The Count of El Dorado.

Otago Witness, Issue 986, 22 October 1870, Page 18

The Count of El Dorado.

Chapter XVHL

After bidding a cordial farewell to the hospitable Sioux, the voyagers across the continental ocean continued their progress for some days without much incident. Grass was tolerably plentiful and the route easy, and so travelling became a real pleasure. The Count and Leslie, as they rode side by side in advance of the wagons for hours at a stretch, conversed cheerily on a wide range of topics. The Count, Leslie was fain to own, was the most charming companion he had ever met. There was no topic on which he was not competent to speak, and the originality and boldness of some of his theories and opinions made Leslie wonder why he had not made himself a name among the great thinkers and writers of the age, instead of preferring to wander in the byeways of the earth in a dreamy dilletante fashion. But it was the man's hobby, and he assured Leslie that a month at most of humdrum residence in a civilised capital was quite enough to set him era-ring with an unquenchable desire for the old Bedouin life, to which he had become so •wedded that it was now a second nature.

The Count had ideas in advance of his time on the future of the great American continent.

" Here," said he one morning to Leslie, " here you have a site for a great capital. The mischief, you will say, is that it would be so far from the seaboard ; but the time is coming when proximity to the sea •will count for next to nothing in the elements of prosper«fty to a settlement. What think you of a railway all the way from New York to California ?"

" Why," said Leslie, " the idea is so gigantic that one requires a little time to get a right conception of it."

"But," said the Count, "when you once get over your surprise, what is there in it that is not feasible ? All on this side of the Rocky Mountains is a surface presenting no obstacle to the building of a railway. Surely there must be passes in the mountains through which a skilful engineer could prospect a route. The question is not one of money. -No private company, I grant you, could undertake it, or even think of it ; but, as a State enterprise, what could contribute more to the strength and solidification of the United States ? Isit a small thing to have a settled and accessible territory reaching from sea to sea ? Talk of a canal through the Isthmus of Suez ! One of your own statesmen contended the other pay that the holders of both ends of that canal had the destinies of Asia at their will. But here is an alternative route — a route which breaks down the monopoly of the Canal should it ever be made, and the United States will be toll-taker of the world."

•' That," said Leslie, "is a bad look out for the supremacy of old England."

" What is old England ?" said the Count with a smile. "Do you imagine that Westminster Abbey will last like the Pyramids ? That island of yours where already you are so crowded that you are shoving ea.ch other over the edges — do you think it is to contain and include the future of your race, if, as I take it. that curious amalgam known as Ando-Saxondom is destined to become the dominating race of the world ; No ! you will emigrate, emigrate, emigrate, till the virtue goes out of your little busy hive on the white clifAs. One fine day your queen bee herself will take her flight, and, ma-rk me, that flight will be across the Atlantic. You and I will not see it The fullness of time has not yet conic. The yeasty particles which now go to make up the population of the United States m\i»t fc-Timnt for many a day — it may be in an >rchy and blood — before the final smoothness of blend is achieved that will combine all the advances and none of the drawbacks of ho:nog< neousness. And when 'that comes, yoii will find that the mass will bear the suimp of the Anglo-Saxon. He will be the muster- spirit, transmuted not a little, doubtless from the John Bull pattern, but AngloSaxon still in all essentials. The artificial ami fragile boundaries which now partition off C'.uiada from the States will crumble before the laws of unity, and the Avorld will see a power the like of which it has never seen before — wider, and yet more compact, than Russia ; stronger, because not alone united, 'but one and the same than the great Roman enpire. One flank will rest on the Pacific, •another front the Atlantic seaboard. Mexico will be the winter quarters of her wealthy ; Athabasca and the Hudson's Bay Territory her Simla Europe will look on without an effort to molest the great State of the New "World, partly because the latter will have no interest in interfering with the petty political squabbles of the little European continent, partly because of the firm, although unaggressive attitude taken up by the little outpost of the great State on the European side of the Atlantic -that island where your race has now its head-quarters, but which shall have become a kind of colony, dotted over with fortifications stronger than those of Cronstadt "

" And Ireland ? What of Ireland ?" asked Leslie, musingly.

