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Show 132 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. that with the morning sun rose from the ground and gradually" grew thicker and higher, until it mingled with the clouds and enveloped the whole earth. "The pious man wandered away from the sound of human voices to pray for the removal of his burden of sin. Kneeling in deep humility,*he raised his hands and voice to God, when lo! the cloud was lifted, and suspended before him, resplendent with the rays of the glorious sun, was the' CROSS.' " The Great Spirit of the Mountains breathed forgiveness, and his soul went out in joy. " Wondering at his long delay his companions went to search for him, and found him dead in the attitude of prayer, with his face toward the Mount of the Holy Cross!" During this recital the air became suddenly colder, clouds shut out the sunlight, and it was evident that a storm was brewing. With all possible haste we started on the downward march. The roads were good, and as it was all down hill, we hoped to out travel the storm. Angry nature fumed, fretted and threatened for an hour or so, and then the rain came down in torrents. The thunders rolled, the winds lashed us, and all the elements seemed pretty busy for a while; but no matter, we had made the ascent and were happy, a new picture was hung in the gallery of memory, that time could never efface. We had something to think of and talk about, not for a day, but for many days. The forlorn and bedraggled party which entered the hotel that evening bore no resemblance to the one that left it in the morning. We looked as if we had been attending a Baptist revival and become converts to the " dip theory." One complained of toothache, another of |
