, I will help you," and added: "May I go into town with you +tomorrow?" + +[Illustration: _For weeks they toiled with blistered palms and aching +backs._] + +"Certainly," replied Gully, "I want you to draw up the contract, and be +present at the signing." + +"Then you have drawn no agreement yet," asked Norton. + +"No," replied Gully. + +"Well, we will go to the house and see what can be done. We will at +least have something ready in the way of a proposition to offer; and +say, Mr. Gully, have you given them an idea of the charge per acre you +are to make for this work." + +"No, I had not fully determined what it would be worth, and depended on +your assistance in making an estimate," replied Gully. + +"Well, we will figure that out too when we get at it," and so saying, +they returned to the house, and clearing off the table, sat down with +pencil and paper to draw up the form of their first contract. + +To the uninitiated the process of removing sagebrush from and plowing +land would be simple enough, and under ordinary circumstances and over a +small area it would be, but in this instance it was different. The land +was not a great ways off, a few miles at best, from Gully's home, but +too far to go and come each day, as the working hours during the winter +were extremely short, and too much time would be lost on the road, and +besides, the amount of the land to be prepared was unusually large for +one undertaking, as an entire section, some six hundred and forty acres, +were to be gotten ready for seeding at the very earliest possible time. + +Gully and Norton had taken all this into consideration, and the extra +preparation that was required for the work was an additional expense +that must be considered. They knew that should they get the contract +they must establish a camp on the land in question from which to carry +on their operations. There must be shelter erected for both those +engaged in the work and the stock that would be required for plowing, +for they knew that the snow might come at any time. Gully did not expect +another blizzard as severe as the one encountered the winter before, as +he had learned that they were not of yearly occurrence, but he had told +Jack of the terrible one they had experienced on that occasion, that in +case one did come they would not be unprepared. + +Long into the night they worked, figuring out each little detail and +drawing a diagram of the land. They allotted certain parcels of it to +separate individuals on whom they expected to call for assistance. They +knew that any of their neighbors on whom they called would be only too +glad of the opportunity to earn the money by clearing their allotted +portion. To those of their acquaintances who had no horses was assigned +the task of gathering and piling the brush for burning. + +The arrangements as planned by Norton brought Gully to the front as a +public benefactor, and the clearing of the land a community affair. He +so arranged each little detail as to make Travis Gully appear as the +moving spirit in this distribution of the opportunity for earning a few +dollars among his neighbors, and so well did he contrive to eliminate +himself from all but the responsibility that his own connection with +the work was almost entirely lost sight of. + +Mrs. Gully and Ida sat quietly by and listened to the discussion of +their plans long after the children had retired. At times Norton's +enthusiasm and interest in the work he was doing would become so great +he would forget his surroundings, and with shirt sleeves rolled back and +neck band unbuttoned, he would sit drumming upon the table with pencil +poised, ready to record the result of some mental calculation, muttering +to himself. Unconsciously he would use expressions that were foreign to +the Gullys, who would watch him closely. + +Travis Gully and his wife would wait patiently until Norton announced +his solution of the problem, but with Ida the effect was different. She +would watch his every movement, and as his thoughts became more +concentrated the strain on her would become more tense and she would +partially arise from her chair, with hands clenched until the nails left +their imprint in her palms, and it would seem that she must call to him, +and upon his first movement to record some figures or to announce some +clause that he wished to insert in the contract, she would sink back in +her chair, and glancing around nervously, resume her bit of fancy work, +that she was learning under Miss Anderson's instructions. + +Travis Gully was too much absorbed to note his daughter's actions, but +it did not escape the quick eyes of the mother, who suggested to her +that perhaps they had better retire and leave her father and Jack to +finish their work alone. Minnie Gully had never thought of Ida as +anything but a child, and she had not taken into account the change this +life in the open had wrought upon her oldest daughter. She watched her +as she carefully folded her bit of embroidery in obedience to her +mother's suggestion that they retire, and as she watched the knowledge +was forced upon her that she was the mother of a fully developed, robust +young woman, and the thought of the additional responsibility this +knowledge brought with it was made more gratifying by others of +comradeship. She now had a companion for the molding of whose character +she alone was responsible. + +With a parting warning to the men, to "remember you are to start to town +early in the morning and not to stay up too late," she and Ida went to +their room. Gully and Norton needed no such warning. The fact of their +going to town was a prime factor in the necessity for their working as +they were, and as for staying up late, their work had to be completed +before they could retire. + +As the work progressed, after the ladies had left them, Travis Gully was +surprised at the knowledge of such work as Norton evidenced, and he +realized that he had done wisely in taking him into his confidence and +gaining his assistance. He listened without interruption to Jack +Norton's plans as he outlined them, and to the results of his +calculations as to the expense incurred and profits derived from the +transaction as they were read with such an apparent familiarity with +figures that he did not question their correctness. + +There was one question uppermost in Gully's mind that would persist in +its recurrence, and that was: "Who was this Jack Norton, this waif of +the sandy desert, who with the last few hours, with apparently no other +incentive than a desire to help one who had befriended him, had +developed into a thorough business man, with unlimited capacity for +facts and figures?" + +While Travis Gully was asking himself these questions his wife, in the +adjoining room, was busily racking her mind with the one thought: "Was +Ida interested in Jack, and if so, to what extent, and had he noticed +it?" She would know at the first opportunity. She would ask her, but she +must be careful, and she smiled; Ida was such a child. + +Jack Norton, oblivious to the thoughts that were filling the minds of +his friends, worked on at the formulation of his plans. It had been +months, it seemed like years to him, since he had been given an +opportunity to work at something worth while. It was true that the +amount in dollars and cents involved in this entire transaction would be +at best but a few hundred, but it was business, and recalled to his mind +other days when he had worked out larger plans; yes, very much larger, +where thousands of dollars were involved. + +He laughed whimsically to himself after he had handed the final product +of his hours of work to Travis Gully to read. It was a recapitulation of +the whole transaction, condensed and simplified in a manner that he was +sure would bring it within his understanding, and as Gully read, his +brow contracted with many wrinkles as his brain groped for an +interpretation of the mass of figures, Jack Norton compared these +existing conditions with other scenes in his past, when he had entered +noiselessly through swinging glass doors and over dustless carpets into +the presence of the older Norton, his "Governor," and submitted for his +inspection a sheet of about the same dimensions containing, not a +written agreement whereby one or more men do "agree to remove the +sagebrush from, plow and make ready for planting certain lands beginning +at, etc.," but a neatly prepared statement of his college expenses, +supplemented with a request for an additional allowance for golf, +yachting, etc. + +When Travis Gully had finished reading the paper Norton had given him he +handed it back, asked one or two questions about things he did not fully +understand, and upon their being explained, said: "It's all right as far +as I can see." Norton took the paper, folded it neatly, and placed it on +the table, and after assembling the scattered sheets upon which he had +been figuring, he placed them in a neat pile, using an empty coffee cup +for a paper weight, he handed Gully the folded sheet, together with the +pencil with which he had been working, and after asking what time he +proposed to start for town in the morning, remarked that "He guessed he +would go home." + +To this Gully objected, telling him there was no need of his going; that +he could sleep there and they would get an early start. This was agreed +upon, and a few minutes later the Gully home was in darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Gully and Norton reached the village the following day about the middle +of the forenoon, and driving directly to the one hotel of which the town +boasted, found the strangers awaiting their arrival. The old gentleman +was walking impatiently to and fro on the narrow board walk that did +duty as a porch, and the two younger men were idly glancing through some +well worn back number magazines with which the writing table in the one +waiting room of the hotel was strewn. + +After tieing his team Gully approached the old gentleman who, having +recognized him, had stopped his restless pacing and was nervously toying +with his watch fob. Accompanied by Jack Norton, whom he introduced, he +mentioned that "He regretted being so late, but the distance was great." +This apology was offered more for the purpose of conversation than +because he felt that it was due. The old gentleman acknowledged the +introduction of Norton and remarked that their lateness had caused him +no inconvenience, but added that he would like to get it finished as +soon as possible. + +He invited them to enter the hotel, where his companions were waiting. +These, upon recognizing Gully, bowed slightly, but remained seated when +Norton was presented. The latter having noted their lack of interest in +Gully merely bowed in acknowledgment, and remained standing. Upon a +suggestion from the old gentleman that they repair to the room which he +was occupying to discuss their business, his two assistants arose, +stretched themselves, and lowering their trouser legs, which they had +thoughtfully drawn up to prevent their bagging at the knees, they +strolled leisurely toward the stairs to ascend. + +Jack Norton, who had noticed the actions of the younger men, one of whom +could not have been much older than he, smiled indulgently as he thought +how they, in their ignorance, did not deem it necessary to extend to +them common courtesy, and mentally resolved to open their eyes on the +first occasion that presented itself before their departure. Dropping +back to allow the older man and Gully to precede him on the stairs, he +had just started up when the youngest of the strangers turned at the +head of the stairs and asked if it was necessary for "that fellow Norton +to be present." Jack Norton stopped and awaited Travis Gully's answer. +This was not long in coming. "It certainly is," he said, "Mr. Norton is +my associate in this deal, and he is the one who will do the talking." +This statement from Gully did not seem to create the impression on the +young man that Gully had hoped, and as he turned and continued his +leadership toward the room, Gully waited and taking Norton by the arm +said "Come on, Jack." Norton only smiled and accompanied them to the +room. + +Once inside the room, with the elderly man seated by a small table and +Gully occupying the one remaining chair, the young strangers reclining +lazily upon the bed, Jack was left to take care of himself, which he did +by remaining standing with his hat in his hand. He realized that he was +at a disadvantage. His name had not been mentioned in the original +letter to the company, nor was he referred to during the visit of the +strangers on the day before. + +The fact of his unexpected stay overnight at Gully's had deprived him of +the opportunity to change his clothes, and he had worn his overalls and +flannel shirt to this conference; but this fact did not annoy him in the +least, for he felt that he had judged the calibre of the younger members +of the party correctly, and he rather enjoyed the novelty of being +underestimated by them on account of his wearing apparel. He was +thoroughly familiar with the type of business man that he knew the old +gentleman to be and felt no resentment toward him for his brusque +manner. He had a bargain to drive, either for himself or the persons +whom he represented, and the accomplishment of this was his object, even +thought it took precedence over the demands of common politeness. + +There was no loss of time in coming to the discussion of the subject of +the meeting, and without any preliminary remarks Gully was asked if he +had prepared any bid on the work that he wished to submit, and in case +his offer was accepted, what would be the nature of the agreement he +would be willing to sign. + +As this volley of questions were fired at him unexpectedly, Gully did +not immediately reply, but reaching in his pocket, he drew out the paper +Norton had prepared, and after unfolding it answered that "He had +brought with him this paper, that would give them an idea of what would +be required and the probable cost of the work." + +Jack Norton, realizing that there was data embodied in the memorandum +that he did not care to have come into the possession of the strangers +just yet, stepped forward, intercepting the paper as it was being passed +across the table to the old gentleman, took it, and refolding it, placed +it in his own pocket, remarking, with a smile: "I think, if you +gentlemen will allow me, that I can expedite matters by explaining +existing conditions without the necessity of delving into figures just +yet." + +The two men reclining on the bed, aroused by his action and speech, were +now sitting up. The youngest, who had been introduced as Mr. Earl +Stevens, had started to arise and interfere, when Norton, glancing in +his direction, arrested his movements, and he had remained seated. + +Jack Norton, realizing instantly that he had the situation well in hand, +could not resist the temptation to launch his first shaft at Stevens. He +continued: "Your friend Mr. Stevens is no doubt a stenographer, and +perhaps he would like to make notes during our conversation." + +Stevens flushed and admitted that he was not, and the old gentleman said +he did not deem it necessary. + +Travis Gully, who was wholly unprepared for this byplay on young +Norton's part, sat quietly by and awaited for him to continue. + +Excusing himself for a moment, Jack Norton stepped out into the hall, +and entering an adjoining room, the door of which was standing open, he +immediately returned with a chair, which he placed at the table, and +began: + +"In the first place, Mr. Palmer," this being the old gentleman's name, +"what is the nature of the improvements that you propose to make on this +land?" + +"Well," Palmer began, "we intend to have it cleared of brush and +prepared for sowing to grain." + +"What amount of land do you propose to have put into a state of +cultivation?" Norton asked. + +"One whole section this winter, and probably more later," replied +Palmer. + +"You have visited this land and are familiar with the conditions, are +you not, Mr. Palmer?" asked Jack. + +"Yes, I was there yesterday." + +"Knowing that the land is isolated to a certain extent and that there +are no buildings on it or water for the men and stock who may be +employed by you, do you propose to make the necessary improvements in +the way of shelter and water, or does the contractor have to provide +these requirements?" was Norton's next question. + +"We had not contemplated improving the property to that extent until we +had gotten some returns on our first planting," answered Palmer, "but +should the prospect for a good yield look encouraging the company might +put on substantial improvements in the way of buildings and wells in +preparation for the coming harvest." + +"Then by your reference to the company, I am to understand that you and +these gentlemen who are accompanying you are not the sole owners of this +land. Am I right?" asked Jack, with a look in the direction of the two +men on the bed. + +"I am the agent of the owners, and these two young gentlemen are +surveyors who have accompanied me for the purpose of establishing the +lines with the view to fencing, and to take notes of the topographical +features of the land, which they hope at some time in the future will be +irrigated," explained Palmer. And he continued: "These gentlemen have +come prepared to remain until their work is completed. As for me, I +shall return as soon as the details of the preparation of the land for +seeding have been settled." And drawing from his pocket a bundle of +papers, extracting one from among them and laying it upon the table, he +leaned back in his chair and added: "My credentials." + +Palmer took the slip and glancing at the figures on it, turned it over +and made some calculations, and seeming satisfied, asked if they had +prepared an agreement. + +Norton replied that they had simply outlined it, and if the primary +feature, the price, was satisfactory, the other details could be worked +out later, as he understood from Mr. Gully that they were to return with +them provided an agreement was reached. + +"Very well," answered Palmer, "if you gentlemen will remain and take +lunch with us, we will be more fit for the long drive." + +They both thanked him and accepted the invitation. Gully suggested that +it would save time if he loaded their equipment before lunch and be +ready to start as soon as it was over. With this object in view, he and +Norton left the room, remarking that they would get the team and return +immediately. + +Travis Gully watched young Norton closely as they crossed to where the +team was tied, but made no remark, as he knew that Jack was thinking and +would soon express himself in regard to the interview that had just +closed. + +As they were preparing to climb into the wagon to drive to the hotel, +Jack stopped with one foot on the wheel and said, "Do you know, Mr. +Gully, that I believe I've seen that man Palmer before," and then he +added, "That fellow Stevens is a cad. Well I kept him out of it, +anyway." + +Gully made no reply to Jack's remark about Palmer, but he thought +Stevens was a "Smartalec." + +Norton, knowing that his opportunity for talking privately with Gully +would be gone after they had joined the others at the hotel, apologized +for taking the paper as he did, explaining that Palmer would see at a +glance what a less experienced man would have to figure out, and there +were certain figures on that paper that he did not want him to have +until he had learned the extent of his authority. + +Gully told him that he had acted just right for he supposed that the +paper was to be submitted as it was, and he told Jack that he would +leave the arrangements of the details entirely in his hands. + +It still lacking a few minutes to lunch time, they drove to the store +where a few purchases were made by Gully that had become necessary from +the fact that the strangers were to be his guests for a time. When this +was finished and the amount of the bill had been figured, Jack Norton +asked that it be receipted, and paid the cash. Gully remonstrated with +him and asked his idea for doing so. + +"We are partners are we not?" asked Jack. + +"In some things," Gully replied, "but--" + +"Never mind the buts," laughingly interrupted Jack, "remember you have +the wagon and teams, while I have put in nothing and besides, their +being there will make more work for Mrs. Gully and Ida. Understand that +I intend to be a partner in every sense of the word." + +Gully made no reply to this, and loading on their supplies, they drove +to the hotel and taking on the tents, baggage and instruments of the +strangers, tied their team and entered the hotel to await the call to +lunch, which was soon announced. + +The start after lunch and the long drive to the Gully home was devoid of +interest. Norton had given up his seat with Gully to Mr. Palmer, and had +contented himself with a less comfortable one in the rear of the wagon +among the boxes and baggage. The strangers who had put aside their +business suits and had donned their khaki, were being jostled and jolted +in a most heartless manner by the rough wagon as it rumbled along, +clattering over stones and bumping over the sagebrush that obstructed +the road. + +Conversation was a burden to these men, who fresh from the East, were +accustomed to more convenient means of transportation. Young Norton, who +was secretly enjoying their discomfort, was inclined to be social, and +in his efforts to entertain them, kept up a constant stream of +conversation. He told them of the advantages of the locality, of the +prospects of its being irrigated in the very near future by the +government, and how, if they were wise, they would secure a claim before +it was too late, and remain on it. He gave them a glowing description of +his trip to the harvest field, and recounted his experiences while +there, and as they showed unmistakable evidence of being bored he would +point to the claim of some homesteader and tell them where they had come +from and how long he must remain on his claim before he could make final +proof. + +The noise of the wagon prevented Jack from hearing how Travis Gully and +Mr. Palmer were passing away the time. He could occasionally see one or +the other point at some object in the distance, and he supposed that +they were getting along nicely. As for him, Jack Norton frequently +remarked years after that he never had a better time, nor the road seem +so short. + +They did not arrive at Gullys in time to establish their camp that +night, as the road they had driven out necessitated slow driving. After +the wagon had been unloaded and the horses cared for, supper was +announced and the strangers accompanying Travis Gully to the house, were +introduced to his family. Norton, who remained until after supper, +knowing that Gully was not prepared to furnish beds for the three men, +invited the two surveyors to accompany him to his shack, where he would +make them as comfortable for the night as he could. He was careful not +to mention the distance nor the scarcity of comforts at his home. + +The surveyors accepted his offer of hospitality for the night, and +before they left to accompany him, it was arranged that they were to +return for breakfast the following morning, and the day would be devoted +to preparing their camp, and a trip to the company's land. + +It was less than two miles from Gullys to Jack Norton's shack, but to +the surveyors who had been made tired and sore by the long rough ride of +the afternoon, the walk through the darkness across the sage covered +plain, with its numerous obstacles in the way of tufts of bunch grass, +scraggling sagebrush and abandoned badger holes, into and over which +they were constantly stumbling and falling in their efforts to follow +Jack, who, taking advantage of the shorter route, had purposely left the +road. To them the trip seemed interminable, and when they finally +reached Norton's home they staggered in, and after he had lighted the +small kerosene lamp, looked wistfully at the crude bed which Jack +pointed out to them with the remark: "It does not look very inviting, +but I suppose you gentlemen are tired enough to enjoy even these poor +accommodations." + +To which Thomas Dugan, the eldest of the two strangers, answered: "I +feel tired enough to sleep anywhere," and added, smilingly, "I wish you +boys could see some of the places where I have bunked while surveying +with the U. S. Geological survey party in Alaska." + +Norton's interest was immediately aroused, but knowing the hour to be +growing late, and feeling rather played out himself, from the long hours +of the night before, only remarked, "I would like to hear about it +sometime, Dr. Dugan." + +Norton then asked his guests if they felt as though a fire would add to +their comfort, if so he would kindle one, as it would not take a great +while to warm the room. + +Earl Stevens replied that all he wanted was "To get to bed." + +"Very well," answered Jack. "How about you Mr. Dugan, are you chilly?" + +"Not in the least," Dugan answered. + +"Then you and Mr. Stevens may occupy my bed. I am sorry I have such +limited quarters that to provide you with separate apartments is +impossible." + +"But how about yourself, where are you to sleep?" asked Dugan. + +"Never mind about me, I am provided for," laughed Jack, and reaching +under his bed drew out his roll of harvest blankets. + +"These," he said, "have been my only resting place for many long weeks +during the harvest season just passed, and I rather enjoy the prospect +of another night tucked comfortably away in their folds." + +Earl Stevens, who during this time had been busily unlacing and removing +his leather leggins and removing his outer garments, was now ready to +retire, and with the remark, "Any port in a storm," he rolled over to +the side next to the wall and crawled beneath the cover. + +Dugan, after asking Norton if he could be of any assistance to him, in +preparing his bed, and upon Jacks assurance that he could manage it +alone, soon joined Stevens. + +Jack Norton, after putting out the light and bidding his guests +good-night, was soon snoring contentedly. If they were not comfortable, +restless or his snoring disturbed them, Jack was unaware of the fact, +for he did not awake the following morning until the sun was well up. + +When he arose and went to the one small window with which his house was +provided, and drawing back the piece of calico that Miss Anderson had +neatly hemmed and with which she had presented him as a part of his +furnishings, the room was filled with sunlight. His guests were sleeping +soundly and were not awakened until the noise made by filling the stove +with sagebrush aroused them. + +Jack lighted the fire and asked them if they were ready to get up. Dugan +immediately arose and after dressing, followed Norton out to the bench, +where he was provided with a brimming basin of ice cold water with which +to bathe his face. Jack laughingly told him "The ice water was another +reminder of his trip to Alaska." + +Stevens, who soon followed, was also provided with this primitive means +of performing his morning ablution, and seemed much refreshed after its +completion. Upon being asked as to how they had rested, both he and +Dugan replied, "Splendidly." + +Norton realized that breakfast was probably awaiting their arrival at +the Gully home and not wishing to cause any additional delay, pointed +out Gully's house, and asked his guests if they would mind going there +alone as he had some chores to do, before he could come, but would +follow as quickly as possible. + +There being no objections to this, Dugan and Stevens left in the +direction of Gully's. Jack Norton watched their departure for a few +moments. He had made up his mind from the first that he did not like +young Stevens but had decided that Dugan was a good sort, and was +anxious to have an opportunity to know him better, and to hear of his +experience while in Alaska. Going into the house, he straightened out +the interior and supplying himself with pencils and paper for his use +during the day, followed his guests to Gully's. + +Mrs. Gully was just serving breakfast when Norton arrived, and he noting +that the places at the table were all filled, insisted upon her not +arising to prepare a place for him, that he "Had much rather wait and +eat with the children." As the girls and Joe clamored with their mother, +that Jack's wishes in this respect be granted, she smilingly answered, +"Very well then, just as you and Jack say, but run along now, and let us +eat in peace." + +Jack was out near where the equipment of the strangers had been +unloaded, preparatory to raising the tents, when a few minutes after, +Ida came to where he was standing and asked if he had eaten breakfast +so soon, she not having been in the room when Jack arrived, Norton +answered that he had not, and that he proposed to wait and eat with the +homefolks as he had gained her mother's consent to such an arrangement. + +Ida expressed herself as pleased and said she had avoided meeting the +strangers and seeing him outside had taken this opportunity to ask him +how he had managed to care for the two men as she knew his house was +small. + +Jack told her that they got along nicely, and he supposed that they had +rested well, as he had heard no complaint and he related how he had led +them across the sagebrush in the dark and expressed the opinion that if +anything would induce sleep, such a trip as he had given them surely +would. + +Ida laughed merrily at Jack's description of the manner in which the two +surveyors had stumbled along in the dark, but asked if it was not +equally hard on him. + +Assuring her that he was familiar with the route over which they had +gone they chatted on until Joe came running from the house calling to +them, "Mamma said come to breakfast." As they went to the house in +response to this summons, they passed Gully and the strangers, who were +on their way out to where the equipment lay. + +Travis Gully, calling to Jack to wait a moment, came back and told him +when he had finished eating, to send Joe out and let him know, as he +wanted to arrange some plans for the day with him privately. Norton +promised to do so, and as he turned to rejoin Ida, who was waiting, +found her embarrassed and annoyed by the constant staring of Stevens, +who had stopped to await Gully's coming, but as she did not mention the +matter, Jack did not let her know that he had noticed it. + +After his breakfast was eaten, Jack sent Joe to tell his father, and +when Gully, after excusing himself for a few moments, left the +strangers, and came to the house, where Jack was awaiting him in the +kitchen. He told him that he had been thinking the matter of the +contract over, and thought it a good idea to have a talk with some of +their neighbors and make sure of their help before binding themselves to +an agreement. + +"How do you propose to manage it?" asked Jack. + +"I thought you might take one of the teams and go see such of those as +you could, while I get the tents up, and upon your return we could drive +over and see the land," answered Gully. + +Jack thought for a moment before he replied to this proposition. "I'll +tell you," he finally said, "tomorrow night the literary society meets. +We will attend the meeting, leaving these men here. They would not be +interested, and while we are there we can take the matter up with those +we want to see." + +"But how about the contract?" asked Gully. "Ought it be signed, or can +it wait a day or two?" + +"Let it wait," replied Jack. + +So they went together where the strangers were waiting, and in a short +time, two tents were raised, and made fairly comfortable, and the +strangers had taken up their quarters. Mr. Palmer, with a rough board +table, and his suit case containing maps and papers occupying one, and +Dugan and Stevens with their surveying instruments, the other. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +It was now approaching the Holiday season, and there was as yet no +indications of a severe winter. There had been sufficient frost to kill +the grass, but stock was doing nicely on the range and little feeding +was required. + +No especial arrangements had been made for the seasons entertainment, +everyone seemed to be interested in the progress of the preparations for +work on the big contract. It was generally known that it was secured by +Gully and Norton and the neighbors were anxiously awaiting the time for +actual work to begin. + +The call for help among them on the night of the literary meeting, had +been gladly responded to, and almost daily requests for work were being +received from persons who lived many miles distant. + +The deal had been successfully consummated and Mr. Palmer had returned +to the East. The surveyors Dugan and Stevens were eagerly endeavoring to +complete their part of the work, in order to return to their homes in +time for the Holiday festivities. + +Travis Gully and Jack Norton who had secured additional teams, were +busily hauling material for the erection of shelters, and feed, to the +point on the company's land, that had been selected for the +establishment of the main camp. + +Fresh water was to be hauled daily from Gully's well in a huge tank that +had been constructed for this purpose, and everything was to be gotten +in readiness for work to begin immediately after the new year. + +Jack Norton and Dugan became great friends, and the latter spent many +nights with Jack when they would sit for hours by the roaring sheet iron +stove, while Jack listened in boyish eagerness to the older mans +accounts of his experiences while in Alaska with the Geological survey. +Dugan soon discovered that Jack's hobby was geology, and he could talk +learnedly on that subject, so it welded their friendship all the +stronger. + +Miss Anderson came almost daily after school, to assist Mrs. Gully in +preparing a few trinkets for Christmas, and they would sit at night and +plan for Ida's future. Miss Anderson was especially anxious to keep Ida, +who was peculiarly adapted to, and took such an interest in fancy needle +work under her care and instruction, and she also taught her how to +prepare and serve such dainty dishes as the means at their hand +permitted. + +Minnie Gully could see, and appreciated Miss Anderson's interest in Ida, +for the girl had never until now, had an opportunity to learn, and no +one could find fault with Miss Anderson as a teacher. + +In fact, Ida was rapidly developing into a very able young lady and was +beginning to show the traces of refinement that she had no doubt, as +Miss Anderson expressed it, inherited from her mother, although the +latters natural inclinations in this respect had lain dormant up to +within the last two years. She was proud of Ida and missed no +opportunity to refer to the progress her pupil was making. + +The lines having been all established and nothing left but the +topographical map of the land to be completed, and most of the data for +this having been obtained, the greater part of young Stevens work +consisted of draughting and the compilation of the data. He did not join +in the conversation with the men, and his only occupation while not at +his work, seemed to be seeking an opportunity of forcing his attentions +on Ida Gully. + +In this he was frustrated by the young lady herself, who avoided him +except at such times as he came to his meals. Occasionally he came to +the house during the evening, ostensibly to talk with her father, but +usually ignored Gully, but he gained no opportunity to speak with her +except in the presence of either Miss Anderson or her mother. + +On one such occasion he asked Miss Anderson why so able a person as she +should waste her talent by remaining in such a wilderness, and then +fixing his gaze on Ida, busily engaged on her fancy work, quoted: + + "_Many a rose is born, + To blush, unseen, + And waste its fragrance; + On the desert air._" + +Miss Anderson replied that she would not consider her time or talent +wasted if she could restore to the world just one of these desert roses +to which he referred, in all its native simplicity. For, she continued, +without such talent as I possess, to protect it, the contaminating +influence that surrounds the desert, might invade the retreat of the +rose and cast its blight upon it. + +Stevens was not expecting this thrust, and parried by saying that the +contaminating influence, civilization, to which Miss Anderson evidently +referred, would probably invade their retreat within the near future, +for from what he had seen and learned, during his stay in the locality, +the country would soon make rapid strides and would become an active +agricultural center. + +"We certainly hope so, and with that expectation, we shall continue to +prepare ourselves to blend with the changed conditions, when it does +come. But for the present we are contented," she answered. + +Ida cast an appreciative glance at Miss Anderson and secretly resolved +to place herself completely in her hand, in hopes that she too might +acquire her dignified manner and conversational power. + +At last the work of the surveyors was finished, and the tents were +lowered and packed with their instruments, ready for their return. Gully +was to drive them to the village. Dugan and Stevens had spent the last +night of their stay with Jack, in his shack, under the same conditions +they had the first, with the exception that they now knew Norton--Dugan +to respect and Stevens to fear this young man who had surprised them +both with his apparent business ability and his gentlemanly manner. + +Travis Gully drove away with the two men, after the family had bidden +them goodbye. Norton and Miss Anderson were present to pay their +respects to the departing guests. Norton requested that they lose no +opportunity to speak a favorable word for the reclamation of the desert, +and Miss Anderson expressed her hopes to young Stevens that his +predictions for the future of the country would come true. + +The affairs at the Gully home soon resumed their normal stage after the +departure of the surveyors, and as the preparations were completed for +the work of clearing the land to be started, the matter of the holidays +was taken up, and numerous suggestions for a befitting Christmas +celebration were made. As only a few days remained before the time would +arrive, hasty action was required. + +At Sunday school the next Sunday, the matter was discussed, and a +committee consisting of Miss Anderson, Jack Norton and The Professor +were appointed to take charge of the affair, and all felt satisfied that +in these competent hands success was assured. + +The Holiday vacation of two weeks which Miss Anderson and the Professor +gave their schools gave ample time for the preparations and a splendid +time was had at the entertainment, but to those who were present the +Christmas before at the old sagebrush tree, there was something missing. +They could not define what, but the same neighborly feeling did not +exist. This was probably due to their increased number and the +introduction of new characters among them. + +Snow began to fall in small flurries during the Holidays, but not in +sufficient quantities as to interfere with the plans for work. +Immediately after the New Year Gully moved with his family to the +company's land where Mrs. Gully and Ida were to cook for the men +employed on the work. + +The fall of snow, though light, interfered with plowing, but the removal +of sagebrush progressed rapidly. This was accomplished by hitching two +or more horses at each end of a steel rail, procured at the railroad, +and by means of which the sagebrush was dragged or broken from the land. +The men and children followed this contrivance, gathering the brush and +piling it ready for burning. + +Everything progressed splendidly, the favorable weather kept the range +open and thus the supply of feed for the horses was conserved. Most of +the land was cleared of brush before the season for plowing arrived, and +when it came, which was at an exceptionally early date, every team was +available for this service and was put to work. + +Travis Gully, whose duty it was to keep supplies in the way of +provisions and water at the camp, was kept constantly on the road, +either to the village or his well. Jack Norton looked after the +allotment of parcels of land to be plowed and kept track of the work +accomplished by each of those engaged. This, together with the accounts +and correspondence incident to the work, required all of his time, but +under his able management the work was so systemized that it was +completed some weeks in advance of the time specified in the contract. + +Encouraged by this fact he suggested to Gully that they put in a bid +with the company for seeding and fencing the land, which they did and +were awarded the contract for this also. + +It was a very successful winter for both Gully and Norton. While they +had been most liberal in their payments to their neighbors who had been +employed by them, the final accounting showed flattering results. + +Travis Gully had sufficient funds to install a much better pumping plant +at his well than he had dreamed of. Instead of the windmill he purchased +a gasoline engine and one of the most recently invented pumps, the +capacity of his pumping plant was sufficient to furnish water for +irrigation of forty acres. + +Jack Norton bought a wagon and team for his own use, and made extensive +improvements on his claim, among which was a well with a windmill, and a +much needed addition to his house. + +The seeding of their own places to grain, was but a small task as +compared to the one they had just completed, and was soon accomplished. +As the spring season advanced and the young grain came up and began to +show a faint tinge of green that was noticeable at a distance, Gully and +Norton decided to visit the companys land and view the results of their +work. + +The prospects there were even better than at their own homes. The grain +having been sown earlier, was farther advanced and made a much better +showing. As the two men strolled over the immense field of young grain +they could recall to their minds the scenes in the harvest fields that +they had witnessed the fall before, and shifted the scene of action to +their own immediate neighborhood. + +Jack Norton, in his pride at the promising outlook, wrote to Mr. Palmer +and gave him a glowing description of what the probable outcome would +be. + +A few weeks passed during which time Gully planted a number of fruit +trees and prepared a nice field of alfalfa which had just begun to come +up. Knowing that the snow fall had been light during the winter and +noting the absence of the seasonable showers of the spring before, he +watched the small amount of moisture which the ground had contained, and +saw it rapidly being absorbed by the increasing heat of the sun, and +least the growth of his young alfalfa be retarded, he set his engine to +going and gave the patch a thorough wetting. His trees were beginning to +put forth their tender leaves, and as the ditch through which the water +flowed to the alfalfa passed near the trees, it watered them also. + +The desert never looked more beautiful. The absence of severe wind +storms during the spring and summer before had allowed the sand to +remain smooth, just as it had been left beaten by the rains. Upon +arising one morning, Gully noted far to the west, an occasional puff of +dust, and then a spiral column of sand would mount heavenward and attain +a height of several hundred feet, and scattering, would cause the air to +become murky and hazy. + +Travis Gully's heart sank within him, for he knew too well the meaning +of these signs. That it foretold a desert sand storm he knew, and his +only hope was that it would not be a severe one. Saying nothing he went +about his work, knowing from his experience during the first year in the +region that it would be hours before its extent would be known. + +The children went to school as usual, but Gully kept constant watch on +the approaching storm. By noon he knew by the increased movement of the +clouds of dust that it was to be a terrific storm, and advised his wife +of the fact. She suggested that he take the wagon and go to the school +and bring the children and Miss Anderson home, which he did. On his way +to the school he thought of Jack Norton, and knowing that there had been +no real desert storms since he came, decided to drive by his place and +warn him of its approach. + +He saw Jack clearing more ground, working contentedly in blissful +ignorance of the impending calamity. Calling to him to come to the fence +Gully told him of his fears and advised that he lash down his windmill +and make such other preparations as he saw fit, as the storm would +probably last for several days. + +Norton thanked him, and looking in the direction of the clouds, +remarked: "I saw that coming, but thought it might mean a good rain." + +Gully smiled and answered: "Just the opposite my boy, and if you do not +feel like being housed up alone for several days you had better hitch up +your team and come over to my place until the storm passes." + +"O I guess it won't be quite that bad," answered Jack, "but if I see +that I cannot weather the gale I'll try and work my way over, thank +you." + +Gully drove off to the school house, and as he did so, he shouted back, +"Better take my advice, Jack, and go on over to the house." + +Norton waved his hand and returned to his work. + +When Gully reached the school house he told Miss Anderson of the +impending danger, and advised her to dismiss school at once as he feared +some of the children who lived at a distance would have difficulty in +reaching their home if not given time to do so before the storm reached +them. + +Miss Anderson who had never witnessed one of these sand storms was now +thoroughly alarmed at Gully's apparent earnestness, did as he had +advised, and cautioned the children to hurry to their homes if they +would avoid being caught in the storm. + +After hurriedly placing the school room in order and securely fastening +the windows and doors she was ready to go to her own home, when Gully, +informing her of the probable duration of the storm, insisted on her +going home with him and the children. This she did and they had hardly +reached the Gully home when the fitful gusts of wind started the +restless sand in motion, and before night, the storm was raging. It was +impossible to see any distance for the blinding sand and dust. + +All night it raged and as there was no sign of its abatement, Gully +ventured out to attend to his stock the following