" Tempus vincit- omnia" replied the Count, " Isolate the Irishman— throw him back upon himself, give him and his fellows the opportunity to brood without interruption on wrongs which are righter than half the rights of any other conquered State, and you will prolong the period of your trouble with him. But marry him, blend him, mix him, almost whether he will or no, with your Anglo-Saxon nationality. Be firm with him —it were even policy to be a little cruel to him. His bristles have never yet got fiat on his back. But, remember that bristles are retained in an upright position by muscular power, and that

tension must ultimately fail. Were I one of your legislators I would not hesitate to propose, as one way for settlement of your Irish difficulty, that the repeal of the union should be conceded. I should go further. I would force Ireland to take out her charter of independence,' and leave her to make the best or the worst of her situation — reserving always my own right to stop her, if I could, from uniting herself to any other State, to which her position, so close to your vitals, would give a manifest advantage. I admit the policy would be a rough lesson, scarcely justifiable according to the system of modern ethics. But it would be splendidly effective. In a year's time the Irish would come to you suppliants for a supply of grave-diggers and food."

"No Christian— no civilised State," said Leslie, with roused animation, " durst adopt a policy so God-forgotten. I shudder even at the skeleton outline you have given of it."

The Count smiled at the fervor of the young fellow. " Pardon me, Leslie, I was only theorising, but if you read the history of the world you will find that too much of its policy has been what you call ' Godforgoteen.' However, let us change the subject, and talk of the indicia of gold

By this time they were at the foot of the "Chimney Rock," a land-mark of red sandatone that sprung abruptly out of the prairie to the height of nearly 500 feet. They encamped near its base, and after everything had been made snug for the night, the Count and Leslie strolled out into some shallow ravines in the vicinity of the rock, and the Count continued his remarks on the evidence of the existence of gold. As he spoke Leslie pointed to a streak of black sand running down the hollow of the gully, in which were noticeable a few minute specks of a dull gold colour. The Count had just named the sand found in such a locality as a very common vehicle of gold, and the coincidence was so striking that Leslie was on his knees in a moment filling his pocket handerchief of the fine black sand. The Count did not indeed catch the infection of his enthusiasm, but owned readily enough to the likelihood that the sand really contained gold ; and the pair proceeded to a little water-course, where they carefully washed what Leslie had gathered at random. Beyond doubt there was gold in the sand. There lay some score of the minute particles on Leslie's handkerchief after all the sand had been run off ! The question was, what was to be done ?

The Count pointed out to Leslie very forcibly that this was not gold in situ, but had been carried down by the stream from some matrix up on the bluffs. No doubt it might exist there in considerable quantities, but ■would it be wise to prospect for it ? They had only provisions to last them across to California— none to maintain them while they made a search that might result in disappointment. Neither had they any suitable implements to commeace the work ; and above all there could be no question, no speculation, as to the certain richness of the Californian mines, which were the original destination of the party. It was pretty certain, the Count contended, that to mention the matter at all, unless it were determined to remain and search, would introduce anarchy into the band ; and ultimately, with some reluctance, Leslie took his advice to to say no more on the subject, at all events at present, but to continue the journey on the original programme, making an indelible mental note of the auriferous ravine near the Chimney Rock. Accordingly next day the cavalcade went forward, all but two of its members being in total ignorance that gold had already been " smelt."

The next halt for more than a night was at an advanced outpost of the " American Fur Trading Company," called Fort Laramie. The title of the fort was a misnomer, the fortress consisting of a mud enclosure on the three sides, the fourth being occupied by a two- storey high house, but a balcony along its front for the protection of its main entrance. AMr Husband was in charge of this place, whose business consisted in trading with the Indians for skins, and who had under him a superintendent and ten men, employed in preserving, packing, and stowing buffalo robes and skins. While the harness was being repaired and the wheel tires tightened up, a project came to a head that had formed matter for isolated discussion for some days previously. This was that a small party should be selected to ride forward in advance, unencumbered by wagons, so as to reach California some time before the main body, and have the preliminary preparations made there for enabling the rest to commence gold digging as soon as they should arrive. It was true there was the country of the Crows still to traverse, a tribe of Indians whom Mr Husband represented as fierce, cruel, and powerful. The main body, he said, would probably be able to pass through the three hundred miles of territory frequented by this tribe without being subjected to more than attempts at theft, but a smaller party, without the protection for encampment which the wagons afforded, would inevitably be attacked with determination, and would either be slain outright or despoiled of their provisions, arms, and animals, when their fate, if more protracted, would have the same bitter ending.

