Part two chapter 1 of a study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Part 2, the country of the
Saints, chapter 1 on the great Alkali plane.
In the central portion of the great North American continent.
There lies an arid and repulsive desert, which for many a long
year, served as a barrier against the advance of
civilization from the Sierra, Nevada to Nebraska.
And from the Yellowstone River in the North to the Colorado
upon the south is a region of desolation and silence nor is
nature always in one mood. Throughout this Grim District.
It comprises snow-capped and lofty mountains and Dark and
gloomy valleys. There are Swift flowing Rivers
which dashed through Jagged canyons.
And there are enormous planes, which in Winter, a white with
snow and in summer, are gray with this A-line Alkali dust,
they all preserve. However, the common
characteristics of barrenness in hospitality and misery.
There are now inhabitants of this land of Despair, a band of
pawnees, or of blackfeet. May occasionally Traverse it in
order to reach other hunting grounds, but the hardiest of the
Braves are glad to lose sight of those awesome planes and to find
themselves once more upon their prairies.
The coyote skulks among the scrub, the Buzzard flaps heavily
through the air and the clumsy grizzly.
Bear Lumbers through the dark Ravines and picks up such
sustenance as it can amongst the Rocks.
These are the soul dwellers in the wilderness.
In the whole world that can be no more dreary view than that
from the northern slope of the Sierra Blanco.
As far as the eye can reach stretches the great flat plane
land all dusted over with patches of alkali and
intersected by clumps of the dwarfish Chaparral bushes on the
extreme verge of the Horizon. Liya 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 a pertaining to life.
There is no bird in the steel, Blue Heaven, no movement upon
the dull grey Earth above all. There is absolute silence
listeners. One may there is no shadow of a
sound in all that Mighty Wilderness, nothing but silence
complete and heart subduing silence.
It has been said there is nothing a pertaining to life
upon the broad. Plain.
That is hardly true looking down from the Sierra.
Blanco one sees a pathway traced out, across the desert, which
wins away and is lost in the extreme distance.
It is rotted 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 large and course others smaller.
And more delicate, the former have belonged to oxen and the
latter two men for 1,500 miles, one may trace.
This ghastly Caravan route by these scattered remains of those
who had fallen by the wayside. Looking down on this very scene
there stood upon the fourth of May 1847.
A solitary Traveler. His appearance was such that he
might have been the very genius or demon of the region an
observer would have found it. Difficult to say, whether he was
nearer to 40 or 260. His face was lean and Haggard.
And a 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
luster while The hand which grasped his rifle was hardly
more fleshy than that of a skeleton.
As he stood, he leaned upon his weapon for support and yet his
tall figure and the massive framework of his bones
suggested, a wiry and vigorous Constitution, his gaunt face,
however, and his clothes, which hung, so bag Ali over his
shriveled limbs proclaimed. What it was that gave him that
senile and decrepit appearance. The man was dying.
Dying from hunger, and from thirst.
He had toiled painfully down the Ravine and onto this little
elevation in the vain. Hope of seeing some signs of
water. Now, the Great Salt Plains
stretched before his eyes and the distant belt of savage
mountains, without 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 realized that his wanderings had come to an
end. And that there on that.
And Craig, he was about to die. Why not here as well as in
featherbed twenty years, hence, he muttered as he seated himself
in the shelter of a boulder. Before sitting down, he had
deposited upon the ground, his useless rifle, and also a large
bundle tied up in a gray shawl, which he had carried.
Slung over his right shoulder, it appeared to be somewhat too,
heavy for his strength for in lowering.
It, it came down the ground with some little violence instantly
there, broke from the gray. Parcel, a little moaning cry and
from it, protruded a small scared face with very bright.
Brown eyes and two Little Speckled dimpled fists.
You've hurt me. So the childish voice
reproachfully her by though. The man answered penitently.
I didn't go for to do it as he spoke.
He unwrapped, the gray shawl and extricated, a pretty little girl
of about five years of age, whose dainty shoes and smart
pink frock with its little linen apron.
