The prairie was ridged here and there with ice, and the swales were full
of posh and water. Geese were slowly winging their way against the wind,
and ducks were sitting here and there on the ice-rimmed ponds. The sod
was burned black and bare, and so firm with frost that the wagon
chuckled noisily as it passed over it. The whistle of the driver called
afar, startling the ducks from their all-night resting-places.
One of the teams drew a load of material for a house, together with a
few household utensils. The driver, a thin-faced, blue-eyed man of
thirty, walked beside his horses. His eyes were full of wonder, but he
walked in silence.
The second wagon was piled high with boxes and barrels of groceries and
hardware, and was driven by a handsome young fellow with a large brown
mustache. His name was Bailey, and he seemed to be pointing the way for
his companion, whom he called Burke.
As the sun rose, a kind of transformation-scene took place. The whole
level land lifted at the horizon till the teams seemed crawling forever
at bottom of an enormous bowl.
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