CHAPTER TWO
VIA A "PRAIRIE SCHOONER"
Imagination had painted for the scouts a most thrilling ride in aprairie schooner, but they learned to their sorrow that the greatranch wagon built for travel over the heavy western roads and roughtrails, was not quite as luxurious as a good automobile, going onsplendid eastern state roads.
Ranch wagons are manufactured to withstand all sorts of ditches andobstructions in western roadways. They are constructed with greatstiff springs, and the wheels have massive steel bands on still moremassive rims. Into such a vehicle were packed the baggage and campingoutfits that were meant to provide lodging and cooking for the partyfor the summer.
The four strong horses, which were to be delivered to a dealer inBoulder, pulled the wagon. Tally understood well how to drive afour-in-hand, but the going was not speedy, accustomed as thepassengers were to traveling in fast automobiles.
Tally took the direct road to Boulder because it was the best route tothe Rocky Mountain National Park, where Mr. Gilroy wished to examinecertain moraines to find specimens he needed for his further work.
The wagon had rumbled along for several hours, and the tourists werenow in the wonderful open country with the Rockies frowning down uponthem from distant great heights, while the foothills into which theywere heading were rising before them.
The road they were on ran along a bald crest of one of thesefoothills. Turning a bend in the trail, the scouts got their firstglimpse of a genuine cattle-ranch. It was spread out in the valleybetween two mountains, like a table set for a picnic. The moving herdof cattle and the cowboys looked like dots on the tablecloth.
"Oh, look, every one! What are those tiny cowboys doing to thecattle?" called Julie, eagerly pointing to a mass of steers which werebeing gathered together at one corner of the range.
"I verily believe they are working the herd, Vernon! What sayyou,--shall we detour to give the scouts an idea of how they do it?"asked Mr. Gilroy.
Mr. Vernon took the field glasses and studied the mass for a fewmoments, then said, "To be sure, Gilroy! I'd like to watch the boys doit, too."
"I have never witnessed the sight, although we all have heard aboutit," added Mrs. Vernon. "It will be splendid to view such a scene aswe travel along."
Mr. Gilroy then turned to the driver. "Tally, when we reach the footof this descent, take a trail that will lead us past that ranch wherethe cowboys are working cattle out of the herd."
Tally nodded, and at the first turn he headed the horses towards theranch a few miles away. When the tourists passed the rough ranch-houseof logs, a number of young children ran out to watch the party ofstrangers, for visitors in that isolated spot were a curiosity.
The guide reined in his horses upon a knoll a short distance from thescene where the cattle were being rounded up. Spellbound, the scoutswatched the great mass of the broad brown backs of the restlesscattle, with their up-thrusting, shining horns constantly tossing, orimpatient heads swaying from side to side. All around the vast herdwere cowboys, picturesque in sombreros, and chaps with swinging ropescoiled ready to "cut out" a certain steer. Meanwhile, threading in andout of the concentrated mass, other horsemen were driving the cattleto the edge of the round-up.
"What do they intend doing with those they lasso, Gilly?" asked Joan.
"They will brand them with the ranch trade-mark, and then ship them tothe large packing-houses."
Mrs. Vernon managed to get several fine photographs of the interestingwork, and then the Indian guide was told to drive on. Seeking for away out to the main trail again, Tally ascended a very steep grade.Upon reaching the top, the scouts were given another fine view of thevalley on the other side of the ridge. The scene looked like a Titaniccheckerboard, with its squares accurately marked off by the variousfarms that dotted the land. But these "dots" really were extensiveranches, as the girls learned when they drove nearer and past them.
The day had been unusually hot for the month of June in that altitude,and towards late afternoon the sky became suddenly overcast.
"Going to get wet, Tally?" asked Mr. Gilroy, leaning out to glance upat the scudding clouds.
"Much wet," came from the guide, but he kept his horses going at thesame pace as before.
Thunderstorms in the Rockies do not creep up gradually. They justwhoop up, and then empty the contents of their black clouds upon anyplace they select,--although the clouds are impartial, as a rule, inthe selection of the spot.
Had the storm known that a crowd of tenderfeet were in the ranch wagonit could scarcely have produced a greater spectacle. It seemed as ifall the elements combined to make impressive for the girls this, theirfirst experience of a thunderstorm in the Rockies.
Before the sun had quite hidden behind an inky curtain, a blindingflash cleft the cloud and almost instantaneously a deafening crashfollowed. Even though every one expected the thunder, it startledthem. In another minute's time the downpour began. Wherever watercould find entrance, there the howling wind drove in the slantingrain.