morning. It recalled +to his mind the winter of the terrible blizzard and it was just as +severe, except that it was driving sand instead of snow, and they did +not have the cold to contend with. + +Miss Anderson expressed herself as truly thankful that she had taken Mr. +Gully's advice, and came home with him and the children. She tried to be +as cheerful as possible but she now understood what had retarded the +settlement of this beautiful country with which she was fascinated. + +She tried in vain to interest Ida in her fancy work, but this young lady +persisted in standing at the window looking out in an effort to +penetrate with her gaze, the mass of sand and dust, always looking in +the direction of the school house and watching the road that lead to +Jack Norton's home. + +Miss Anderson who noticed this, went to her and placing her arm around +the girl, asked, "What is it dear, does the storm frighten you?" + +"No," answered Ida, "I was thinking of those in the desert who are alone +and wondering if they were safe." + +"To whom do you refer?" asked Miss Anderson. "None of those that I can +recall are alone." + +Ida's eyes instantly filled with tears and she exclaimed, "O Miss +Anderson, had you forgotten Mr. Norton? He is alone and I know he would +have been here by now if something had not happened to him." + +"Why bless your dear heart," exclaimed Miss Anderson. "I had forgotten +him, but you may rest assured nothing has harmed him and it is probable +because he is busy taking care of his stock and other property that he +has not been over. This storm would not stop him, I am sure." And thus +she comforted the much perturbed girl, but to herself she thought, "I +knew it would come to this, and I do so hope that the feeling becomes +mutual. Jack is so nice and I know I can prepare this dear child to make +him a wife befitting the station in life to which I know he belongs." + +After this little scene at the window Ida clung closer to Miss Anderson, +and while she had not confided in her, she felt that she understood and +the bond of sympathy between them was established. + +The storm continued for two days, and when it had exhausted itself and +before the atmosphere had cleared sufficiently to see any distance, Jack +Norton came tramping across the plain to the Gully home. He was greeted +with shouts of welcome by Joe and the younger girls. Coming into the +front part of the house, he asked if all were present, and how they had +stood the storm. He told Gully that he had wished a thousand times that +he had come with him the first day. + +Travis Gully asked if he had been able to note the effect of the storm +on the growing grain. Norton replied that he had not, for as he +expressed it, "I have not been able to overtake the grain yet. The +ground at my place is swept perfectly clean." + +Gully arose and went to the window, looked out for a minute, and turning +to young Norton, said, "Let's take a walk, Jack." + +Norton, without replying, followed him out, and they walked down across +the alfalfa patch. Occasionally they stopped and examined the ground and +then came back to the trees. + +In a few minutes they returned to the house and as they entered, Gully +was heard to remark: "Well, it's a good thing I put water on when I +did." + +"What is it Travis," asked his wife. "Is everything ruined?" + +"No indeed," answered Gully. "I find that my alfalfa and trees have not +been injured in the least. The water I put on the ground has held the +sand and I now have the secret of farming in this country." + +"I shall get me an engine immediately," put in Jack. "Alfalfa, fruit and +stock raising beats wheat anyway." + +"Do you suppose the wheat is all ruined?" asked Miss Anderson. + +"I am afraid so," Gully replied. + +"Gee," exclaimed Jack. "What a letter I have got to write Mr. Palmer +now. Well, it is not our fault." + +They were right. The wheat was all killed and it was too late in the +season to replant had they the means of doing so. A few days after the +passing of the storm Gully and Norton drove to the company's land to +view its effect. + +Not a sprig of grain could be found, and the soil had been blown from +the surface to the depth of the plowing. The whole tract presented a +most disheartening appearance. Both men expressed the deepest regret and +sympathy for the unfortunate owners who had sustained such a loss and +agreed that they should be notified of their misfortune. + +The letter was written by Jack, who in a plain, straightforward manner, +explained to Mr. Palmer what had befallen the grain, and added that they +were not alone in their misfortune, as those of the homesteaders who had +no well equipped with machinery for irrigation, were also heavy losers. +The more fortunate, however, among whom was included, their mutual +friend Mr. Gully, who could get water on the ground, had suffered but +little. He suggested to Mr. Palmer that he take the matter of irrigating +their land from a well, equipped with pumping machinery, up with his +clients. + +Sometime later Jack received a letter from Mr. Palmer, thanking him for +the interest he had shown in their behalf, and assured him that in due +time the company would realize the necessity of doing as was suggested +in his letter. Sinking wells and drawing their water supply from the +abundance that, it had been proven, lay beneath the surface. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +It was a bright November morning three years later that two heavily +loaded automobiles were tearing their way along the Scenic Highway that +had been constructed from St. Paul to Seattle. Each car contained three +passengers besides the drivers, and piled high on the running boards and +strapped on the back of each car was the baggage and camp equipment of +the party. + +At a point in the desert along the eastern boundary of which the Highway +ran, it paralleled the railway, and ran thus for several miles, and was +intercepted by roads leading from homes that could be seen farther back +across the sagebrush covered plain. These homes were not numerous, but +each in the bright sunlight that caused the shimmering, dancing mirage +to hover over the patches of dark green alfalfa and orchards that +surrounded them, showed the tourists plainly that the conquest of the +desert, in some instances, had been accomplished. + +On this particular morning, a wagon, drawn by four splendid horses and +loaded high with bales of alfalfa that still retained the green of the +field from which it had been cut, so perfect had been the process of +curing, was being driven from one of these homes by a man by whose side +sat a chubby faced boy of some eight or nine years. + +The wagon had just turned into the highway a short distance ahead of the +rapidly moving cars, and as they approached with their horn coughing a +dusty warning, the driver drew out to one side to await their passing. +The first car rushed by and disappeared in a cloud of dust, and the one +in the rear, seeing the trouble the driver was having with his now +thoroughly frightened team, came along beside the wagon more slowly and +asked if they could be of assistance in straightening out the tangled +horses. + +Travis Gully, for it was he and Joe who were on the wagon, said if +someone would go to the head of the leaders until he could get down, he +thought he could manage them until the car had gone by. One of the men +sprang from the car and was advancing to seize the horses bridles, when +looking up, he stopped short for an instant and reaching his hand up to +Gully, exclaimed, "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Gully. How are you?" + +Travis Gully, taking his attention from the horses which had now quieted +down since the car had stopped, looked at the man on the ground for an +instant, and bursting into a laugh as he recognized Thomas Dugan the +surveyor, he half climbed and half fell from the wagon, and grasped +Dugan by the hand and shook it cordially. + +By this time another occupant of the car, who proved to be Mr. Palmer, +came forward, and after greeting Gully, inquired as to the health of the +rest of the family. Upon being assured that they were doing nicely, Mr. +Palmer said, "I am certainly glad to hear it. We will probably be out +your way tomorrow. We left Spokane early this morning and are going +through to Wenatchee for lunch. The owners of the land you cleared are +in the car that just passed." + +Dugan had helped Joe from the wagon, and was commenting on his growth, +when Mr. Palmer asked Gully if they could assist him with his horses, if +not they would go on as they wished to overtake the other car in the +village just ahead. + +Gully assured him that he could manage the team, and with the promise +that "we will see you tomorrow or the next day," Mr. Palmer and Dugan +entered the car, and proceeded on their journey. + +Travis Gully watched them as they disappeared down the road in a cloud +of dust, and wondered what motive could be bringing them back to the +land on which they had already lost so heavily, but, with the hope that +they probably had some information relative to the irrigation project +that had now almost become a forgotten subject, he placed Joe back on +the wagon and climbing back to his own seat, spoke to the horses and +drove on to the village, with his load of hay. + +Travis Gully had prospered, and his dream of a home just as he wanted +it, was fully realized. He had not developed all of his land, because +the original forty acres upon which he had pumped water from his well, +had proven so productive that it was more than he could handle alone, so +he did not see the necessity of developing more. + +His home, as it was, seemed an ideal place. The trees which he had +planted at the root of which he had buried tin cans, were now affording +ample shade and serving the purpose of a wind break for his house--not +that the wind had any terror for him now. It did not harm him now as he +had mastered the situation and was reaping the reward of his +perseverence. + +He could now gratify his cherished ambition for nice horses and his +alfalfa fields and paddocks were the play grounds for some beautiful +colts he was raising. Numerous cattle roamed at large over the open +sagebrush range, and fattened on the succulent bunch grass, coming daily +to the Gully home for water. They all bore the Gully brand and were a +source of income to him. + +His wife and family were happy, and retained their health as all those +who lived in this favored country did. Ida was now a finished young +lady. She had gone to school in one of the coast cities, a school, the +selection of which had been left to Miss Anderson, who had accompanied +her during her first term. + +Jack Norton had fulfilled his threat made the morning after the storm +three years before, to install a pumping plant on his place, and under +the guidance of Gully was doing well. Miss Anderson, though never having +put down a well, was residing on her claim, and with what she earned +teaching the little school, was comfortable and happy. The main source +of her happiness, however, was in watching the course of the lives of +Jack and Ida, there was no longer any doubt or secret of their devotion +to each other. It had come about as naturally as the other changes had +come, and was looked upon as a matter of course. There had been no +ardent wooing, no rivals with which to contend, just a companionship +that had grown dearer as the year passed, and the time for its final +culmination in a marriage had been set for the coming Holiday season. + +Minnie Gully was happy. She had never known that such happiness was +possible. She only asked for one other blessing and that was that her +parents would come and share their home. She and Travis had written +repeatedly, making this request, but always the same answer came from +the old people. They felt that they were too old to make the change, and +wanted to spend their remaining days among the surroundings they had +known so long. + +When Travis Gully returned from the village on the evening of the day +that he had come so unexpectedly upon Mr. Palmer and Dugan as they were +passing in the car, he eagerly told of what had happened, and upon his +telling his listening family of their intended visit to the company's +land within the next few days, they all expressed their satisfaction at +the changed conditions that would enable them to extend to the visitors +the hospitality that they had been denied on their former visit. + +Mrs. Gully and Ida, with true feminine instinct, immediately began to +plan, and offer suggestions for the most befitting way in which to +entertain. In this they were at a disadvantage, as they did not know +whether they intended to make a visit of several days, or would return +immediately after looking over the land. In any event, they decided that +they would prepare for them one splendid meal, the material used in the +preparation of this meal should be from the products of their desert +home, and with an unlimited supply of fresh eggs, young and tender +fowls, vegetables and milk and butter, the feast promised to be a +bounteous one. + +In the mean time Joe had recalled the fact that Mr. Dugan promised him a +ride in the automobile, an experience he had never enjoyed, and he was +excitedly telling his sisters how much faster it ran than Daisy his pony +could go. + +The morning after Gully had brought the news of the probable coming of +the party he went to Jack Norton's to acquaint him of the fact and he +and Jack discussed the probable cause of their visit, and agreed that it +must be for the purpose of irrigation, as they had never attempted to +cultivate the land since the first year that had proven such a dismal +failure. So they decided to get together that evening and prepare a +concise statement of their experiences and methods that would contain +all the information for which the land owners would probably ask. + +For Gully and Norton this would be a comparatively easy task, for they +had kept an accurate record of the items that effected the peculiar +conditions in the locality in which they lived, and had applied them in +a manner that had been very largely responsible for the success they had +attained. The accumulation of this data, such as the varieties of seed +to be used, time for planting and the conditions under which water +should be applied to the land had been brought about by the +introduction into their literary society, which still held regular +meetings, of the reading weekly of a paper prepared by some homesteader +as an educational feature. + +Miss Anderson was also told of the return to the neighborhood of Mr. +Palmer and Mr. Dugan, and returned from school with the children that +afternoon to learn more of their coming. + +And when young Norton drove over to the Gully home after supper that +evening, his arrival completed the circle of faces that had gathered at +the same place on the day of the surveyors departure three years before, +and the thought that was uppermost in the minds of those present was: +"What will they think of the change that has been wrought?" + +It was agreed that should the party of visitors arrive the following +day, and their arrival could be plainly noted from both the school house +and Norton's home, Jack was to come over immediately and Miss Anderson +was to accompany the children home. After plans for their reception had +been completed, Jack with Miss Anderson accompanying him in his buggy, +left the Gullys, and after seeing her safely home, the night being fine, +Jack drove for several miles along the