The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old West

by Harry Leon Wilson

  CHAPTER XI.

  _Another Miracle and a Temptation in the Wilderness_

  The floor of the valley was an arid waste, flat and treeless, a farsweep of gray and gold, of sage-brush spangled with sunflowers, patchedhere and there with glistening beds of salt and soda, or pools of thedeadly alkali. Here crawled the lizard and the rattlesnake; and therewas no music to the desolation save the petulant chirp of the cricket.At the sides an occasional stream tumbled out of the mountains to be allbut drunk away at once by the thirsty sands. Along the banks of thesewas the only green to be found, sparse fringes of willow and wild rose.On the borders of the valley, where the steeps arose, were littlepatches of purple and dusty brown, oak-bush, squaw-berry, a few dwarfedcedars, and other scant growths. At long intervals could be found amarsh of wire-grass, or a few acres of withered bunch-grass. But theseserved only to emphasise the prevailing desert tones.

  The sun-baked earth was so hard that it broke their ploughs when theytried to turn it. Not until they had spread water upon it from the riverthey had named Jordan could the ploughs be used. Such was the newCanaan, the land held in reserve by the Lord for His chosen people sincethe foundations of the world were laid.

  Dreary though it was, they were elated. Had not a Moses led them out ofbondage up into this chamber of the mountains against the day of wraththat was to consume the Gentile world? And would he not smite the rocksfor water? Would he not also be a Joshua to sit in judgment and divideto Israel his inheritance?

  They waited not nor demurred, but fell to work. Within a week they hadexplored the valley and its canons, made a road to the timber eightmiles away, built a saw-pit, sawed lumber for a skiff, ploughed,planted, and irrigated half a hundred acres of the parched soil, andbegun the erection of many dwellings, some of logs, some of adobes.Ground had also been chosen and consecrated by Brigham, whereon, in duetime, they would build up their temple to the God of Jacob.

  Meantime, they would continue to gather out of Babylon. During the latesummer and fall many wagons arrived from the Missouri, so that by thebeginning of winter their number was nearly two thousand. They livedrudely, a lucky few in the huts they had built; more in tents andwagon-boxes. Nor did they fail to thank Providence for the mild wintervouchsafed to them during this unprotected period, permitting them notonly to survive, but to continue their labours--of logging,home-building, the making of rough furniture, and the repairing ofwagons and tools.

  When the early spring came they were again quickly at the land withtheir seeds. Over five thousand acres were sown to needful produce. Whenthis began to sprout with every promise of a full harvest, their joy wasboundless; for their stock of breadstuffs and provisions had fallen lowduring the winter, and could not last later than harvest-time, even withrigid economy.

  But early in June, in the full flush of this springtide of promise, itappeared that the Lord was minded to chasten them. For into their broad,green fields came the ravenous crickets in wide, black streams down themountain sides. Over the growing grain they spread as a pall, and thetender sprouts were consumed to the ground. In their track they left nostalk nor growing blade.

  Starvation now faced the Saints. In their panic they sought to fight theall-devouring pest. While some went wildly through the fields killingthe crickets, others ran trenches and tried to drown them. Still othersbeat them back with sticks and brooms, or burned them by fires set inthe fields. But against the oncoming horde these efforts wereunavailing. Where hundreds were destroyed hundreds of thousandsappeared.

  Despair seized the Saints, the bitter despair of a cheated, famishedpeople--deluded even by their God. In their shorn fields they wept andcursed, knowing at last they could not stay the pest.

  Then into the fields came Joel Rae, rebuking the frenzied men and women.The light of a high faith was upon him as he called out to them:

  "Have I not preached to you all winter the way to salvation in timeslike this? Does faith mean one thing in my mouth and another thing here?Why waste yourselves with those foolish tricks of fire and water? Theyonly make you forget Jehovah--you fools--you poor, blind fools--topalter so!"

  He raised his voice, and the wondering group about him grew large.

  "Down, down on your knees and pray--pray--pray! I tell you the Lordshall _not_ suffer you to perish!"

  Then, as but one or two obeyed him--

  "So your hearts have been hardened? Then my own prayer shall save you!"

  Down he knelt in the midst of the group, while they instinctively drewback from him on all sides. But as his voice rose, a voice that hadnever failed to move them, they, too, began to kneel, at first thosenear him, then others back of them, until a hundred knelt about him.

  He had not observed them, but with eyes closed he prayed on, pouring outhis heart in penitent supplication.

  "These people are but little children, after all, seeing not, gropingblindly, attempting weakly, blundering always, yet never faltering inlove for Thee. Now I, Thy servant, humble and lowly, from whom Thou hastalready taken in hardest ways all that his heart held dear, who willto-day give his body to be crucified, if need be, for this people--Iimplore Thee to save these blundering children now, in this very moment.I ask nothing for myself but that--"

  As his words rang out, there had been quick, low, startled murmurs fromthe kneeling group about him; and now loud shouts interrupted hisprayer. He opened his eyes. From off toward the lake great flocks ofgulls had appeared, whitening the sky, and now dulling all other soundswith the beating of their wings and their high, plaintive cries. Quicklythey settled upon the fields in swirling drifts, so that the land allabout lay white as with snow.

  A groan went up,--"They will finish what the crickets have left."

  He had risen to his feet, looking intently. Then he gave an exultantshout.

  "No! No!--they are eating only the _crickets_!--the white birds aredevouring the black pests; the hosts of heaven and hell have met, andthe powers of light have triumphed once more over darkness! _Pray_--praynow with all your hearts in thanksgiving for this mercy!"