"Every one huddle in the middle of the wagon--keep away from the canvassides!" Mr. Gilroy tried to shriek to those behind him.
Flashes with the accompanying cracks of thunder followed closely oneupon the other, so that no one could be heard to speak, even though heyelled at the top of his lungs. The wind rose to a regular gale andthe wagon rocked like a cockleshell on a choppy sea. The Indian satunconcerned and kept driving as if in the most heavenly day, but thefour horses reared their heads, snorting with fear and lunging at thebits in nervousness.
The storm passed away just as unexpectedly as it came, but it left theroad, which was at best rough and full of holes, filled with water.The wagon wheels splashed through these wells, soaking everythingwithin a radius of ten feet, and constantly shaking the scouts upthoroughly.
"I feel like a pillow, beaten up by a good housekeeper so that thefeathers will fluff up," said Julie.
"I'd rather feel like a pillow than to have my tongue chopped tobits," cried Ruth, complainingly. "If I have any tongue left afterthis ride, I shall pickle it for safekeeping."
"Can't Featherweight sit still?" laughed Joan.
Mrs. Vernon placed an arm about Ruth's shoulder to hold her steadier,just as an unusually deep hole shook up everybody and all the baggagein the wagon.
"There now! That's the last bite left in my tongue! Three times Ithought it was bitten through, but this last jolt twisted the roots sothat I will have to have an artificial one hinged on at the firsthospital we find," wailed Ruth, showing the damaged organ that allmight pity her.
Instead of giving sympathy, every one laughed, and Julie added, "Atleast your tongue is still in use, but my spine caved in at that lastravine we passed through, and now I have no backbone."
Just as the scouts began laughing merrily at the two girls the frontwagon wheel on the right side dropped into a hole, while the horsesstrained at the traces. The awful shock and jar given the passengersthrew them against the canvas sides, and then together again in aheap.
The babel of shouting, screaming, laughing voices that instantlysounded from the helpless pile of humanity frightened the nervoushorses. The leaders plunged madly, but the wheel stuck fast in thehole. Tally held a stiff rein, but the leaders contaminated the tworear horses, and all four plunged, reared, snorted, and pulleddifferent ways at once. The inevitable was sure to happen!
"Jump, Tally, and grab the leaders! I'll hold them in!" cried Mr.Gilroy, catching hold of the reins.
"Here, Gill, let me hold the reins while you help Tally!" shouted Mr.Vernon, instantly crawling over the front seat and taking the reins inhand.
So Mr. Gilroy sprang out after Tally, and made for one of the leaderswhile the guide caught hold of the other. But just as the Indianreached up to take the leather, the horse managed to work the bitbetween his teeth. At the same time, the lunging beasts yanked thewagon wheel up out of the hole, and feeling the release of what hadbalked their load, the horses began tearing along the road.
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br /> Tally dangled from the head of the first horse whose bit he had triedto work back into place. Mr. Vernon held firmly to the reins as he saton the driver's seat of the wagon. But Mr. Gilroy was left clear outof sight, standing in the middle of the muddy road, staringspeechlessly after the disappearing vehicle. The scouts were tossedback and forth like tennis balls, but the tossing was not done asgracefully as in a game of tennis.
Fortunately for all concerned, the road soon ascended a steep grade,and a long one. The cumbersome wagon was too heavy to be flipped upthat hill without the four horses becoming breathless. The leaderswere the first to heave and slow down in their pace; then the two rearbeasts panted and slowed, and finally all came to a dead stop. Thisgave Tally his opportunity to drop from his perilous clutch and glareat the horses.
"_Outlaws!_" hissed he at the animals, as if this ignominious westernterm was sufficient punishment to shame the horses.
"Poor Gilly! Have we lost him?" cried Betty, who had been shaken intospeechlessness during the wild ride.
Mr. Vernon took the field glasses from his pocket and focussed themalong the road he had so recently flown over in the bouncing wagon.Suddenly a wild laugh shook him, and he passed the glasses to hiswife.
The Captain leveled them and took a good look, then laughing asheartily as her husband, she gave them to Julie and hurriedly adjustedthe camera.
The Scout Leader took them and looked. "Oh, girls! You ought to seeGilly. He is trying to hurry up the long road, but he is constantlyjumping the water holes and slipping in the mud. Here--every one take asquint at him."
