ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



ing over a long stretch of barren waste, where the 

 intense heat and dazzling whiteness of the alka- 

 line beds had almost choked and blinded them. 



The woman told Sam she was bound for the 

 fort, where she hoped to find protection and aid 

 to get back to her home in the east ; her hus- 

 band had been taken sick on the road and had 

 died. She was obliged to bury him on the 

 plains with the help of a settler, who had shel- 

 tered them on the last night her husband was 

 alive. They both were changed ; time, clothes 

 and circumstances had entirely altered their 

 appearance, but there had been no change in 

 Sam's heart. The woman was his late chum's 

 wife ! As they talked the little girl climbed upon 

 his knee and as she slipped the string of rattles 

 around her neck and with the other hand stroked 

 his bearded face she said, "you know you seem 

 like my own dear papa." 



The two prairie-dogs barked at the little 

 girl as she took their accustomed place and 

 snapped at her dress to pull her away ; she only 

 laughed ! The covered wagon never moved on. 

 The occupants had found both love and pro- 

 tection on the farm near the prairie-dog town. 

 [68] 



