A Study in Scarlet — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A STUDY IN SCARLET. 99 men began to show up through the haze, and the ap. parition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon ite journey for the West. But what a caravan! When the kead of it had reached the base of the mountains, the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array, wagons and carts, men on horseback, and men on foot. Innumerable women who staggered along under bur- dens, and children who toddled beside the wagons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently no ordinary party of immigrants, but rather some nomad people who had been compelled from stress of circumstances to seek themselves a new coun. try. There rose through the clear air a confused clat- tering and rumbling from this great mass of humanity, with the creaking of wheels and the neighing of horses. Loud as it was, it was not sufficient to rouse the two tired wayfarers above them. At the head of the column there rose a score or more of grave, iron-faced men clad in somber homespun garments and armed with rifles. On reaching the base of the bluff they halted and held a short council among themselves. “The wells are to the right, my brothers,” said one, a hard-lipped, clean-shaven man with grizzly hair. “To the right of the Sierra Blanco—so we shall reach the Rio Grande,” said another. “Fear not for water,” cried a third. ‘‘ He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen people.” “Amen! Amen!” responded the whole party. (COM JOOKSHE