By the time Mr. Gilroy came up the long steep hill, every scout hadhad a good laugh at the appearance he made while climbing, and theCaptain had taken several funny snapshots of him.
Upon reaching the wagon, Mr. Gilroy sighed, "Well, I am not sure whichwas worse--Tally's ride or that walk!"
"Um--him walk, badder of all!" grinned the Indian.
The scouts rolled up the side curtains of the wagon that they couldadmire the view as they passed. And with every one feeling resigned toa mild shaking as compared to the last capers of the four horses, thejourney was resumed.
Great overhanging boulders looked ready to roll down upon and crushsuch pigmies as these that crawled along the road under them. Then,here and there, swift, laughing streams leaped over the rocks to falldown many, many hundreds of feet into the gorges riven between thecliffs. The falling waters sprayed everything and made of the mist averitable bridal-veil of shimmering, shining white.
"Tally, shall we reach Boulder to-night?" asked Mr. Gilroy, gazing atthe fast-falling twilight.
"Late bimeby," Tally said, shrugging his shoulders to express hisuncertainty.
"Well, then, if we are going to be late, and as the way is not toosmooth, I propose we pitch camp for the night. What say you?"suggested Mr. Gilroy, turning to hear the verdict of the scouts.
"Oh, that will be more fun than stopping at a hotel in Boulder!"exclaimed the Leader, the other girls agreeing with her.
"Very well, Gilly; let us find a suitable place for camp," added theCaptain.
"We need not pitch the tents, as you scouts can sleep in the wagon,and we three men will stretch out beside the campfire. Tally can pullin at the first good clearing we find along the way," explained Mr.Gilroy.
"If we bunk in the wagon, we'll have to stretch out in a row,"remarked Joan.
"We'll look like a lot of dolls on the shelf of a toy-shop," giggledJulie.
"I don't want to sleep next to you, Julie--you're such a kicker in yoursleep," complained Betty. Everybody laughed at the sisters, and Annesaid:
"I don't mind kicks, as I never feel them when I'm asleep."
Tally had brought canned and prepared food for just such an emergencyas an unexpected camp; so now the supper was quickly cooked and thetravelers called to enjoy it.
Night falls swiftly in the mountains, and even though the day may havebeen warm, the nights in the Rockies are cold. A fire is always acomfort, so when supper was over the scouts sat around the fire,thoroughly enjoying its blaze.
The late afterglow in the sky seemed to hover over the camp as ifreluctant to fade away and leave the scouts in the dark. Theatmosphere seemed tinged with orchid tints, and a faint, almostimperceptible white chill pervaded the woods.
"Girls," said Mr. Gilroy, "we have shelter, food and clothing enough,in this wonderful isolation of Nature--is there anything more thathumans can really secure with all their struggling for supremacy? Isnot this life in grand communion with Mother Nature better than thecliff-dwellers in great cities ever have?"
Mrs. Vernon agreed thoroughly with him and added, "Yes, and man canhave, if he desires it, this sublime and satisfying life in themountains, where every individual is supreme over all he surveys--asthe Creator willed it to be."
Tally finished clearing away the supper, and sat down to have a smoke.But Mr. Gilroy turned to him, and said, "Tally, we would like to hearone of your tribe's legends, like those you used to tell me."
"Oh, yes, Tally! please, please!" immediately came from the group ofgirls.
Tally offered no protest, but removed the pipe from his lips andasked, "You like Blackfeet tale?"
"Yes, indeed!" chorused those about the fire.
"My people, Blackfeet Tribe. Him hunt buffalo, elk, and moose. Himtravel far, and fight big. Tally know tribe history, an' Tally tellhim."
Then he began to relate, in his fascinating English, a tale thatbelonged to his people. The Dandelion Scouts would have liked to writethe story down in their records as Tally gave it, but they had to besatisfied with such English as they knew.
"Long ago, when the First People lived on earth, there were no horses.The Blackfeet bred great dogs for hauling and packing. Some Indiansused elk for that purpose, but the wild animals were not reliable, andgenerally broke away when they reached maturity.
"In one of the camps of a Blackfeet Tribe lived two children, orphanedin youth. The brother was stone deaf, but the sister was verybeautiful, so the girl was made much of, but the boy was ignored byevery one.
"Finally the girl was adopted by a Chief who had no children, but thesquaw would not have the deaf boy about her lodge. The sister beggedthat her brother be allowed to live with her, but the squaw wasobdurate and prevailed. So the poor lad was kicked about and thrustaway from every tent where he stopped to ask for bread.