No doubt Mr. Husband's arguments were sound, and they had effect with several who, prior to hearing them, were the readiest to volunteer for the advance party. But some of the 'cute old prairie hands did not disguise their belief that Mr. Husband exaggerated the dangers of the attempt, and Leslie himself had been so favorably impressed with the kindness of the Sioux, that he was willing to believe all the Indians of the prairie were equally pleasant to deal with. The Count was ready for the adventure. Then it was certain that, if safely accomplished, the ad-

vance would be of incalculable advantage to the party. The season was advancing, and feed growing shorter. The riding party would take a different road from the wagon party, and on the avrival of the latter they would find everything prepared to enable them to do something before the winter • set in, which otherwise might not be the case. So the decision was taken in favor of the effort.

'Leslie delegated to Andy South the charge of the main party, and himself prepared to accompany the smaller band who were to ride forward. The Count joined the latter as a volunteer. Two old prairiemen, who could ride, not an accomplishment in special practice among the trappers, volunteered when asked, in a phlegmatic manner, which probably they would have worn had they been asked to risk shooting the Falls of Niagara. Sandy Mackenzie was another volunteer in his douce, undemonstrative way, as also was Donovan, the Irish ex- Dragoon, who was heartily sick of the ." fut- soldier " pace at which the expedition had hitherto advanced. Then of course there was Cato, who seemed to take his selection— or rather, his non-selec-tion—as a matter of course. He ranged himself behind Leslie as if he had been born to that position, and it would have been bad times for any one who ventured to suggest that he should not go where he went whom he persisted in calling his master.

These preliminaries settled, the wagon party was started forward, while the" forlorn hope," as Mr Husband persisted in calling it, remained behind for a day to fit the pack saddle and pack their scanty stores. Each man had a horse, and was to lead a pack mule— the Count and Leslie not being exempted from this, unless they chose to live without food. They soon found that the mules had an unpleasant remembrance of former pack saddles, and a great dislike to the renewal of the acquaintance. There was some excuse for this, for it is necessary to girth the pack saddle so tightly that the animal is almost cut in two. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the saddles to remain on, even when they had been got into position and girthed, for some of the mules swelled themselves out so that they burst the strong hide girths several times. When at length the saddles were secured, they were turned loose upon the plain to get used to the thorn in their flesh before the packs were put on, and they treated the spectators to a display of remarkable gymnastics emblematical of their indomitable hostility to the pack saddle. One of them, after having buckjumped, rolled over and over, and kicked til) it seemed as if he would kick his hind legs off into'space, finally turned round his head, and worried the saddle like a dog. However, time conquered them, and when they had become more or less docile the packs were put on. In this difficult art one of the old prairie men acted as schoolmaster. It was necessary so to adjust them as exactly to balance, and then to secure them by a complicated and eccentric series of hitchings and twistings, for each of which