dusty road in the bright +moonlight, and as he allowed the horse to choose his own gait, he took +no notice of his surroundings or the distance he had come. + +He wondered to himself what motive had prompted his actions, he might +have remained at Gully's and spent a happy hour or more with Ida and +plan for the future with her, as was their custom when together. But +tonight he wanted to be alone. + +The announcement of the unexpected return of Palmer and Dugan had +recalled his experience with these men on the first day they had met at +the hotel and he smiled as he thought of the opportunity it had afforded +him to match wits with them, and the satisfaction he had derived from +the occurrence. + +Since their departure he had not allowed his mind to be diverted from +his one purpose, the subduing of the desert sands and the forcing of the +land to yield as his analysis of it had proven it capable of doing. He +had, on two occasions during the past two years, accompanied the +Professor on a trip to the Grand Coulee and had spent days of delightful +research that had resulted in more firmly convincing him that the +country as a whole was a wonderland. + +But this night, while alone on the desert, driving aimlessly along a +most miserable road, his mind would dwell on his old home, on his past, +and his old Dad, whose only child he was, of how he had left and had now +for over four years, kept his whereabouts a secret, just to satisfy a +hastily made resolve to make proper restitution for a boyish prank. Now +that he was in a position to make good this resolution, another factor +had come into his life--Ida Gully. + +At the thought of Ida, Norton's blood tingled, and tightening up his +reins suddenly, stopped his horse. "I am foolish," he said to himself. +"I must return and get some rest," and turning his horses head toward +home, thought how proudly he would stand by Ida's side and receive +congratulations of Palmer and Dugan for they should know of their +engagement, and he would watch with pleasure, the expressions of +astonishment their faces would betray when they noted the stately +bearing she had acquired, and heard with what grace and ease of manner +she acknowledged their expressed wishes for her future happiness. + +Reaching his home Jack cared for his horse, and going into the house saw +that it was almost midnight. He smiled and said, "Quite a visit I have +had with myself," and lost no time in retiring. + +Owing to the expected arrival of the strangers and the part he was to +have in their entertainment, Jack had not planned any work for the +morrow, so he lay and rested the following morning, much longer than was +his custom. Upon arising, he went leisurely about preparing his +breakfast. After eating he attended to his horses, and left the barn +door open so that all except his driver could go at will into the +alfalfa field. Returning to the house he dressed more carefully than +usual, for he realized that the Gullys, whose real guest he was to be on +this occasion, would put forth exceptional efforts in honor of the +strangers arrival. His toilet completed to his satisfaction, he +concluded that he would drive over to Gullys, in advance of the arrival +of the party, and have an opportunity to explain to Ida his hasty +departure of the night before, feeling that his appearance a little +ahead of time would not be a breech of etiquette under the +circumstances. + +Upon his arrival at the Gully home, he found the family assembled out in +the yard, looking in the direction of the village a few miles out from +which, along the Scenic Highway could be distinctly seen the dust being +raised in clouds by two moving objects. + +Travis Gully turned at Jack's approach and pointed in the direction of +the moving objects, and remarked: "Guess they are coming, all right." +Jack answered that he supposed it was them, and bidding Mrs. Gully and +Ida good-morning, approached Ida, and taking her by the hand led her +into the house. + +Gully upon noticing that Jack had left his horse tied where the +automobiles would probably be driven, and fearing that he might become +frightened, took him to the barn, and after seeing that he was cared +for, was just returning to the house as the first of the cars came up +the driveway that led to his gate. + +Gully went out to meet them and recognizing Palmer and Dugan as the +occupants beside whom a stranger sat. As they drove up and greeted him +and introduced the third member of the party, Gully invited them to get +out and await the arrival of the other car, and then go into the house. +This they did, and as the driver of the car prepared to move ahead to +make room, he, through force of habit no doubt, sounded his horn. + +Jack Norton, who was still in the house, was startled by the familiar +sound of the auto horn. It was the first intimation of their arrival he +had been given, so busy was he talking to Mrs. Gully and Ida. Being +anxious to greet Mr. Palmer and Dugan, he asked the ladies to excuse him +and went immediately out to the group of men who had now entered the +yard. Recognizing his acquaintances he approached them with outstretched +hand and was laughing and chatting. As the second car drove up and +stopped, he turned slightly and seeing Gully approach to welcome them, +continued his conversation with Dugan. + +The clicking of the latch on the gate, after the party had entered, +reminded him that it was time for him to meet the new comer, and as he +started to turn, someone remarked: "You have a nice place here, Mr. +Gully." Jack Norton's face blanched, and the words of greeting stuck in +his throat, for just one instant, and turning quickly around with a cry +of "Dad," stood face to face with his father. + +The elder Norton stopped as if paralyzed, but instantly recovering +exclaimed, "Jack, my boy," seized Jack in his arms and pressing his head +back, the father brushed Jack's hat from his head and pushing his hair +back, began rumpling and towseling it, just as he was wont to do when +Jack was a small boy. Then recovering himself, glanced behind him as if +in search of some thing, and simply said, "I must sit down." + +Jack Norton and Mr. Palmer assisted the old gentleman to the house, +where they were met by Mrs. Gully and Ida, who had witnessed the meeting +of Jack and his father, but not understanding the meaning of the strange +proceedings, had started to come out, thinking something was wrong. They +had only reached the door when they met Jack and Mr. Palmer, and +returned to prepare a comfortable place for the stricken old gentleman +they were supporting between them. + +Ida, immediately sensing that the occurrence had in some way materially +affected Jack went, as soon as the old gentleman was comfortably seated, +to Jack, and placing her hand upon his shoulder, inquired what was +wrong. Jack laughingly assured her and told her that everything was far +from being wrong, that the old gentleman was his father, and that they +had met by the merest chance, adding that he would explain in a few +moments, as soon as he was assured that his father was all right. + +Mrs. Gully hastily secured a glass of cold water, which revived the old +gentleman, and the rest of the party came in with Travis Gully and Mr. +Dugan. Introductions immediately followed the entrance into the room of +the strangers, and as Mr. Norton had sufficiently recovered to be able +to arise, he went to where Jack and Ida were standing, and with an +amused twinkle in his eyes asked of his son: "Am I entitled to an +introduction to this estimable young lady, Jack?" Jack was plainly +embarrassed by his thoughtlessness in not having taken Ida to his father +at first, and introduced his father to her, with apologies for his +oversight. + +The occurrence had taken place in so short a time and so unexpectedly +that the importance of it, except to Jack and his father, had not had +time to impress those present. + +Travis Gully was at a loss to understand the situation, but felt sure +that an explanation would be given in due time. His wife's greatest +concern was that the excellent dinner which she had prepared for the +expected guests was in a fair way of being spoiled by the delay caused +by the occurrence. The simple fact of Jack and his father having met +after an extended separation did not impress her as being very +extraordinary. As for Ida, she realized fully the meaning of the +happening, but did not take into account the probable effect it would +have on the future as far as she and Jack were concerned. She had +noticed, however, that Jack had introduced her to his father as Miss +Gully instead of Ida, and in her simplicity she had not known that he +had but conformed to the usages of polite society. She had never heard +him speak of her as Miss Gully except in jest, and she was annoyed. + +The party of strangers, accompanied by Gully and Jack, the latter +clinging to his father's arm, had again gone out in the yard and were +admiring the beautiful scenery of the mountains that could be seen at an +advantage at the noon hour under the bright glare of the fall sunlight. + +Jack and his father stood apart from the rest, and Jack was pointing +with apparent pride in the direction of his place, while his father +stood in an attitude of listening to his evident enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Burns Norton, Jack's father, was of Irish descent, and had been born and +raised in the south. His father, who had been a prominent cotton broker +before the war, had amassed a fortune that consisted principally of +stocks and bonds, with occasional bits of land scattered throughout +various southern states, that had been acquired by him through deals of +such magnitude that frequently the land was absorbed and reverted to him +in lieu of cash that he had advanced to his clients. + +The war was the cause of the loss of the fortune thus acquired, and the +elder Norton, Jack's grandfather, had died soon after its close a poor +man, having turned over to those who had tried to help him survive these +strenuous times all the property, real and personal, that he possessed. +Among the tracts of land thus acquired was one which consisted of +several hundred acres situated in what was known as the Panhandle, in +Texas, then arid and considered worthless except for range purposes. + +When he had turned the deed to this over to his creditors, the board of +appraisers handed it back with the remark: "That is too far away. It is +valueless and we will not take it into consideration," and then added: +"Put it away for your boy; it may be worth something by the time he is a +man." + +Burns Norton was just past fifteen when his father joined his mother, +who had never recovered from the shock sustained when their fortune was +lost, and with this tract of barren waste land, covered with curly +mosquito grass, as his only property inheritance, he was set adrift in +the world. + +He accompanied a party of human derelicts, who drifted hither and +thither during the reconstruction days following the close of the war, +and finally landed in Texas, where he worked on a stock ranch, and rode +the old Santa Fe Trail from Quanah, Texas, to Topeka, Kansas, for years. +As time passed, and the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad was being +constructed, it passed through this land of Norton's. He had never +mentioned the fact that he owned the land to any one, and it had been +fenced as a part of an immense pasture, and when he went to the owners +of this pasture and demanded that his land be thrown outside by the +removal of their fence, they questioned his right to the land. Young +Norton had no difficulty in proving his ownership, and went immediately +to work improving it, and from this start sprung the immense wealth he +now controlled. It was this experience that had prompted his investment +in the land he had come to inspect at the time he discovered his lost +son Jack, living over the life that he had led when he was Jack's age, +and he understood where the adventurous disposition had originated, and +he did not blame the boy. In fact, he had never blamed Jack for +anything. He had been an indulgent father, and even now he was gratified +by the boy's spirit, and although he felt that he had been badly treated +he did not reproach him. + +Mrs. Gully came to the door and called to her husband that dinner was +ready, and he invited his guests to come in. Mr. Palmer and Dugan, who +felt more at home than the rest, answered the summons promptly, and as +they were passing the well they noticed a barrel of fresh cold water +which stood temptingly near, and jokingly called to Mrs. Gully that if +she would provide them with a towel they thought they would enjoy +washing outside as they had done on their former visit. + +Ida brought them towels and tin basins, and the entire party prepared +themselves for their dinner at the well while Gully explained the +workings of his pumping plant. + +Jack and his father were the last to come to the well, and as Mr. Norton +splashed his face with an abundance of cold water he laughingly told +Jack that he did not blame him for being so enthusiastic about the +country if that was a fair sample of their water, "for," declared he, +"although it seems to have been sitting here for quite a while, it is +still sparkling and cool." + +Jack assured him that he had never seen or heard of a bad well of water +in the country. Going into the house, they were seated at their dinners, +while Mrs. Gully and Ida served. It was a revelation to these tired +business men, this good wholesome food, that had been brought fresh from +the soil and cool pantry and served in the simplest homelike manner, and +they did justice to Mrs. Gully's and her daughter's culinary art by +eating most heartily. + +After the meal was finished, Mr. Norton called to Jack and told him to +look in the front of the car in which he had come and bring him the +small satchel that bore his name on the tag. Jack secured the satchel, +and upon his return and handing it to his father, the latter took from +it a box of cigars, and after passing them around said that if the +ladies had no objections, they would visit a while, and postpone their +trip to the land. "You see," he continued, "with the discovery of this +young rascal," with a fond look at Jack, "there has been a great burden +relieved from my mind, and I want to enjoy it in my own way, for there +is no dependence to be put in his next move." + +Mrs. Gully replied that she would be pleased to have Mr. Norton feel +enough at home to choose his own method of celebrating the restoration +of his son, but she did feel that she must protest the remarks about +Jack, for they had always found him a most dependable young man. + +The old gentleman smiled at her defense of Jack, while that young worthy +arose from his seat, and with mock gravity thanked her for her effort in +his behalf, and turning to his father, quoted: + + "I stand at the bar of justice, + Condemned in the cause that you plead; + My only defense the simple request + That you judge by the motive, not deed." + +Mr. Norton, now in the best of spirits, turned to those present and +asked: "Shall we listen to his plea?" A chorus of voices exclaimed: "Go +ahead; let's have the story." + +It was a trying moment for Jack Norton. He had not expected events to +take this turn, but he saw that his father expected an explanation of +his conduct, and there was no alternative. It must be made in the +presence of those who had assembled at the home of his dearest friends, +the Gullys, and he knew that in view of the relations