"Good Arrow, which was the boy's name, kept up his courage and faiththat all would still be righted for him. The sister cried for herbrother's companionship until a day when the tribe moved to a newcamp. Then the lad was left behind.
"Good Arrow lived on the scraps that he found in the abandoned campuntil, at last, he had consumed every morsel of food. He then startedalong the trail worn by the moving tribe. It was not a long journey,but he had had no food for several days now, and he knew not where tofind any until he reached his sister.
"He was traveling as fast as he could run, and his breath came pumpingforth like gusts from an engine. The perspiration streamed from everypore, and he felt dizzy. Suddenly something sounded like a thunderclapinside his head, and he felt something snap. He placed both hands overhis ears for a moment, and felt something soft and warm come out uponthe palms. He looked, and to his consternation saw that a slenderwaxen worm had been forced from each ear.
"Then he heard a slight sound in the woods. And he realized, with joy,that he could hear at last! So distinctly could he hear, that he hearda wood-mouse as it crept carefully through the grass a distance fromthe trail.
"Almost bursting with joy and happiness over his good news, he ran onregardless of all else. He wanted only to reach his sister and tellher.
"But that same morning the Chief, who had adopted the girl, announcedto his squaw that he could not stand the memory of the lad's sad facewhen the tribe abandoned him. The Chief declared that he was goingback and adopt the poor child, so he could be with his sister.
"In spite of his wife's anger the Chief started back, bu
t met the boynot far down the trail. The lad cried excitedly and showed the waxenworms upon his palms in evidence of his story. The Chief embraced himand told him what he had planned to do that very day. Good Arrow wasrejoiced at so much good fortune, and determined to be great, and dosomething courageous and brave for his Chief.
"He grew to be a fine young brave, more courageous and far morelearned in all ways than any other youth in the tribe. Then one day hespoke to his Chief:
"'I want to find Medicine, but know not where to get it.'
"'Be very brave, fearless with the enemy, exceedingly charitable toall, of kind heart to rich and poor alike, and always think of othersfirst,--then will the Great Spirit show you how to find Medicine,'replied the Chief.
"'Must I be kind to Spotted Bear? He hates me and makes all thetrouble he can, in camp, for me,' returned Good Arrow.
"'Then must you love Spotted Bear, not treat him as an enemy, but turnhim into a friend to you. Let me tell you his story,' said the Chief.
"'One day Spotted Bear took a long journey to a lake where he hadheard of wonderful Medicine that could be had for the asking. He sayshe met a stranger who told him how to secure the Medicine he sought.And to prove that he had found it he wears that wonderful robe, whichhe claims the Great Medicine Man presented to him. He also told us,upon his return, of great dogs that carried men as easily as baggage.
"'We asked him why he had not brought back the dogs for us, and hesaid that they were not for us, but were used only by the gods thatlived near the lake where he met the Medicine Man.'
"Good Arrow listened to this story and then exclaimed, 'I shall go tothis lake and ask the Medicine Man to give me the dogs.'
"All the persuasions of his sister failed to change his determination,so he started one day, equipped for a long journey. When Spotted Bearheard that Good Arrow had gone for the dogs he had failed to bring tocamp, he was furious and wanted to follow and kill the youth. Theother braves restrained him, however.
"Good Arrow traveled many days and finally arrived at a lake such ashad been described to him by the Chief. Here he saw an old man whoasked him what he sought.
"'Knowledge and wisdom to rule my people justly.'
"'Do you wish to win fame and wealth thereby?' asked the bent-over oldman.
"'I would use the gifts for the good of the tribe, to help andenlighten every one,' returned Good Arrow.
"'Ah! Then travel south for seven days and you will come to a greatlake. There you will meet one who can give you the Medicine you crave.I cannot do more.'
"Then the young brave journeyed for seven days and seven nights,until, utterly exhausted, he fell upon the grass by the side of thetrail. How long he slept there, he knew not; but upon awakening, hesaw the great lake spread out before his eyes, and standing beside himwas a lovely child of perfect form and features.
"Good Arrow smiled on the child; then the little one said, 'Come, myfather said to bring you. He is waiting to welcome you.'
"With these words spoken, the child ran straight into the lake anddisappeared under the water.
"Fearfully the youth ran after, to save the little one. He plungedinto the deep water, thinking not of himself, but of how to rescue thebabe.