there was, however, a reason, and it was therefore an indespensible effort of memory to remember, not only where each fastening went, but ihe sequence in which it was tied. At length a start was made, Mr. Husband bidding the party God-speed in a tone of voice that indicated he thought them madmen, if not deliberate suicides. All went propitious for the first few miles, but toward afternoon the sky became louring, and the rain came down in a deluge upon the tentless men. What robes and blankets they had could not be devoted by any means solely to their own protection from the weather. The packs demanded cover also -not being waterproof, unless they would have had their biscuits converted into dough and their jerked meat rendered putrid by the wet. With a fine morning, however, prospects and spirits both mended, and so for several days the little party rode cheerily over scrubby bluffs and along fertile bottoms, pursuing a course somewhat northward of that taken by the wagon party, of which, according to their reckoning they shot a-head on the third day. On the fourth morning they discerned a thin column of smoke issuing from a narrow bottom, and this was the first indication of the vicinity of the dreaded " Crows." It was determined, as the bottom lay exactly in the track, to push across it lower down than the encampment, and as the horsemen pressed through the trees as silently as possible, they saw through the breaks in the forest a large body of Indians squatted around a low-crowned wigwam. Suddenly there came on the wind a wild prolonged whoop, and this was taken as the signal of discovery. Leslie and his followers put their beasts to a gallop to gain the bare height ere the Indians should be upon them. They were seen ranging themselves in a line, decked in their grim war paint, along the front of the encampment, and it seemed all but certain that the party had been detected. But Indian vigilance sometimes sleeps, and it was so on this occasion. The long line of painted men broke into sections as a fantastic war dance was commenced, and as Leslie and his friends topped the crest and cantered down the further slope they breathed freely, for it was plain that the Indians had not seen them. Nevertheless, the spectacle in the wooded bottom was not reassuring. It showed that the "Crows" were really out in force, and that, if they were hostile, as Mr. Husband had affirmed they always were, there were indeed lions in the patli of the little party.

A couple of days, however, passed as they pressed steadily forward and saw no more of the painted men. On the evening of the second day a deep and rapid river was reached which it was necessary to cross by swimming, and a little way further on was found a body of Mormons strongly entrenched inside a strong timber pallisade, which they said they

had been forced to erect in anticipation of an attack from the Crows, who had already assailed them as they were slowly advancing toward the crossing. The Mormons mustered a large party, and had beaten the Crows off with some slaughter, the latter being in no great force ; but large bodies were certainly hovering in the vicinity, and they dreaded an assault- from the concentrated strength of the tribe.

Still Leslie and his little band believed in their luck. Fortune had favored them hitherto, and they wouid not believe that the jade would desert them now. Nor were the Mormons inclined to permanent hospitality, although kind enough for a single night ; and, therefore, as Mr. Donovan expressed it, the word was " boots and saddles " next morning. Recent traces of Indians were visible all along the track ; but this was all. The party halted for an hour in the afternoon near a stream in a kind of cup or basin, with eminences surrounding it on all sides. Having rested, they were tying on their packs preparatory to another start, when a sudden exclamation from Donovan caused everyone to hold his hand.

From three different points strong bands of Indians were galloping down into the bottom. The smallest was fifty 6trong ; they were well mounted, and seemed fairly provided with firearms. The mules Jas well as the horses showed symptoms of stampeding ; so Leslie gave the word to mount, and outwards face in something as near a circle as seven men could make. • E veryone was steady and resolute, only that Donovan had to be silenced in his eager suggestion that a charge should be made. Every rifle was on the shoulder, and Leslie had only to give the word for assuming the aggressive. But the Indians pulled up, and commenced making pantomimic gestures of a pacific nature. Leslie thought of the Sioux and their chivalry, and against the advice of the two old prairie men advanced singly towards the band which fronted him. Two chiefs came out to meet him, one passing to either side of him. Another rode up to his front and amicably held out his hand. As Leslie dropped his rifle on the horn of his saddle that he might shake hands, the chief on his right clutched it, while the one in front kept a firm grip of his hand and tried to pull him from the saddle. At the same moment the fellow; on his right hand put a carbine to his cheek' and drew the trigger, but the rubbishing old piece missed fire. Leslie wrenched his right hand from the Indian's grip, and pulling his revolver from his belt, gave fire to front and left, in both cases with effect. The man on his right strove to close with him as the pair confronted each other on horse-back ; but Leslie hit him between the eyes with a straight one from the shoulder, and the man went down Like a bullock. But they were on him with a whoop and a rush, crowding about him, so that he could not turn either way, and making desperate efforts both to unhorse him and to render his horse useless by cutting some of its teDdons. The gallant animal reared up and dashed out its fore feet in the teeth of the Indians, " for all the world like a Christian," as Donovan afterwards observed ; but the Indians hung on the bridle, and they seemed to have lost their dread of the revolver. Back, however, they went with a crash as two men ranged up alongside of Leslie with an impetuosity that nothing could resist. One was Donovan, the Irish ex-Dragoon, who had, dragoon like, slung his rifle and drawn his sword, which, standing up in his stirrups and swearing profusely meanwhile in choice Erse, he wielded with the skill of a man who had sent many a soul to Hades on the plain of Chillianwaliah. On the other side came the Count, cool and smiling as if in a drawingroom, but with a gleam in his eye that was a danger signal, his reins on his horse's neck, his sword in his right hand, his revolver 'in his left, both of which he used with a dainty finish as if he were pursuing some scientific experiment.