All bespoke a mother's care. The child was pale and one, but
her healthy arms and legs showed that she had suffered less than
her companion. How is it now?
He answered anxiously for. She was still rubbing the taozi
golden curls which covered the back of her head, kiss it and
make it. Well.
She said with perfect gravity shoving, the injured part up to
him. That's what mother used to do.
Where's mother? Mother's gone.
I guess you'll see her before long.
Gone. Hey said, the little girl funny.
She didn't say goodbye. She must always did if she was
just going over to Aunt, he's 40.
And now she's been away three days.
Say it's awful. Dry.
Ain't it? Ain't no, no water.
No nothing to eat. No, there ain't nothing dearie.
You'll just need to be patient a while and then you'll be.
All right, put your head up. Again, me like that again.
You'll feel bullier. They need easy to talk when your
lips is like leather, but I guess I'd best.
Let you know how the cards lie. What's that?
You got pretty things, Fine, Things, cried the little girl
enthusiastically holding up to glittering fragments of mica.
When we goes back to home. I'll give them to my brother
Bob. You'll see pretty things.
And them soon said the man confidently, you just wait a
bit. I was going to tell you though.
You remember when we left the river?
Oh, yes. Well, we reckon we'd strike
Another River. Soon.
Do you see? But there was something wrong
compasses, or map, or something. And it didn't turn up water ran
out. Just accept a little drop for
the likes of you. And and, and you couldn't wash
yourself. Interrupted His companion.
Gravely staring up. It is grimy Village.
No, nor drink and mr. Bender.
He was the first to go and then Indian Pete and then mrs.
McGregor. And then Johnny Holmes and then
dearie your mother. Their mothers are dead.
Our to cried the little girl dropping her face in a pinafore
and sobbing bitterly. Yes, they all went except you
and me. Then I thought there was some
chance of water in this direction.
So I have you over my shoulder and we trapped it together.
It don't seem as though, we've improved matters.
There's an Almighty small chance for us now.
Cheap mean, do we can't you die, too.
That's the child. Checking her sobs and raising
her tear-stained face. I guess that's about the size of
it. Why didn't you say?
So before she said, laughing gleefully, you gave me such a
fright. Why?
Of course. Now as long as we die will be
with mother again. Yes, you will dearie and you
too. I'll tell her how awful.
Good you've been, I'll bet she meets us at the door of heaven
with a big pitcher of water and lot of Buckwheat cakes hot and
toasted on both sides like Bob and me was fond of how long will
it be first? I don't know, not very long.
The Man's eyes were fixed upon the northern Horizon in the
blue. Vault of the heaven.
They had appeared three little specks which increased in size
every moment. So rapidly.
Did they approach they speedily resolve themselves into three
large brown birds, which circled over the heads of the two
Wanderers and then settled upon some rocks which overlooked
them. They were buzzards, the vultures
of the West whose coming is the Forerunner of death cocks and
hens cried a little girl gleefully pointing at their
ill-omened forms and clapping her hands to make them rise.
Say did God make this country? In course.
He did said, her companion, rather startled by this.
Unexpected question. He made the country down in
Illinois, and he made the Missouri little girl continued.
I guess somebody else made the country in these parts.
It's not nearly so well done. They forgot the water and the
trees. What would you think of offering
up prayer? The man asked diffidently, it
ain't night yet. She answered.
It don't matter. It ain't quite regular but he
won't mind that. You bet you say over them ones
that you used to say every night in the wagon.
When we use on the plains. Why don't you say some yourself?
The child asked with wandering eyes.
I just remember them. He answered.
I hain't said nonsense. I was half the height of that
gun. I guess.
It's never too late. You say them out and I'll stand
by and come in on the choruses. Then you'll need to kneel down a
me, too. She said, laying the shawl out
for that purpose. You've got to put your hands up.
Like this. It makes you feel kind of good.
It was a strange sight. Had there been anything?
But the buzzers to see it side by side on the narrow shawl.
