A Study in Scarlet

he advance of civilisation. From the Sierra Nevada to Nebraska, and from the Yellowstone River in the north to the Colorado upon the south, is a region of des

s, which in winter are white with snow, and in summer are grey with the saline alkali dust. T

braves are glad to lose sight of those awesome plains, and to find themselves once more upon their prairies. The coyote skulks among the scrub, the buzzard flaps heavily throug

warfish chaparral bushes. On the extreme verge of the horizon lie a long chain of mountain peaks, with their rugged summits flecked with snow. In this great stretch of country there is no sign of life, nor of anything appertaining to life. There i

rutted with wheels and trodden down by the feet of many adventurers. Here and there there are scattered white objects which glisten in the sun, and stand out against the dull deposit of alkali. Approach, and examine them! They are bones: some

the brown parchment-like skin was drawn tightly over the projecting bones; his long, brown hair and beard were all flecked and dashed with white; his eyes were sunken in his head, and burned with an unnatural lustre; while the hand which grasped his rifle was hardly more fleshy than that of a skeleton. As he stood, he leaned upon his wea

a sign anywhere of plant or tree, which might indicate the presence of moisture. In all that broad landscape there was no gleam of hope. North, and east, and west he looked with wild questioning eyes, and then he realised

t shoulder. It appeared to be somewhat too heavy for his strength, for in lowering it, it came down on the ground with some little violence. Instantly there broke

said a childish vo

a pretty little girl of about five years of age, whose dainty shoes and smart pink frock with its little linen apron all bespok

or she was still rubbing the towsy golden

t gravity, shoving 19 the injured part up to him.

guess you'll see

ys did if she was just goin' over to Auntie's for tea, and now she's been away th

t. Put your head up agin me like that, and then you'll feel bullier. It ain't easy to talk when your

siastically, holding up two glittering fragments of mica.

man confidently. "You just wait a bit. I was going t

, y

s somethin' wrong; compasses, or map, or somethin', and it didn't turn up

interrupted his companion gravel

go, and then Indian Pete, and then Mrs. McGregor, a

the little girl dropping her face

n this direction, so I heaved you over my shoulder and we tramped it together. It don'

too?" asked the child, checking her so

t's about th

leefully. "You gave me such a fright. Why, of course

u will,

he door of Heaven with a big pitcher of water, and a lot of buckwheat cakes, hot,

increased in size every moment, so rapidly did they approach. They speedily resolved themselves into three large brown birds, which circled over the heads of

nting at their ill-omened forms, and clapping her hand

companion, rather startled

ttle girl continued. "I guess somebody else made the country in these pa

offering up prayer?" t

ight yet,"

nd that, you bet. You say over them ones that you used to

yourself?" the child ask

was half the height o' that gun. I guess it's never too late. Y

aying the shawl out for that purpose. "You've got to put

ey were face to face, while the two voices-the one thin and clear, the other deep and harsh-united in the entreaty for mercy and forgiveness. The prayer finished, they resumed their seat in the shadow of the boulder until the child fell asleep, nestling upon the broad breast of her protector. He watched over her slumber for some time, but Natur

s which graze upon the prairie land was approaching him. This was obviously impossible in these arid wilds. As the whirl of dust drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon which the two castaways were reposing, the canvas-covered tilts of waggons and the figures of armed horsemen began to show up through the haze, and the apparition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon its journey for the West. But what a caravan! When the head of it had reached the base of the mountains, the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array, waggon

n, clad in sombre homespun garments and armed with rifles. On reaching the

others," said one, a hard-lipped,

Blanco-so we shall reach t

e who could draw it from the rocks will

responded th

m. From its summit there fluttered a little wisp of pink, showing up hard and bright against the grey rocks behind. At the sight there was a general

n who appeared to be in command. "We have passed the Pawnees, a

see, Brother Stangerson,

I," cried a

curiosity. They advanced rapidly and noiselessly, with the confidence and dexterity of practised scouts. The watchers from the plain below could see them flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the skyline. The y

round white arms encircling his brown sinewy neck, and her golden haired head resting upon the breast of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy lips were parted, showing the regular line of snow-white teeth within, and a playful smile played over her infantile features. Her plump little white legs terminating in wh

rtaken him, and which was now traversed by this enormous body of men and of beasts. His face assumed an expression of incredulity as he gazed, and he passed his boney hand over his eyes. "This is wha

ce was no delusion. One of them seized the little girl, and hoisted her upon his should

hat little un are all that's left o' twenty-one people. The

r child?" a

ake her from me. She's Lucy Ferrier from this day on. Who are you, though?" he continued, glanc

young men; "we are the persecuted childr

id the wanderer. "He appears to

s on plates of beaten gold, which were handed unto the holy Joseph Smith at Palmyra. We have come from Nauvoo, in the State of Illinois, where

d recollections to John Ferrier. "I

" answered his compa

re are y

der the person of our Prophet. You must come befo

tion of the other. Their escort did not halt, however, but pushed on, followed by a great crowd of Mormons, until they reached a waggon, which was conspicuous for its great size and for the gaudiness and smartness of its appearance. Six horses were yoked to it, whereas the others were furnished with two, or, at most, four a-piece.

e no wolves in our fold. Better far that your bones should bleach in this wilderness than that you should prove

uch emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile

and the child likewise. Let it be your task also to teach him our

ull murmur in the far distance. With a cracking of whips and a creaking of wheels the great waggons got into motion, and soon the whole caravan wa

s. In the meantime, remember that now and for ever you are of our religion. Brigham Young