Chapter XIX.

For the space of about ten minutes the white men and the red men contended with each other in a mixed milAe. The latter struggled with a courage not often manifested by Indians, but to be accounted for by their overwhelming superiority of numbers. On the other hand, their arms and individual strength stood the adventurers in good stead. Wherever one of them dealt a blow an Indian bit the dust ; but then two sprang into his" place. Their greatest efforts were directed toward unhorsing the white men, who for their own part had not only to keep their saddles^but to save the mules, one of which each of them led. Leslie felt there was nothing for it but to break away out of the press and tiy a running light — if the fight were to be prolonged at all. He gave the signal, and his followers, watching their chance, gave the spur simultaneously, and, after some desperate hand-to-hand fighting, they gained the open. Starting then at a hand gallop, they pressed on to the friendly eminence of a neighbouring bluff, where their rifles would enable them to hold their ground against all comers. Breathless and ttloodspattered, they palled up behind the brow of the knoll to reckon the results of the fight. But Donovan had been doing this as they came along.

" Hwhere the divil's the Connt ? " was his panting exclamation, as he leant forward in the saddle to ease his horse.

" The Count !" cried Leslie, in a panic ; ' ' why, he was at my elbow when I broke through the laat gang of Indiana !"

"It wad be mair to the purpose," remarked Mackenzie, "if he was at your elback noo." There was no contradicting this, but the

Count, beyond question, had not succeeded in making good his escape.

" See," exclaimed one of the backwoodsmen, "thar's the darned critters skulkin' off with Count, horse, an' mule. The cusses are making tracks to the rear and leaving an infarnal gang fur to keep us busy. We'll have them on top of us in a squirrel's jump. Sure enough a body of Indians were advancing across the open towards the bluff behind which the party were in ambush.

There was a hurried council of war. It was clear there was no policy in further fighting on this line. They could not rescue the Count even if he were alive, which was doubtful, and both the backwoodsmen declared their conviction that if the aggressive were assumed, and the Count still alive, he would be sacrificed in retaliation. Nobody in as many words proposed to abandon him ; but the question .of his rescue seemed postponed by general consent. And whatever was to be their future course it was wise to get beyond the ken of the Indians as soon as possible. They plunged accordingly down into the bottom, which was thickly timbered, and in which they were quite lost to view. Topping the further crest, they then turned off to the right at an accute angle, and, working gradually round before the day was done, they bivouacked within no great distance of the scene of the skirmish. All except Leslie threw themselves on the ground and were speedily in a deep slumber. He remained on the watch, anxiously cogitating some scheme for the rescue of his friend. As the moon rose and illuminated the scene, her beams fell upon a curl of smoke rising from behind a wooden knoll over against where he stood. A narrow ravine trended round the further side of this knoll, and intersected the bluff among the trees on the shoulder on which the tired party were resting. It atruck Leslie that this smoke must come from the camp of the Crows, and he determined on a reconnoitring expedition, for which the ground, being well wooded, was favourable.