"As he touched the water, it suddenly parted and left a dry trail thatran over to a wonderful lodge on the other side. He now saw the childrunning ahead and calling to a Chief who stood before the lodge.
"Good Arrow followed and soon met the Chief whom he found to be theGreat Medicine Man he had sought. The purpose of his journey was soonexplained, then the Chief beckoned Good Arrow to follow him.
"'I will show you the elk-dogs that were sent from the Great Spiritfor the use of mortals. But no man has been found good enough or kindenough to take charge of them.'
"Then Good Arrow was taken to the wide prairie, where he saw the mostwonderful animals feeding. They were larger than elk and had shiningcoats of hair. They had beautiful glossy manes and long sweepingtails. Their sensitive ears and noses were quivering in wonderment asthey watched a stranger going about their domain.
"'Young man of the earth,' said the Chief, patting one of the animalsthat nuzzled his hand, 'these are the horses that were meant formankind. If you wish to take them back with you it is necessary thatyou learn the Medicine I have prepared for you.'
"Good Arrow was thrilled at the thought that perhaps he might be theone to bring this blessing on man. He thought not of the wealth andfame such a gift would bring to him. The Chief smiled with pleasure.
"'Ah, you have passed the first test well. This offer to you, thatmight well turn a great Chief's head, only made you think of the goodit would bring to the children of earth. It is well.'
"So every lesson given Good Arrow was not so much for muscular poweror physical endurance, but tests of character and moral worth. Theyouth passed these tests so creditably that the Chief finally said,'My son, you shall return to your people with this great gift from theSpirit, if you pass the last test well.'
"'Journey three days and three nights without stopping, and _do notonce turn to look back_! If you turn, you shall instantly betransformed into a dead tree beside the trail. Obey my commands, andon the third night you shall hear the hoofs of the horses who willfollow you.
"'Leap upon the back of the first one that comes to you, and all theothers will follow like lambs to to the camp you seek.
"'Now let me present you with a token from myself. This robe is madefor Great Medicine Chiefs,' and as he spoke the Chief placed a mantlelike his own over Good Arrow's shoulders. And in his hand he placed amarvelous spear.
"Good Arrow saw that the robe was exactly like the one worn by SpottedBear, but he asked no questions about it. When the Chief found theyoung brave was not curious, he smiled, and said, 'Because you did notquestion me about Spotted Bear, I will tell you his story, that youmay relate it again to the tribe and punish him justly for hiscowardice.
"'Spotted Bear reached the lake where the child stood, but he wouldnot follow her into the water,--not even to rescue her, when she criedfor help. He was driven back by evil spirits, and when he found theold man who had sent him onward to find the elk-dogs, he beat him andtook away his robe. That is the robe he now wears, but I permitted himto wear it until a brave youth should ask questions regarding itsbeauty,--then will it have accomplished its work. You are the youth,and now you hear the truth about Spotted Bear. Judge righteousjudgment upon him, and do not fear to punish the crime.
"'Now, farewell, Good Arrow. You are worthy to guide my horses back tomortals. The robe will never wear out, and the spear will keep awayall evil spirits and subdue your enemies.'
"When Good Arrow would have thanked the Chief, he found he was aloneupon the shore where he first saw the child. Had it not been for thegorgeous robe upon his back and the spear in his hand, he would havesaid it was all a dream from which he had but just awakened.
"He turned, as he had been commanded, and straightway journeyed alongthe trail. He went three days and three nights before he heard aliving thing. Then the echoes of hoofbeats thudded on the trail afterhim. But he turned not.
"Soon afterward, a horse galloped up beside him, and as he leaped uponits back, it neighed. The others followed after the leader, and allrode into camp, as the great Chief had said it would be.
"Great was the wonderment and rejoicing when Good Arrow showed hispeople the marvelous steeds and told his story. The robe and spearbore him out in his words. But Spotted Bear turned to crawl away fromthe campfire. Then Good Arrow stood forth, and said in a loud voice ofjudgment, 'Bring Spotted Bear here for trial.'
"The story of his cowardice and theft was then related to the tribe,and the judgment pronounced was for the outcast to become a namelesswanderer on the earth. Even as the Chief spoke these words ofpunishment, the robe he had always bragged about, fell from his backand turned into dust at his feet.
"Thus came the Spirit's gift of horses to mankind, and Good Arrowbecame a wise Medicine Man of the Blackfeet."
Tally concluded his story, and resumed his pipe as if there had beenno prolonged lapse between his smokes.
Girl Scouts in the Rockies Page 2