File:The awakening of the desert (1912) (14778664515).jpg

Identifier: awakeningofdese00birg (find matches)
Title: The awakening of the desert
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Birge, Julius Charles, 1839-1923
Subjects: Frontier and pioneer life
Publisher: Boston R.G. Badger
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
rospectthat tempted us most powerfully to share the fortunes ofthe other boys who had been our companions in earlieryears and whom we fervently hoped would join the party.Fred undoubtedly expressed our sentiments when he said: My enthusiasm might take a big slump if a raid ofthose red devils should swoop down upon us, but if I go, Ishall feel as if I didnt get my moneys worth, if we dontsee some of the real life of the Wild West. We had all been accustomed to the use of firearms andcould picture in our imagination how, from behind an am-ple rock, with the aid of good long-range rifles, we wouldvaliantly defend ourselves against an enemy armed withbows and arrows, we being far beyond the range of suchprimitive weapons. Immense herds of buffalo and other large game were alsoknown to range over the plains from the Canadian borderto the Gulf of Mexico, and these at times might receiveproper attention. Yea, there were some present whoeven expressed a desire to capture a grizzly bear in the
Text Appearing After Image:
// A CALL TO THE WILDERNESS 17* mountains—of course under sane and safe conditions—though none up to that time had seen the real thing. A former schoolmate, Billy Comstock, best known asWild Bill, who rode the first pony express from Atchi-son, and had often been called upon by our Governmentto act as Indian interpreter, was said to be somewhere onthe plains. This was encouraging, for William would beable to give us some interesting pointers. We will meet here again after the store closes tomorrownight was the word that passed round as we went out intothe sleet and rain, and the door closed behind us. At the earliest opportunity our friend, Ben Frees, whohad recently returned from the war, was interviewed withfavorable results. Yes, I will go with the boys, was my decision finallyreached after a full discussion of the subject at home. And the three boys went. CHAPTER II RollOut WHITMORE and Wilson, who were theleading spirits in our expedition, urgedthat twenty-five Henry repeatin

Note About Images