Melt the two Wanderers. The little prattling child, and
The Reckless hardened Adventurer her chubby face and his Haggard.
Angular visages were both turned up to the cloudless heaven.
In heartfelt and treaty to that dread being with whom they 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 nature proved to be too strong for him for three
days and three nights. He allowed himself.
Neither rest nor oppose slowly. The eyelids drooped over the
tired eyes and the head sunk lower and lower upon the breast.
Until the man's grizzled beard was mixed with the gold Tresses
of His companion and both slept the same deep and dreamless
slumber. How'd the Wonder a remained
awake for another half-hour. A strange sight would have met
his eyes far away on the extreme verge of The Alkali plane There.
Rose up a little spray of dust very slight at first and hardly
to be distinguished from The Mists of the distance, but
gradually growing higher and broader until it formed a solid
well-defined Cloud. This Cloud continue to increase
in size until it became evident that it could only be raised.
By a great multitude of moving creatures.
In more fertile spots, The Observer would have come to the
conclusion that one of these great herds of bisons which
graze upon the Prairie Land was approaching him.
This was obviously impossible in these arid Wilds as the world of
dust grew nearer to the solitary Bluff upon, which the two
Castaways were reposing, the canvas covered tilts of wagons
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 a straggling array, wagons and carts men on
Horseback and Men on foot innumerable women.
Who staggered along under burdens and children, who toddle
beside the wagons or peeked out from under the white coverings?
This was evidently No Ordinary party of immigrants.
But rather some Nomad people who had been compelled from stress
of circumstances to seek themselves.
A new country, their Rose through.
The clear are a confused clattering and rumbling from
this great mass of humanity, with the creaking of wheels and
the neighing of horses. Loud.
As it was, it was not sufficient to Rouse the two tired Wayfarers
above them. At the head of the column there,
rode a score or more of grave. Iron faced men, clad, in Samba,
Homespun garments and armed with rifles on reaching the base of
the bluff. They halted and held a short
Council among themselves. The wells are to the right.
My brothers said, one, the hard lipped clean-shaven, man with
Grizzly hair. To the ride of the Sierra
Blanco. So we shall reach the Rio Grande
said, another fear. Not for water, cried the third,
he you could draw it from the rocks, will not now abandon his
own chosen people. Amen.
Responded the whole party.
They were about to resume their Journey, when one of the
youngest and keenest, I'd uttered, an exclamation and
pointed up at the rugged Crag above them from its Summit.
The fluttered, a little wisp of pink showing up hard and bright
against the grey rocks behind at the site.
There was a general raining up of horses and done slinging of
guns. While fresh Horseman came.
Galloping up to reinforce the Vanguard.
The word redskins was on every lip.
There can't be any number of engines here.
Said, the elderly man who appeared to be in command.
We have passed the pawnees. And there are no other tribes
until we cross the great mountains.
Shall I go forward and see brother, stangerson asked one of
the band and I and I cried a dozen voices.
Leave your horses below and we will await you here.
The Elder answered in a moment. The young fellows had dismounted
fasten their horses and were ascending the precipitous slope,
which led up to the object, which had excited their
curiosity. They Advanced rapidly and
noiselessly with the confidence and dexterity of practiced
Scouts the watchers from the plain below, could see them flit
from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the
skyline. The young man who had first
given the alarm was leading them suddenly his followers.
Saw him throw up his hands as though, overcome with
astonishment. And on joining him.
They were affected in the same way by the sight, which met
their eyes on the little Plateau, which crowned, the
Barren Hill there, stood a single giant boulder.
And against this Boulder, they lay a tall man, long-bearded and
hard-featured, but have an excessive thinness, his place.
Face and regular breathing showed that he was fast asleep.
Beside him lay a little child with her round white arms and
circling is Brown sinewy neck and her golden head 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 white socks and
neat shoes with shining buckles, offered a strange contrast to
the long shriveled members of her companion on the ledge of
rock Above This Strange couple there stood, three solemn
buzzards who at the site of the newcomers.