that existed +between him and the family, an explanation was due. + +Withdrawing his chair from the table, he placed it conveniently near for +Mrs. Gully to be seated by her husband, and securing a seat for Ida, he +stood directly facing her and began the recital of his story. + +"I do not know," he began, "that it was Dad's original intention that I +should inflict upon you innocent persons present a recital of my boyish +prank that has resulted in this self imposed exile for the past four +years, and I wish to impress on your minds before I enter into details +that I am not making a plea for sympathy or setting up a plea of +extenuating circumstances. + +"For the suffering that I have caused him I am sorry, and I too have +suffered. No one will ever know the hours of torturing remorse and +regret through which I have passed. My own sufferings I have borne, I +hope, with fortitude, as will no doubt be attested to by my very dear +friends, the Gully family, who have never heard me mention in the +slightest way my affairs, and who have been most considerate of my +feelings in not asking, as they had a perfect right to do, for any +information relative to myself or family, and for this evidence of +their faith in me I wish to thank them most heartily. + +"With the circumstances attending my leaving him, Dad is thoroughly +familiar. I had just returned from the Agricultural and Mechanical +College of which my home state, Texas, is justly proud, and had joined +him in Galveston, where he had moved his family to reside permanently +after his retirement from the land and stock business, and at which +place my poor mother lost her life at the time of the disastrous tidal +wave which almost destroyed the city. + +"Dad, at the time of the terrible occurrence, had gone on a short trip +to the northern part of the state to look after business interests, as +he frequently did. Why I escaped and was not taken with my mother I +never could understand, but by some caprice I was saved and cared for as +an 'unknown' until Dad returned, which he did as quickly as he could. + +"After a search which lasted for days I was finally located by Dad, who +has always been a most kind and indulgent father. Upon this occasion of +my return from college, the event being my twenty-first birthday, I +found him in a most generous mood, ready to grant my every wish. He took +me to his office, he having resumed business activities after the loss +of my mother, and led me through the various departments and told me +that he was anxious to take me in with him and have me become familiar +with his affairs, that I might succeed him, as he was growing old. + +"I thanked him for this generous offer, but being imbued with the idea +that I was a thorough yachtsman, I changed the subject and began teasing +him to let me take his yacht, the 'Magnolia,' for a few days' cruise +with some half dozen of my boy friends. + +"The 'Magnolia' was a handsome craft, thoroughly equipped and furnished +to accommodate ten or a dozen passengers, and as her crew usually +consisted of three men, I had planned to take her out alone, with my +friends as helpers, making two watches, there being six of us, and we +would cruise to the coast of Mexico and return in about ten days. + +"The yacht was Dad's special pride and his only recreation, and he had +bought and fitted her up at a very great expense. He had interests at +various points along the coast and in Cuba, and this was his means of +combining pleasure and business, by visiting these interests twice a +year. I had accompanied him on all these trips, as he arranged to make +them during my vacation from school or college, and I felt that I was +capable of taking her out and returning her to her slip on the strand in +perfect safety. + +"But Dad did not think so and told me I had better wait and accompany +him later, at which time he would be pleased to entertain my friends on +the cruise. This did not suit me, and right here I blame Dad for not +being more firm with me. At any rate, he finally consented to let me +have the yacht, but I was to take her regular crew to man her. This I +agreed to do, but did so reluctantly. + +"Dad gave me an order to the watchman on board to have her provisioned +for a ten days' trip, and to be made ready for sailing the following +Monday, at which time she was to be turned over to me. Thanking him, I +hurried to the slip and gave the watchman Dad's orders. He took it, and +after reading saluted, and with the familiar 'Aye, Aye, Sir,' sounding +in my ears, I left him. + +"It was then Thursday, and I had ample time to look up the members of my +party and acquaint them with the success of my appeal to Dad. There was +one among those who accompanied me on this memorable trip with whom I +hope I may never come in contact. When I told him of the conditions +under which Dad had given me permission to use the yacht, he laughed and +said: That's easy; just forget to call her crew, and we'll take her out +alone,' and I, feeling my newly attained manhood, answered: 'I'll attend +to that; just you be ready at the appointed time,' and left him. But the +seed had been sown that finally grew and produced the bitterest fruit I +or any other misguided lad could ever taste. + +"I never mentioned the fact to the rest of the boys that we were +supposed to have others than ourselves aboard, as I knew there were +those among them who would have refused to accompany me unless Dad's +requirements were complied with. + +"Well, to make a long story short, I did not call the crew, and as Dad +was called away to St. Louis the Saturday before we were to sail he +never knew of my failure to do so until after it was too late. I went +with him to the station as he was leaving, and he took my hand and +wished me a pleasant voyage, and handing me a generous check, he added: +'I shall expect you here on my return; be careful, Jack. Goodbye,' and +that was the last time I saw or heard from him until a few hours ago. + +"We left the following Monday morning, and I will never forget the +feeling of importance I experienced as the yacht drew out from her slip +at the end of a hawser and was towed out into the bay by a noisy little +steam tug which I had employed for the purpose. I knew that I was +disobeying Dad, but felt perfectly sure of myself, and I had those among +my party who were well experienced in sailing; besides, Dad was gone and +would not return until we had completed our cruise. Then I would tell +him of what I had done, how successfully I had managed the 'Magnolia' +and he would feel proud of me. + +"When we were well out into the bay they let go the hawser and the +little craft began to ride the swells. It was but a moment's work to run +up a bit of canvas that soon picked up the breeze, and rounding to, we +headed for Boliver Point Light, that marked the outlet to the Gulf, and +as we entered the channel through which the huge ocean going vessels +gained entrance to the bay, we navigated our craft successfully, and +passed several of these, besides numerous tugs, lighters and revenue +cutters, and this fact but convinced us more thoroughly of our ability +as seamen. + +"I had not taken the helm yet, but at the request of one of my guests +whom I knew to be an experienced yachtsman, had allowed him to see us +safely through the narrows that lay between Boliver Point and the +Jetties. After clearing the channel and entering the gulf proper I +relieved my friend, and taking the helm, steered directly south, a +course that almost paralleled the Galveston Island, but as the miles +increased the distance from the southern end of the island became so +great that we were almost in the path of the South American liners. + +"We were having a splendid time, and as the breeze was favorable, we +decided to put into a little coast town whose buildings could be plainly +seen glistening in the bright sunlight far ahead on the main land. We +made this port, and after going ashore for a few hours, decided to +follow the coast, laying close in, and to put into the next village, +Port Lavaca, where we would tie up for the night. + +"I will not undertake to describe our trip, with its many stops and +things of interest that we came in contact with at these quaint little +settlements, half Mexican and half American, that lined the Gulf shore. + +"Passing over the next two days of our cruise, we arrived at Matagorda +Bay, and being desirous of visiting the point at the extreme inner end +of the bay, where the little village of Indianola had been almost +completely destroyed by the great tidal wave, we put in at the entrance +and spent the night at the town of Matagorda, intending to visit the +scene of the devastated village the following day. + +"In this we were disappointed, for during the night a terrific gulf +storm came up, and it became so severe before morning that we were +compelled to abandon our berths aboard the yacht and go ashore. The +next two days brought no signs of an abatement of the storm, and we were +advised not to venture out until a more favorable time. Two days in this +little fishing village caused us to lose interest in its novelty, and to +a very great degree cooled our ardor and inclination to continue the +trip. + +"The third day was very much better, and we decided to abandon our trip +and return home, and as the force of the storm decreased in its +severity, we started immediately after noon, intending to round the +point of Matagorda Peninsula before night and put into the first harbor +we could make on the leeward side. + +"We experienced no difficulty in getting well under way in the Bay, +although the wind was against us, and by beating up first the inland +shore and by tacking back and forth, we reached the point just at dusk, +but we found the gale was almost as severe as it had been the day +before, and we dared not venture too far seaward. As darkness came on we +undertook to round the point to gain the leeward shore of the peninsula +and thus be protected from the force of the wind. + +"I was at the helm and had given instructions to my companions, who were +all alert to help, to haul down most of the canvas before we attempted +to make the point. They were busily engaged at this when we glided out +to where we caught the full force of the gale, and it required all of my +time and strength to hold her off the point. It was now quite dark and +it was impossible to distinguish the land. The light off the point was +plainly seen, but it lay so far out, to mark the course of large +vessels, I dared not attempt to round it, but must make the space +between it and land, which I knew was ample, but I misjudged the +distance and in a few moments we were hard aground on the shoals and +were in a fair way of pounding to pieces. + +"Work as we would, she was immovable, except to plow further into the +slimy mud, gravel and oyster shells of which the shoals consisted. We +stripped her of every thread of canvas after trying to right her, +thinking by so doing she would hold together for the night, but it was +no use. We saw that she was doomed and prepared to leave her to her +fate. + +"We could hear the surf breaking off to port, and knew that we could +reach land easily, so when she finally rolled over on her side and her +hatches went awash, we gathered what we could of our effects and went +overboard. I do not know how my companions fared after they entered the +water. I had no difficulty in reaching land, for after being hurled +shoreward by the waves a few times, I found that I was not beyond my +depth, and after being knocked down and almost strangled as the breakers +came in, I scrambled ahead and finally found myself beyond their reach. + +"My first thoughts were for the safety of my companions, and I called to +see if I could locate them. The sound of my voice was drowned by the +roar of the surf, but in a few minutes I heard a voice calling very near +me, and it proved to be one of the boys. It was no time for +congratulating each other on our escape, so we set to work to try and +locate the rest of the party. One by one we heard them answer our +shouts, and as each came in they aided in the search, until the last was +found. None seemed any the worse for their experience, and as we were +wet and chilled, with no means of providing a fire, we did not know what +to do, so we decided to move a little way back, and by keeping in motion +dry our clothes as best we could, and at any rate keep warm. + +"We agreed to remain until morning and see what condition the Magnolia +was in before we undertook to work our way back along the peninsula to +the mainland. As the night advanced, I could hear the groaning of the +timber in our disabled craft as it was subjected to the strain of the +storm, and I thought of what I had done, and of poor old Dad, and I knew +that the loss of the yacht would not hurt him as badly as my actions. I +called my best boyhood friend, who had come as one of the party, off to +one side and told him of my trouble, of how I had disregarded Dad's +wishes, and confided to him that if the Magnolia proved to be a total +loss in the morning, I would not return to Dad, and gave him a message +to deliver to him saying that I would not return or write until, by my +own efforts, I could replace the yacht. + +"My friends tried to persuade me to give up the idea, as such action +would but add to Dad's trouble. But I was obdurate, and lest I be +persuaded to abandon my purpose, I left them a few hours after our +conversation without waiting to see the result of the wreck that had +been caused by my folly. + +"After leaving my friends I followed the ridge of the peninsula back to +the mainland and continued to walk until about noon the next day, when I +was forced to seek rest, as I was completely exhausted. When I reached a +little village, I purchased a flannel shirt and overalls, and my +identity was lost. With the funds I had in my possession and the check +Dad had given me, I managed to work my way out here, and you know the +rest." + +Jack Norton had not been interrupted during the time he was telling his +story. His hearers sat deeply interested, but when he reached the end of +his narrative it brought them back to their surroundings. After a +moment's silence, Jack's father, who had been seated with his chair +tilted back, came down with a crash, and seizing Jack by the hand +exclaimed: + +"Why, Jack, the 'Magnolia' was not hurt. Your friends brought her into +port a few days later and she is now as good as ever." + +Young Norton was dumfounded. "How did they do it?" he asked. + +"By the aid of some fishermen and a small tug who sighted them in +distress the following morning. She had only keeled over in the mud, and +as there were no rocks upon which to pound she hung together and they +soon had her righted and under sail. So you see, my boy, you have had +all this suffering for nothing," explained his father. + +"No, not altogether for nothing, for I have learned a very great lesson; +not to jump at conclusions and to abide by an agreement; and besides," +he said, smiling, "I have acquired a home of my own and," stepping over +to Ida's side and taking her by the hand, assisted her to arise, "Miss +Gully has done me the honor to promise to share this home with me, which +more than repays me for my sufferings. I ask but one other favor in this +world, and that is your forgiveness and blessings, Dad." + +It was now Jack's father's turn to be taken by surprise, but he was too +old a diplomat to be caught off his guard, and he wanted to know more of +the step his son was contemplating before giving it