Этюд в багровых тонах
On the great Alkali Plain.
Slowlytheeyelidsdroopedoverthetiredeyes,andtheheadsunklowerandloweruponthebreast,untiltheman’sgrizzledbeardwasmixedwiththegoldtressesofhiscompanion,andbothsleptthesamedeepanddreamlessslumber.
Hadthewandererremainedawakeforanotherhalfhourastrangesightwouldhavemethiseyes. Farawayontheextremevergeofthealkaliplainthereroseupalittlesprayofdust,veryslightatfirst,andhardlytobedistinguishedfromthemistsofthedistance,butgraduallygrowinghigherandbroaderuntilitformedasolid,well-definedcloud. Thiscloudcontinuedtoincreaseinsizeuntilitbecameevidentthatitcouldonlyberaisedbyagreatmultitudeofmovingcreatures. Inmorefertilespotstheobserverwouldhavecometotheconclusionthatoneofthosegreatherdsofbisonswhichgrazeupontheprairielandwasapproachinghim. Thiswasobviouslyimpossibleinthesearidwilds. Asthewhirlofdustdrewnearertothesolitarybluffuponwhichthetwocastawayswerereposing,thecanvas-coveredtiltsofwaggonsandthefiguresofarmedhorsemenbegantoshowupthroughthehaze,andtheapparitionrevealeditselfasbeingagreatcaravanuponitsjourneyfortheWest. Butwhatacaravan! Whentheheadofithadreachedthebaseofthemountains,therearwasnotyetvisibleonthehorizon. Rightacrosstheenormousplainstretchedthestragglingarray,waggonsandcarts,menonhorseback,andmenonfoot. Innumerablewomenwhostaggeredalongunderburdens,andchildrenwhotoddledbesidethewaggonsorpeepedoutfromunderthewhitecoverings.
