A DREAM IN THE DESERT 



[It is said that in the old Truckee mining district in Nevada there is 

 a mountain from which issues, each evening at dusk, a most exquisite 

 and delicate music. The mountain was discovered by a party of pros- 

 pectors in 1864. It is situated on the Truckee River, near Pyramid 

 Lake. It is further claimed that the Piute Indians were familiar with 

 this musical wonder, and called it "The Singing Mountain." The face 

 of the mountain is covered with thin flakes of crystalline rocks, many 

 of which stand on edge. The music is produced by drifts of debris which 

 slide down the mountain side between the rocks, which stand on edge. 

 Only a slight breath of wind is sufficient to start an avalanche of gravel 

 and debris. The music is oftenest heard after sundown because of the 

 stillness which usually prevails at that time.] 



THE sand had glistened all day in the hot sun like sparks of 

 fire. The wind was as hot as if blown from ovens. A tawny 

 traveler had set out from his tepee-home in search of civiliza- 

 tion. Bits of tradition from his youth-time had drifted over 

 the fields of his fancy. In these flitting fancies were hints 

 of human homes that far surpassed the rude haunts of the 

 red man. Wewoka had often wondered where and what 

 these happy homes could be. An ancient chief had once 

 brought with him, on his return from a long journey, snatches 

 of strange and wondrous tales. 



After traveling from early dawn, Wewoka was weary. 

 His feet were blistered by the hot sands. His lips were 

 parched with thirst. He was hungry and lonely. Dusk 

 stole over the desert like a slowly-creeping shadow. And 

 as the shadows fell over the world, slumber fell over Wewoka's 

 weary eyes. The night was still, save now and then a coy- 



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