Crossing the bottom, he pressed upward toward the knoll, from the top of which he hoped to look down on the camp. For a while he met with no interruption ; all was still, save for the occasional chirp of the cricket or the hum of the mosqaito. But as he groped his way gently through the trees he became aware of the presence of an Indian outpost on the top of the knoll. The outliers had no fire, but they Beemed merry enough, judging by their constant jabbering and loud laughter. The Count had a couple of jars of brandy Blung on his pack mule, and Leslie imagined that their contents accounted for the jocularity of the Indians. Diverging to the right, he worked a little further forward, so as to be in line with the outpost, and then it was possible for him to look dowp into the camp. Round a huge fire the Indians were squatted, one of their number every now and then springing up and executing a wild dance round a prostrate and motionless body, which Leslie divined to be the Count. Was he alive, or were they mocking Mb corpse ?

The question was presently settled. The prostrate body was raised up and bound to a neighbouring tree in a standing position. Leslie saw something held out toward it, and then snatched away with a yell of demoniac laughter. He conjectured that the Indians were mocking his friend's thirst ; but he could not help him. Yet, as he lay there, an idea struck him, and, springing up, he hastened back to put it into execution. By this time his followers were tolerably rested, and the cattle were tairly fresh again. Having aroused the sleepers, be stated what he had seen, and, f'efore divulging his own plan, asked for such advice as anyone might have to tender. Sandy Mackenzie, the Scottish gamekeeper, had been quietly looking out over the moonlit landscape, and bis experience on the hills prompted him to a suggestion. "T'm thinking," said he, "we micht manage for to stalk the deevils." ♦• Exactly my own idea, Mao," cried Leslie, with animation, "there's nothing easier."

" Ye maun tak the corry for it till ye come abreast the howff, and syne trust to luck, a right an' left shot, an' a rush. But what'll ye do whan ye've grippet the Count, supposin' ye manage that?" "We'll have the horses on the further side of the ravine, a little distanco lower down. Then we shall have it for cover in our first rush back from the camp, clamber out of it, and mount. The Indians can't get their horses over the ravine, aiid we can canter off at our leisure." All allowed that the scheme seemed feasible. The horses were got over close to the bivouac, and brought quietly round, so as to be as near the further margin of the ravine as possible. Leßlie, Mackenzie, and one of the prairie men, with a last glance ab their rifles, and easing their knives in their sheaths slid into the bottom of the ravine, marking as they went the spot where exit was easiest. Mackenzie went first, groping his way with a silent stealthineas, that he had learned in Mar Forest. Peeping occasionally over the edge of the ravine, Leslie saw with satisfaction that the outpost on the knoll had joined the main body, so there was no fear of interception from that quarter. Two hundred yards or so had been traversed in a stealthy, cat-like fashion, when the glare of the camp fire waa seen flashing on the shrubs overhanging the ravine. The three men-stalkera cautiously raised their heads and looked right into the camp. The fire was not twenty paces distant. Bound it sat or lolled the Crows, in their borrid war-paint, The spirit jars were in

their midst, and, judging by the manner in which they were tilted when anyone drank, they were nearly emptied. Of Indians in all there were about forty, and most of them, Beemed drunk. A little apart was the Count, still bound to the tree as he had been when Leslie saw him last. His face looked pale in the flare of the fire, but he carried his head erect, and Leslie fancied his face bore the expression of contempt, *

As they gazed a painted savage, who had just taken an extra puil at one of the jars, sprang to his feet with a wild howl, and broke into afantaaticdance, circling round the captive, whirling his tomahawk round his head as he capered and yelled. The circle grew closer and closer, till at length the savage halted directly in front of the bound figure with the upright head, and, bracing himself erect with legs wide apart, upheaved the tomahawk with deadly intent.

There was a sudden " crack," and the Indian sprang into the air with a shriek, to fall back dead. The brands were scattered right and left among the amazed carousers ; a dexterous knife was applied to the cords binding the Count ; he was grasped on either wide by a strong arm, and dragged rather than led at top speed over the lip of the ravine. Then he was bidden to " Bun — to run for his life !"

