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Show 300 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. to a chasm with perpendicular walls of rock, that prevented further progress. Here they built a big fire of logs and sticks, hung the sack of provisions to a limb, out of the reach of the coyotes, drew a map of the route to the agency, nailed it to a tree, and as nothing further could be done, returned to their home. " The next day an emaciated man dragged his weary body into the agency. "At sight of him I burst into tears. He said, 'don't cry, why, I had a good breakfast this morning,' and then told how he had persuaded his friend to leave him, for he said, ' you little know the temptation of hunger. Even when the eyes are closed in sleep, visions of everything delicious to eat, annoy and tantalize the starving man. *I had drawn the leather strap that held my clothes, tighter around me to, still the gnawing, when I discovered the smoke, and presently saw the fire. Hurrying to the spot, I found the bag of food, and there, in my gratitude, fervently asked the blessing of God upon the hand that brought me relief.' " So the light that was scoffed at was the means of saving two lives. "It then became necessary for Gen. Adams to go to Denver for a fresh supply of provisions. I accompanied him. Returning, we stopped at Saguache, and were entertained at the residence of Hon. Otto Mears. " During our absence a man had come into the agency, stayed a week or so, and went to Saguache with the intention of working his way to his friends in Pennsylvania. He professed to have no money, said he was one of the band of six that left Ouray's camp; that he became lame and his companions deserted him, and he found his |