  And again they knelt, many with streaming eyes, while he led them in aprayer of gratitude for this wondrous miracle.

  All day long the white birds fed upon the crickets, and when they leftat night the harvest had been saved. Thus had Heaven vouchsafed a secondmiracle to the Lute of the Holy Ghost. It is small wonder then if hisviews of the esteem in which he was held by that power were now greatlyenlarged.

  In August, thanks to the Heaven-sent gulls, they were able to celebratewith a feast their first "Harvest Home." In the centre of the bigstockade a bowery was built, and under its shade tables were spread andrichly laden with the first fruits their labours had won from thedesert,--white bread and golden butter, green corn, watermelons, andmany varieties of vegetables. Hoisted on poles for exhibition wereimmense sheaves of wheat, rye, barley, and oats, coaxed from the aridlevel with the water they had cunningly spread upon it.

  There were prayers and public thanksgiving, songs and speeches anddancing. It was the flush of their first triumph over the desert. Untilnightfall the festival lasted, and at its close Elder Rae stood up toaddress them on the subject of their past trials and present blessings.The silence was instant, and the faces were all turned eagerly upon him,for it was beginning to be suspected that he had more than even priestlypower.

  "To-day," he said, "the favour and blessing of God have been manifestupon us. But let us not forget our debts and duties in this feasting ofthe flesh. Afflictions are necessary to humble and prove us, and weshall have them as often as they are needed. Oh, never doubt it! I have,indeed, but one fear concerning this people in the valleys of themountains--but one trembling fear in the nerves of my spirit--and thatis lest we do not live the religion we profess. If we will only cleaveto that faith in our practise, I tell you we are at the defiance of allhell. But if we transgress the law God has given us, and trample Hismercies, blessings, and ordinances under our feet, treating them withthe indifference I have thought some occa
sionally do, not realisingtheir sins, I tell you that in consequence we shall be overcome, and theLord will let us be again smitten and scattered. Take it to heart. Maythe God of heaven fill you with the Holy Ghost and give you light andjoy in His Kingdom."

  When he was done many pressed forward to take his hand, the young andthe old, for they had both learned to reverence him.

  Near the outer edge of the throng was a red-lipped Juno, superblyrounded, who had gleaned in the fields until she was all a Gipsy brown,and her movements of a Gipsy grace in their freeness. She did not greetthe young Elder as did the others, seeming, indeed, to be unconscious ofhis presence. Yet she lingered near as they scattered off into the dusk,in little groups or one by one; and still she stood there when all weregone, now venturing just a glance at him from deep gray eyes set underblack brows, turning her splendid head a little to bring him into view.He saw the figure and came forward, peeringly.

  "Mara Cavan--yes, yes, so it is!" He took her hand, somewhat timidly, anobserver would have said. "Your father is not able to be out? I shallwalk down with you to see him--if you're ready now."

  She had been standing much like a statue, in guarded restraint, but athis words and the touch of his hand she seemed to melt and flow intoeager acquiescence, murmuring some hurried little words of thanks forher father, and stepping by his side with eyes down.

  They went out into the soft summer night, past the open doors whererejoicing groups still lingered, the young standing, the old sitting inchairs by the doors of their huts. Then they were out of the stockadeand off toward the southern end of the settlement. A big, golden moonhad come up over the jagged edge of the eastern hills,--a moon that leftthe valley in a mystic sheen of gold and blue, and threw their shadowsmadly into one as they walked. They heard the drowsy chirp of thecricket, now harmless, and the low cry of an owl. They felt thelanguorous warmth of the night, spiced with a hint of chilliness, andthey felt each other near. They had felt this nearness before. One ofthem had learned to fear it, to tremble for himself at the thought ofit. The other had learned to dream of it, and to long for it, and towonder why it should be denied.

  Now, as they stepped side by side, their hands brushed together, and hecaught hers in his grasp, turning to look full upon her. Her ecstasy waspoignant; she trembled in her walk. But she looked straightahead,--waiting. To both of them it seemed that the earth rocked undertheir feet. He looked long at her profile, softened in the magic light.She felt his eyes upon her, and still she waited, in a tremblingecstasy, stepping closely by his side. She felt him draw a long breath,and then another, quickly,--and then he spoke.

  In words that were well-chosen but somewhat hurried, he proceeded toinstruct her in the threefold character of the Godhead. The voice atfirst was not like his own, but as he went on it grew steadier. Aftershe drew her hand gently out of his, which she presently did, it seemedto regain its normal pitch and calmness.

  He saw her to the door of the cabin on the outskirts of the settlement,and there he spoke a few words of cheer to her ailing father.

  Then he was off into the desert, pacing swiftly into the grim, sandysolitude beyond the farthest cabin light and the bark of the outmostwatch-dog. Feverishly he walked, and far, until at last, as if naught inhimself could avail, he threw himself to the ground and prayed.

  "Keep me _good_! Keep me to my vows! Help me till my own strength grows,for I am weak and wanting. Let me endure the pain until this wickedfire within me hath burned itself out. Keep me for _her_!"

  Back where the houses were, in the shadow of one of them, was theflushed, full-breathing woman, hurt but dumb, wondering, in her bruisedtenderness, why it must be so.

  Still farther back, inside the stockade, where the gossiping groups yetlingered, they were saying it was strange that Elder Rae waited so longto take him a wife or two.