The whole thing was over in two minutes. Some of the Indians made an irresolute rush in the direction of the ravine. Two of them were intercepted by the ready bullet ; two more, who had gathered headway so that they could not stop themselves, jumped into the gully to find a knife in their vitals. Then the rescuing party turned and fled after the rescued, who was making the Ve3t of his way on his stiffened limbs. Presently they were back at the spot where they had entered. Helped out by friendly hands, they mounted with all specd — the Count on one of the mules whose packs had been discarded — and were off at a brisk gallop into safety.

The Count said but little — not being given to parade his feelings ; but when the party halted at noon he gave each a grip of the hand that spoke volumes. Then there was a consultation. It was impossible to adhere to the original programme. They had lost one mule out and out, aud been obliged to discard the load of another ; so that their provisions would not carry them to California. It was clear, too, although he was silent oa the subject, that the Count had suffered much and been seriousty weakened during his brief captivity. So it was determined to strike southerly, and attempt a junction with the wagon party, which meanwhile they hoped had been pressing steadily onwards. After two days' ride they had the satisfaction of seeing the white canvas covers again, and of learning that Andy South had pioneered his command with skill . and success.

The journey was pursued for a considerable time with no incident of moment. The party stayed a couple of days at Port Bridger —a post occupied by an American of the name of Bridger as a trading station with the Indians. After a few days' further journeying, they suddenly came upon a body_ of Mormons, who were engaged in burning lime, and who stated tha? their city was only a few miles distant. Nexi day the udventurers entered the Valley of Utah, with which, in a physical point of view, they were much disappointed. They saw spread out before them a bare level plain, arid and sunscorched, with the great Salt Lake in its centra, and the gloomy Utah range beyond. Presently the Mormon capital came in sight —a poor place as yet, but pretentiously laid out, with wide streets radiating from a large centre space, which seemed a forest of scaffolding poles. The houses stood far apart, around each being a space allotted for gardens and paddocks, and the environs of the town were green and leafy.

As the caravan entered the town, the inhabitants thronged into the streets asking for news. The men were hearty and healthy - looking, the children neat and well-clad, and the females - well, Mr Hickmnn professed to be a connoisseur, and he was in raptures. They had plenty of offers of gratuitous lodging, of one of which Mr Hickman availed himself, saying that he longed to sleep once more in a bed ; but the main body located themselves in a meadow near the town, where they were presently overwhelmed with loads of vegetables, butter, eggs, milk, and cheese. In the evening most of them visited the house of one of the elders, where there was quite aa evening party. Mr Hickman astonished equally his fellow-travellers and the Mormons by coming out in a dress coat and crush hat, and really created a great impression when dancing set in vigorously after tea. Leslie had heard but little of the manners and customs of the Mormons, and was not a Hctle surprised to find two mistresses in the same house ; but the two ladies seemed to agree very well and to be contented with their lot, so he felt it to be no businebs of hia to go deeper into the question. The Count fell into conversation with the elder, and I by-atd-tiye was asked to pay a visit to the great Joseph Smith himself, a compliment which was also extended to Leslie. Joe was hospitable, if nob very communicative, and seemed particularly strong in the matter of wives.

Next morning Leslie and the Count went on a voyage of discovery through the city, accompanied by one of the elders. They found the houses mostly small, but very neat, clean, and comfortable. All trades were well represented, but agriculture seemed the leading avocation. The land in the valley was all tilled by a well-devised system of irrigation, and the promise of harvest was very bountiful, the principal crops being wheat and maize, with large quantities

of garden vegetables. They caw numerous herds of fine cattle, as well as flocks of sheep, and a great plenty of horses and mules, as well as an immense stock of poultry. Altogether they were satisfied that, so far as material prosperity went, the Mormons had the reverse of cause to be discontented.