his approval, so he +bowed politely to Ida and answered: "As for my forgiveness, son, you +have it, but it would be strange if I should go out into the world to +look for a lost son and should return with both a son and daughter." But +he did not commit himself. + +The rest of the party who had heard Jack's story and its happy ending +came forward to congratulate he and Ida, and express their hopes for +their future. + +Travis Gully and his wife, who had not yet been able to fully understand +the situation, were happy because the outcome had seemed to please Jack, +and they knew that after the strangers had gone he would tell them all +about it in a way they could understand. + +Mr. Norton arose from the table and asked Gully if he could find +accommodations for the driver of his car, as he would like to spend the +night with his son in his home alone. Mr. Palmer, he said, could take +the other car and the rest of the party and return to the village and +await his coming. + +[Illustration: _The change wrought by honest toil and that magic word, +irrigation._] + +Gully said that he thought there would be no difficulty in providing for +him, and so it was arranged. Mr. Palmer and Dugan, with the three +remaining members of the party, who proved to be some friends of Mr. +Norton's who had accompanied him on this trip with the view to investing +in land, were to return to the village and await Mr. Norton's coming. + +After thanking Travis Gully and his wife for their hospitality, they +shook hands with them and the young people, and with promises to see +them again in a few days, left for the village. + +Soon after their departure, Mr. Norton expressed a desire to visit +Jack's homestead. + +"All right, Dad," exclaimed Jack, "we will run over there, and I will +return later and get my horse and buggy." + +"I'll take care of them; you go with your father," said Gully. + +Jack thanked him and he and his father drove off together. Just as they +were turning from the road that led to the school house Jack noticed +that Miss Anderson had just dismissed school, and asked his father's +permission to take her and the Gully children home in the car, to which +his father consented. Turning back into the road, they soon met them, +and as the car was turned around to pick them up, Jack called to Miss +Anderson and invited her and the children to ride; when she smilingly +approached the car and before she could express her thanks, Jack +introduced his father. Miss Anderson stopped short, and her bewildered +look amused Jack, who had stepped out to assist her and the children to +enter the car. + +"Don't ask any questions now," said he, laughing. + +"But," she began, "I do not understand." + +"Of course not, but Ida will tell you all about it when you get home," +answered Jack. + +As Miss Anderson entered the car and took the seat beside him, Mr. +Norton remarked: + +"This has indeed been a remarkable day, Miss Anderson; a day of +wonders." + +The children were assisted into the car, and Jack, with Joe upon his +knee, sat with the driver. + +After they had been taken to the Gully home, and the children scrambled +out, all excitement over their first auto ride. Miss Anderson, after +being assisted from the car, thanked Mr. Norton and expressed the hope +that she would be in a better position on the morrow to discuss with him +the important events that had occurred. "For you know," said she, "I am +still in the dark." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Jack and his father then drove to his claim, and upon their arrival +there dismissed the driver with instructions to call for them the +following morning, and Jack added: + +"Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Gully that we will not be over to either +supper or breakfast." + +After the driver had gone, Jack turned to his father and said: "I have +learned, Dad, that one of the first requisites of a successful farmer is +the proper care of his stock, so if you will accompany me, I will care +for mine before we go into the house." + +Mr. Norton followed Jack as he went about his chores and noted with +satisfaction the care he took in the performance of each in its turn, +and passed favorable comments on the appearance of Jack's horses, their +comfortable stables and abundance of feed. + +Jack was proud of his father's interest in things, and with boyish +delight showed him over the place. + +When they entered Jack's house, the old gentleman was in an excellent +mood, and had been joking his son about his prowess as a homesteader. He +viewed the interior with a quizzical gaze and seemed to locate +everything at a glance. He removed his hat and coat, and after hanging +them on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and began removing the lids from +the stove. Jack watched him for a moment, then took the bucket and went +to the well. When he returned, his father had the fire going. + +"Pretty quick work, Dad," he said. + +"It's not the first time, my boy," his father answered, and then he +asked: "Where's the coffee?" + +"In the box on the wall; I'll get it in a minute," said Jack. But his +minute was too long, for his father got the can and was measuring out a +handful of the contents before Jack finished washing his hands. + +Jack watched him prepare the coffee, after which he fried some bacon and +eggs, located some stale sourdough bread, and taking Jack's table cloth +from the table, set the dishes on the bare boards, and setting back the +chairs, pulled up a bench and an empty box, and looking at Jack nodded +toward the table and said: + +"Grub's ready." + +"Comin' up," answered Jack. "Want some butter?" + +"Nope, not with bacon grease," replied the old gentleman. + +After they sat down to the meal, Mr. Norton helped himself and remarked: +"This is the life." He quaffed the steaming coffee with a relish, and +looking across the table, asked suddenly: + +"How about the girl, Jack, who are these Gullys?" + +"I don't know, Dad," replied Jack in surprise. "I never saw them until I +came here, but they are mighty fine people." + +"Naturally," said his father, "but what makes you think so; the girl?" + +"Not altogether," said Jack, "I have reasons to know." + +"In what way?" asked his father. + +"In more ways than one," was Jack's answer. + +"Specify," said the old gentleman bluntly. + +Then Jack told his father of his first meeting with Gully, of how he had +sold Gully the lumber in his shack when he had become discouraged, and +had then accompanied him to the harvest field, of how Gully had +persuaded him to return and try once more, which he had done, and then +when the contract for clearing the land was under consideration, Gully +had taken him in on it and been the means of giving him a start. + +He explained further that it had been under Gully's directions that he +had accomplished the success he had, and when he had finished, his +father asked: + +"Is it out of gratitude for all this kindness that you propose to marry +his daughter?" + +"No," Jack replied. + +"Don't you know," continued his father, "that in the station in life to +which I can restore you, you can have your choice of hundreds of young +ladies?" + +"This is my station in life," replied Jack, "and the best thing about +it, Dad, is that I did not have to have you put me here, and as for Ida, +she does not know any other life, and I hope she never learns." + +"Is this Miss Anderson a relative of theirs?" asked his father. + +"No; just a friend who has taught this little school ever since I came +here," answered Jack. + +"A very able teacher," commented Mr. Norton. + +"How do you mean?" queried Jack. + +"This Miss Gully did not acquire her genteel manner from her parents, +did she? And you say this is the only life she has ever known," said his +father. + +"Miss Anderson has taken a great deal of interest in Ida," said Jack, +"and she learns very readily." + +"Will you postpone this marriage until you have made final proof on your +claim, and give me one year of your life?" asked his father. + +"No, sir," Jack answered. + +Burns Norton arose from the table and began to collect the soiled dishes +and pile them together, and as he started for a pan in which to wash +them, Jack said: "Let them go until morning, Dad." "All right, we'll go +to bed then," answered the old gentleman, and the subject of the Gullys +was not again referred to that night. + +The following morning after Mr. Norton and Jack had eaten their +breakfast they went out and walked over Jack's claim. + +Mr. Norton asked him many questions about the climatic conditions and +the possible future of the country. Jack answered his father as best he +could, and handed him the paper he had prepared, giving an account of +his experiences and observations, explaining to him that he had +assembled the data contained therein for the express purpose of +furnishing information to the owners of the land he and Mr. Gully had +cleared, but added that he had no idea at the time who the owner would +prove to be. + +Mr. Norton glanced at the paper, and thanking Jack, said he would look +it over. He took specimens of the soil and told Jack if things looked +favorable he would arrange to have wells drilled on his land before +returning to the South. + +Jack assured his father that he would make no mistake in doing so, and +upon hearing the auto horn, they turned and found that the car was +awaiting them at Jack's house. After returning and arranging things for +the day, Mr. Norton asked Jack how much time it would require to run +over to his land, as he wished to see it in order to get an idea of what +condition it was in and what improvements would be required. + +Jack told him it would require but a few minutes, and they decided to go +before returning to the Gully home, which they did, and while there +Jack's father said to him: + +"Jack, in view of the fact that you have made up your mind to marry this +Miss Gully and remain on your property here, would you be willing to +take charge of my interests?" + +"Why, certainly, Dad!" Jack replied. "I only wish that I could grant +your request to accompany you home for a year, but I am afraid I could +not, in justice to all, do so." + +Burns Norton turned to his son and taking him by the hand, said: + +"I respect your feelings in this affair, Jack, and am glad that you gave +me the answer that you did last night, for I feel now that you have a +purpose in life, and the determination to see it through." + +Jack simply said "Thank you, Dad," and they returned to the car and were +driven directly to the Gully home. + +It being Saturday, there was no school, and Miss Anderson, who had +remained overnight at the Gullys, had not yet returned home when they +arrived. She had been told of the occurrence of the day before, of how +Jack and his father had been brought so unexpectedly together and the +circumstances under which they had been separated, and when Mr. Norton +and Jack entered the house upon their arrival she congratulated them on +the happy event and expressed the hope that Jack's experience had taught +him to confide in his father in the future. + +Jack assured her that there would be no danger of a recurrence, as it +would take him the rest of his life in his effort at strict obedience to +atone for what he had done. + +Mrs. Gully, with Miss Anderson's assistance, had prepared a splendid +dinner, which they told Jack was a reunion dinner, gotten up especially +for him and his father, and they were to be the guests of honor. His +father, they told him, was to be seated at the head of the table and was +to preside, and Jack was instructed that when dinner was announced he +was to escort his father to the place assigned to him. + +When dinner time arrived, Jack did as he was bidden and after they were +all seated, he told his friends of how his father had played the typical +bachelor homesteader while his guest the night before, and they +suggested that they induce him to erect a shack on his land and become +one of them. + +They laughed heartily at Jack's description of his father as a cook, and +agreed with him that it would be nice if he would stay. + +Mr. Norton thanked them for their invitation, and said that nothing +would suit him better, as he was fascinated with their country, and was +sure that it had a great future; so much so, he added, that he had +determined to improve his holding, and would probably acquire more. + +"But," he continued, "I am an old man, and have interests in other parts +of the world that require my attention, so I cannot remain with you. But +while I am here I want to thank you, Mr. Gully, and your estimable wife +for the interest you have taken in, and the kindnesses you have shown, +my son, for I have been assured by him that it has been very largely due +to your action and assistance that he has been able to make his +achievements so great. + +"He has also told me, as you know, of the honor your daughter has +bestowed upon him by promising to become his wife. This knowledge is +very gratifying to me, for as he has chosen to become a farmer, he has +done wisely in selecting for his help mate one who is familiar with the +life of a farmer, and at the same time one who possesses the grace and +beauty that few are endowed with. I am proud of Jack's choice, and +gladly welcome her as my daughter." + +"I feel," he continued, "that under the guiding care of such worthy +people as you and Miss Anderson, who Jack tells me has watched with +patient care the shaping of their destinies, these young people have +nothing to fear for the future. + +"In a few days I shall return to my life, and I would like to change the +plans of these young people and take them home with me for a while. It +is but a few weeks until the date set for their marriage, and will cause +but little inconvenience, and I want them with me. What do you say, +Jack?" he asked. + +Jack thought for a moment before replying, and then arising, he thanked +his father for what he had said and told him that his proposition had +come so unexpectedly they would have to ask time to talk it over, but as +far as he was concerned, he thought it might be arranged. + +"Very well," said his father, "let me know as soon as you have made up +your minds, and I will tell you my plans." + +After finishing their dinner, Mr. Norton remarked that he supposed he +ought to send word to Mr. Palmer and the other members of the party that +he would be delayed for several days, and give them an opportunity to +come out and inspect the country and return to Spokane with the cars, if +they so desired, and he called to the driver of the car he had been +using to tell him of his wishes and have him drive to the village with +his message. + +As the driver came in response to his call, Jack asked his father if he +would let him deliver his message. + +Mr. Norton, knowing that Jack was an expert driver, gave his consent and +dismissed the driver, telling him that young Mr. Norton would use the +car during the afternoon, and turning to his son, gave him the message +to deliver. + +Jack listened attentively to his father's instructions, and when he had +finished, went hurriedly into the house calling to Ida and the children +to get their wraps and prepare for a ride to the village in the auto. +The children eagerly sought their mother's permission to accompany Jack, +and when this was given seized their wraps and joined Jack at the car, +where he and the driver were discussing the merits of the machine. + +Mr. Norton and Travis Gully had gone to the barn and were inspecting +some of Gully's fine colts and discussing their points, a subject on +which Jack's father was an enthusiast. Ida was accompanied out to the +car by her mother and Miss Anderson. Jack expressed his regrets that +there was not sufficient room in the car for them to go also, but he had +unthoughtedly mentioned the trip to the children first, and now he could +not disappoint them. + +Mrs. Gully laughingly replied that she had waited until the present time +without ever having ridden in an automobile, and she did not suppose +that she would suffer by waiting a little while longer, but she added: + +"I do propose to have you give me a ride before the car is taken back to +Spokane." + +Jack promised her a ride the following day, and after assisting Ida and +the children in, jumped into the driver's seat, and just as he was +starting Miss Anderson approached, and addressing he and Ida, who was +seated by his side, said: + +"Make up your minds about your father's proposition to accompany him +home. I think it would be just simply delightful for you to do as he has +suggested." + +"What do you think, mother?" Jack asked, addressing Mrs. Gully. + +"Just as you and Ida say," she replied. + +"You mean just as Ida says," Jack corrected, and laughingly added: "I'm +in with Dad on the proposition." + +And with shouts of goodbye and with much waving of caps and hands they +started for the village. + +Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson watched them for a few moments, and turning +to go back into the house, Minnie Gully asked Miss Anderson her opinion +of the early marriage of Jack and Ida. + +"I do not see that having it occur a few weeks ahead of the appointed +time would make any difference, and as Mr. Norton seems so anxious to +have them accompany him home, I would be glad to see them agree to his +proposition, but I believe I would leave the matter to them to decide." + +Mrs. Gully agreed with her and added: "As we have made no provisions for +their marriage I think should they decide to do as he asks, it would be +best to allow them to accompany Mr. Norton to Spokane and have the +ceremony performed there, and Ida be given an opportunity to prepare +herself for the trip home with him." + +"An excellent idea," answered Miss Anderson, "and it would be splendid +if you would accompany them as far as Spokane, be present at the +marriage, and assist Ida in her preparations." + +Minnie Gully thought for a few moments before she replied to Miss +Anderson's suggestion about her going and finally said: + +"How about Travis and the children? Who would care for them while I am +away." + +"Don't worry about them; the other girls are plenty old enough to manage +things for the few days that you would be away; and besides, I will be +home, and I can come and assist them." + +"Are you not going?" exclaimed Mrs. Gully, in dismay. + +"I had not thought of going," answered Miss Anderson. + +"Well, if I go you must accompany me," declared Mrs. Gully in a decisive +tone. + +"We will not discuss our plans until we have heard from Jack and Ida," +Miss Anderson replied. + +In the meantime Burns Norton and Travis Gully had walked down into the +alfalfa field and had stopped and were earnestly discussing the future +of the two young people. Not the plans for their approaching marriage, +but of the bright prospects of this beautiful country in which they had +chosen to make their start in life, and the splendid opportunities it +afforded as compared with those that had been given to them when they +were their ages. + +Jack and his party reached the village in a very short time--as Joe +expressed it, "by the time papa could have had the horses hitched to the +wagon"--and upon their arrival Jack left them and sought Mr. Palmer, to +whom he delivered his father's message. Mr. Dugan, who was on the street +at the time and had seen their arrival, was at the car talking to Ida +when Jack returned, and after greeting him Jack told him that the party +would probably be out to Mr. Gully's the day following, and he was +particularly anxious to have him come out, as he had a matter of +importance to discuss with him. Dugan was much surprised at this request +but promised to come. + +Jack purchased a supply of candy and oranges for the noisy youngsters, +and they returned home after making a detour of many miles. + +It was almost dark when the auto party arrived home, and the children +tumbled out of the car and ran into the house, all clamoring to tell of +the delightful time they had enjoyed. Ida was assisted from the car by +Jack, who was then preparing to drive over to his own home and care for +his stock, when he was told by the driver that Mr. Gully and Mr. Norton +had driven over in the buggy a short time before to look after things, +and were expected to return at any time. Upon hearing this Jack joined +the ladies in the house, and as he came in, he started in with the +children telling of their wonderful ride, but seeing the inquisitive +look on the faces of Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson he asked them if Ida +had not told them, of their decision? + +They replied that they had not had time to talk with her since her +return. + +"Well, we're going with Dad," Jack announced. + +"We are so glad," declared both ladies. "It will be such a delightful +trip for you both." + +They did not get to inquire further into their plans, as Mr. Norton and +Gully came in from their trip to Jack's, and after supper was eaten Jack +and Ida made known their decision, and agreed to abide by any +arrangements their parents might make for their marriage and the trip. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +The following day Mr. Norton's companions came out from the village and +the entire day, although it was Sunday, was devoted to a trip over the +adjoining country, where the party was given an excellent opportunity to +judge for themselves what the country was like. + +They expressed themselves as being favorably impressed and predicted +that at some time in the not very far distant future it would develop +into a great agricultural and stock center. + +Mr. Norton and Jack, together with Travis Gully, who had accompanied +them on their tour of inspection, were brought back to the Gully place +and left, while the rest of the party continued their trip toward +Spokane, where they expected to take the train for their homes. + +Burns Norton, after telling his friends of his intention of having Jack +and Ida hurry their marriage and accompany him home, explained that this +would probably delay his return for a week or ten days, but he hoped to +rejoin them at the end of this period in their homes in the south. He +bade them goodbye, as did Jack and the Gullys, and the party continued +their trip, leaving him behind. + +As for Jack, he had so far figured out the details of his plans for the +wedding that he had persuaded Dugan to lay over in Spokane upon his +arrival there until he and Ida joined him, at which time he would have +Miss Anderson accompany them, and he wanted her and Dugan to attend them +at the marriage. Dugan agreed to this, and he now knew what the +important matter was of which Jack wished to speak. Jack, however, had +said nothing of this arrangement, not even to Miss Anderson. + +For the next few days Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson's time was taken up +in making preparations for Ida's departure. Old Mr. Norton entered a +protest against any preparations whatever, it having been decided that +Mrs. Gully's plan of having the marriage take place in Spokane being the +most feasible, be adopted, and she and Miss Anderson were to accompany +Ida. Mr. Norton insisted that all the necessary arrangements could be +made after their arrival in the city. + +The days before their departure were not only busy days for the +ladies--the men too had all they could attend to. + +Mr. Norton, after seeing the effect produced by the application of water +on this land, and realizing how simple a matter it was to secure the +necessary supply from the inexhaustable subterranean reservoir that +underlay the territory that constituted the desert area, did not +hesitate to invest a few thousand dollars in bringing about the +reclamation of his land. He arranged before he left to have a well and +pumping plant installed on each forty acres of his holdings. + +Two of these wells were to be drilled during the winter that the work of +developing the first two units of his project might start early the +following spring. And he was farsighted enough to appreciate the fact +that when these two units were brought into a state of productiveness +they could be sold in fractions of ten acres each, which was sufficient +land to keep one man occupied with intensive farming, for an increased +value, sufficient to pay for the reclamation of the rest of his land. + +This work he arranged for Gully to attend to until Jack's return, when +they would both be busy looking after the project. + +At last the day came for the departure of the party for the city, and +all were ready and Ida and her mother had kissed each of the girls and +Joe goodbye, and Jack had faithfully promised Joe that they would have +an automobile when he returned, the party, consisting of Ida, her +mother, Miss Anderson, Jack and his father, were driven to the station +by Travis Gully, who saw them off on their trip and returned home to his +lonesome children, who had never been left by their mother before. + +Upon the arrival of the wedding party in Spokane they were met at the +station by the thoughtful Dugan, who Jack had advised by telegram the +time of their departure and the number in the party, and then upon +seeing Dugan at the station, had evidenced as much surprise as the rest. + +They immediately went to the hotel, where Dugan had engaged apartments +for them, and that night Ida and her mother attended the theater for the +first time in their lives. Miss Anderson, being escorted by Dugan, made +the party complete. + +Two days later Jack and Ida were quietly married in the parlor of the +hotel where they had been stopping and Mr. Dugan and Miss Anderson were +their attendants, just as Jack had planned. A few hours afterward they +were on their way to Galveston under the care of Mr. Norton and Dugan, +who occupied the smoking compartment, while the young couple were left +alone to assume as much as was possible an air of indifference to the +actions of their fellow passengers, who had in some mysterious way +discovered the fact that a wedding had just occurred, and were enjoying +themselves at the young couple's expense. + +Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson returned to their homes the following day, +tired but happy and loaded down with trinkets, both useful and +ornamental, which Mr. Norton, Jack and Ida had entrusted to their care +for distribution among the family as a token of their best wishes. + +Short messages and post cards mailed along the route were received from +Jack and Ida in almost every mail, but it was nearly two weeks before +the first real letter reached the home folks. They had been in Galveston +for several days, but father Norton had kept them on the go so +constantly they had not had time to write, and the letter, when it did +come, was filled with accounts of their many trips and delightful time +they were having. "Oh! mamma," wrote Ida. "Just think! I have been on +board the 'Magnolia,' the very yacht on account of which Jack left +home. There was some paint missing from the wheel, and Jack told me it +was where he had worn it off in his effort to keep her off the point, +but of course I know he was joking. He has promised me a trip in this +very boat, if we get time, but I have made him agree to call the regular +crew, and I mean to see that he does it too." Then after a bit she +wrote: "I am just dying for one breath of burning sagebrush; everything +here smells like fish or tar." + +These letters from Jack and Ida always contained messages of love to +Miss Anderson, who received them in quiet happiness, as if her life's +work was completed when these young people were wedded. + +Just a while after the Holidays Ida wrote: "By the time you receive this +letter we will have started on our return trip. We leave here for New +Orleans and from there we go to Chicago, and Jack has promised me one +whole week or longer, if I want it, with grandpa and grandma, and Jack +says he is going to bring them back with us." + +When Minnie Gully received this letter she could hardly content herself, +and immediately wrote to her parents notifying them of the coming of +Jack and Ida, and renewed her plea for them to come. + +Travis Gully was progressing nicely with the work Mr. Norton had +arranged for him to have done, and the first well was almost complete +when he came home from the Norton land one night and had just finished +his supper, when hearing a call at the gate, he went out and was handed +a package of mail by a neighbor who was returning late from the +village. Going into the house, he looked over the several letters, found +one for his wife from Ida, and handed it to her, saying: "See how the +youngsters are." + +Minnie Gully took the letter, and looking at the address, the date of +mailing, and then carefully seeing if the stamp had been properly +cancelled, just as most women do upon receiving a letter, opened it and +read from Ida: + +"We are well and happy; happy because we leave here tomorrow on the +final stage of our journey home. And listen to what I am going to tell +you, mother--grandpa and grandma are coming with us. This is no joke, +for their baggage is at the depot and we are to stay at the hotel +tonight. Jack said to please ask papa to meet us next Wednesday." + +There was joy in that desert home that night. The final link in their +chain of happiness was being forged, and would be welded the following +Wednesday. + +Travis Gully looked up and remarked: "Well, this is Monday night; day +after tomorrow; it won't be long. It will soon come." + +And it did. Gully, with his own family, met them at the station and +those of the passengers who witnessed the meeting from the smoky car +windows knew that happiness reigned in that little desert village for a +time at least. + +The following fall Mr. Norton and Dugan came back to attend Gully's +making of final proof on his claim, at which time he proposed to +celebrate. Why Dugan came was a question that was to be answered later, +but it was a well known fact that Miss Anderson had been receiving +numerous letters that bore a Texas postmark. + +Burns Norton's project to irrigate one entire section of this desert +land was well under way, and the success of the venture was so well +assured that he had received many flattering offers from his capitalist +friends who had accompanied him on his former trip, to purchase an +interest in his holdings. These he promptly refused. + +But the credit for the practical demonstrations that had grounded his +faith in the future of the country he gave to Travis and Minnie Gully, +the homesteaders. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Land of Lure, by Elliott Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LAND OF LURE *** + +***** This file should be named 36999.txt or 36999.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/9/9/36999/ + +Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36999.zip b/36999.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d88870 --- /dev/null +++ b/36999.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..becf8c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #36999 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36999) |