Rocker screens of disappointment, and flapped
sullenly Away. The cries of the fowl.
Birds awoke, the 2 sleepers, who stared about them in
bewilderment, the man staggered to his feet and looked down upon
the plane, which had been so desolate when sleep had
overtaken 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 bony hand over his
eyes. This is what they call delirium.
I guess he muttered. The child Stood Beside him
holding onto the skirt of his coat and said nothing but looked
all around her with the wandering questioning gaze of
childhood. The rescuing party was speedily
able to convince the to Castaways that their appearance
was no delusion. One of them sees the little girl
and hoisted her upon his shoulder.
While two others supported her gaunt companion, and assisted
him towards the wagons. My name is John, Ferrier, the
Wonder explained me and that littluns are all that's left are
21 people. The rest is all dead.
A thirst and hunger. Way down in the south.
Is she your child ask someone? I guess she is now.
The other cry defiantly. She's mine because I saved her,
no man. Will take her from me.
She's Lucy Ferrier from this day on.
Who are you though? He continued glancing with a
curiosity. At his stalwart sunburned
Rescuers. There seems to be a powerful
Lottery nigh upon 10,000 said, one of the young men.
Men. We Are The persecuted children
of God, the chosen of the Angel Moroni, I never heard tell on
him said the Wondra he appears to have chosen effect.
Rowdy. Do not just at that, which is
sacred said. The other sternly we are of
those who believe in those sacred writings drawn in
Egyptian letters on plates of beaten gold, which were handed
on to the holy. Joseph Smith.
That Palmyra we have come from Nauvoo in the state of Illinois,
where we had founded our Temple. We have come to seek a refuge
from the violent man. And from the Godless even though
it be the heart of the desert. The name of Nauvoo evidently
record Recollections to John. Ferrier.
I see he said you are the moments.
We are the Mormons answered his companions with one voice.
And where are you going? We don't know the hand of God is
leading us under the person of our Prophet.
You must come before him. He shall say, what is to be done
with you? They had reached the base of the
hill by this time and was surrounded by crowds of the
pilgrims pale-faced meek-looking women, strong, laughing children
and anxious. Ernest.
I'd men many were the cries of astonishment and of
commiseration which arose from them when they perceive the
Youth of one of the strangers and the destitution of the
other. Their escort did not halt.
However, but pushed on followed by a great crowd of Mormons
until they reached a wagon which was Speak Us for its great size
and for the gore dienes and smartness of its appearance.
Six horses were yoked to it, whereas the others were
furnished with two or at the most four apiece beside the
driver s at a man who could not have been more than 30 years of
age. But whose massive head and
Resolute expression marked him as a leader.
He was reading a brown, backed volume, but as the crowd
approached, he laid it aside and listened attentively to an
account of the episode. Then he turned to the two
Castaways. If we take you with us, he said
in solemn words, it can only be as Believers in our own Creed.
We shall have no wolves in our fold better far that your bones
should bleach in this Wilderness.
Then at you should prove to be that little speck of Decay which
in time corrupts the whole fruit.
Will you come with us on these terms?
Guess I'll come with you on any terms said, Ferrier with such
emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile.
Dalida alone, retained his Stern.
Impressive expression, take him, brother stangerson.
He said, give him food and drink and the child likewise, let it
be your task. Also to teach him our holy
Creed. We have delayed long enough
forward on unto Zion, on unto Zion Pride, the crowd of
Mormons. And the woods Ripple Down The
Long Caravan passing from mouth to mouth until they died away in
a dull murmur in the far distance.
With a cracking of whips and the creaking of Wheels.
The great wagons got into motion and soon, the whole Caravan was
winding along one small, the Elder to whose care.
The two waves had been committed, LED them to his
wagon, where a meal was already awaiting them.
You shall remain. Here.
He said, in a few days, you will have recovered from your
fatigues. In the meantime.
Remember that now and forever you are of our religion.
Brigham Young has said it and he has spoken with the voice of
Joseph Smith, which is the voice of God.
End of chapter 1. End of chapter 1.