Next day was Sunday, and the whole party turned out to attend the Mormon service, which, pending the erection of a chapel, was held in the open central space adjoining. In front of the rostrum were rows of stools and chairs for the townspeople, while the incomers from the outlying districts sat in their wagons in a wider semicircle. The congregation was laTge and decorous, the ladies being arrayed quite fashionably, and using dainty parasols to save their complexions. Joseph Smith conducted the services, which were commenced by the reading of a report detailing the conditions and prospects of the colony, and containing a list of those deserving commendation for their zeal and industry in husbandry, followed by another of the slothful and shiftless members, who were rebuked in strong terms, and threatened with expulsion if they did not show greater activity. Then Brigham Young arose, and, having giyen out a text from the Book of Mormon, proceeded to give a long and somewhat rambling discourse thereupon, expressing unbounded confidence in the future of Utah and Mormonism, and abusing every other denomination on the face of the earth. Luncheons, junkettinga, and visiting passed away the afternoon. In the evening there was another sermon, and then the Mormons, mule and female, thronged out into the camp in the meadow to pay their farewells, as the party was to start in the morning. Indeed, Leslie found it would be hazardous to stay longer, for several of his followers were exhibiting Btrong symptoms of impending conversion to Mormonism. Donovan was quite over head and ears with an unappropriated colleen whom he had chanced upou, and who smiled upon him with evident kindness. Mackenzie, too, had "serious thouchts " of locating himself in the valley. He had all the Celtic fondness for a bit of land of his own, and, a good husbandman, knew that he misht do well in a territory whose chief wealth was agricultural. But he foregathered on the Sunday evening with a countryman wbo put him out of conceit with the place. This honest man explained to his countryman that it was one of the fundamental laws of the community that everyone should place iuto the common treasury whatever wealth he might acquire or stand possessed of on entering beyond what sufficed for immediate wants. This particular Scot had on his arrival paid a considerable sum into the treasury, and being lately anxious to try his luck in California, had gone to draw it out, whereupon he was not only refused, but abused as a luster after filthy lucre. He was very bitter as to this confiscation, and strenuously disad vised his brother Scot from joining a community the heads of which, in his own phraseology, were j little better than ''sorners and reivers."

When, the muster was made up in the morning, there was but one absentee, and this was none other than Mr Hickman. He hid slept two nights in a bed, had worn a dress coat, and danced a waltz, and after these beatitudes he refused peremptorily again to adventure on the toilsome journey, especially in view of the Indiana, who, he had heard, might still be in the path. Leslie went to the house where he was located, and tried to persuade him not to be a fool. He found him Bitting at breakfast in the verandah, in a striking dressing- e;own, and wearing an embroidered fez. The astute elder in whose house he was had two pretty and equally astute daughters, and they shared the attentions of the gallant Hickman. He was telling them tall stories about his fortune, and his horses, and his yacht, and all the rest of it, to which the damsels seriously inclined their ears, while the father sat by looking on complacently. Hickman was immovable

" My dear-a fe'low," was his reply to Leslie, " I'm demmed if I go a yard farther with you. I was getting a wegular Hottentot, camping-out-a and. all the west of it. Why, I couldn't get a decant pair of a- gloves on yesterday, my handß htd grown so splay on these confounded pwairies. No, my friend, I'm 10-cated, I guess. This wespectable old a gentleman is kind enongh to extend hia-a hospitality to me for apewiod of-a indefinite duwation, and I think I would like to be a Mormon — it would be a new sensation-aw."

So Hickman, valet, atsd t-otting-wsgon were loafc thenceforth to the company, and the New York exquisite may by this time b<3 a ruling elder with a well-filled seraglio. The bereaved ones bore up as well as could b8 expected under the circumstances, and pushed steadily forward through the Utah i territory, receiving everywhere the utmost ' kindncsd and civility from the settlers, who all appeared prosperous and contented. (To be continued.)

At a juvenile party a young gentleman, about seven years old, kept himself from the rest of the company. The lady of the house called to him : — " Come and play and dance, my dear. Choose one of those pretty girls for your wife."— "Not likely," cried the young cynic, " no wife for me ; do you think I want to be worried out of my life like poor papa ?"

When rogues fall out honest men have a chance of doing a little swindling on their own account — A rolling stone isn't the best seat you can find on the edge of a precipice. — > Birds of a feather don't contribute much to the manufacture of feather beds.— Where there's a will it may be found advisable to prove it at Doctors' Commons,