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ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER FOUR THE
CATTLE RUSTLERS
Dawn broke； so we descended through wet grasses to the canon。
There； after some difficulty； we managed to start a fire； and so ate
breakfast； the rain still pouring down on us。 About nine o'clock； with
miraculous suddenness； the torrent stopped。 It began to turn cold。 The
Cattleman and I decided to climb to the top of the butte after meat； which
we entirely lacked。
It was rather a stiff ascent； but once above the sheer cliffs we found
ourselves on a rolling meadow tableland a half…mile broad by； perhaps； a
mile and a half in length。 Grass grew high； here and there were small
live oaks planted park…like； slight and rounded ravines accommodated
brooklets。 As we walked back； the edges blended in the edges of the
mesa across the canon。 The deep gorges； which had heretofore seemed
the most prominent elements of the scenery； were lost。 We stood；
apparently； in the middle of a wide and undulating plain； diversified by
little ridges； and running with a free sweep to the very foot of the snowy
Galiuros。 It seemed as though we should be able to ride horseback in
almost any given direction。 Yet we knew that ten minutes' walk would
take us to the brink of most stupendous chasmsso deep that the water
flowing in them hardly seemed to move； so rugged that only with the
greatest difficulty could a horseman make his way through the country at
all； and yet so ancient that the bottoms supported forests； rich grasses； and
rounded； gentle knolls。 It was a most astonishing set of double
impressions。
We succeeded in killing a nice； fat white…tail buck； and so returned to
camp happy。 The rain； held off。 We dug ditches； organised shelters；
cooked a warm meal。 For the next day we planned a bear hunt afoot； far
up a manzanita canon where Uncle Jim knew of some 〃holing up〃 caves。
But when we awoke in the morning we threw aside our coverings with
some difficulty to look on a ground covered with snow； trees laden almost
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to the breaking point with snow； and the air filled with it。
〃No bear today〃 said the Cattleman。
〃No；〃 agreed Uncle Jim drily。 〃No b'ar。 And what's more； unless
yo're aimin' to stop here somewhat of a spell； we'll have to make out to…
day。〃
We cooked with freezing fingers； ate while dodging avalanches from
the trees； and packed reluctantly。 The ropes were frozen； the hobbles stiff；
everything either crackling or wet。 Finally the task was finished。 We
took a last warming of the fingers and climbed on。
The country was wonderfully beautiful with the white not yet shaken
from the trees and rock ledges。 Also it was wonderfully slippery。 The
snow was soft enough to ball under the horses' hoofs； so that most of the
time the poor animals skated and stumbled along on stilts。 Thus we
made our way back over ground which； naked of these difficulties； we had
considered bad enough。
Imagine riding along a slant of rock shelving off to a bad tumble； so
steep that your pony has to do more or less expert ankle work to keep from
slipping off sideways。 During the passage of that rock you are apt to sit
very light。 Now cover it with several inches of snow； stick a snowball on
each hoof of your mount； and try again。 When you have ridden itor its
duplicatea few score of times； select a steep mountain side； cover it with
round rocks the size of your head； and over that spread a concealing
blanket of the same sticky snow。 You are privileged to vary these to the
limits of your imagination。
Once across the divide； we ran into a new sort of trouble。 You may
remember that on our journey over we had been forced to travel for some
distance in a narrow stream…bed。 During our passage we had scrambled
up some rather steep and rough slopes； and hopped up some fairly high
ledges。 Now we found the heretofore dry bed flowing a good eight
inches deep。 The steep slopes had become cascades； the ledges；
waterfalls。 When we came to them； we had to 〃shoot the rapids〃 as best
we could； only to land with a PLUNK in an indeterminately deep pool at
the bottom。 Some of the pack horses went down； sousing again our
unfortunate bedding； but by the grace of fortune not a saddle pony lost his
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feet。
After a time the gorge widened。 We came out into the box canon
with its trees。 Here the water spread and shoaled to a depth of only two
or three inches。 We splashed along gaily enough； for； with the exception
of an occasional quicksand or boggy spot； our troubles were over。
Jed Parker and I happened to ride side by side； bringing up the rear and
seeing to it that the pack animals did not stray or linger。 As we passed
the first of the rustlers' corrals； he called my attention to them。
〃Go take a look；〃 said he。 〃We only got those fellows out of here two
years ago。〃
I rode over。 At this point the rim…rock broke to admit the ingress of a
ravine into the main canon。 Riding a short distance up the ravine； I could
see that it ended abruptly in a perpendicular cliff。 As the sides also were
precipitous； it became necessary only to build a fence across the entrance
into the main canon to become possessed of a corral completely closed in。
Remembering the absolute invisibility of these sunken canons until the
rider is almost directly over them； and also the extreme roughness and
remoteness of the district； I could see that the spot was admirably adapted
to concealment。
〃There's quite a yarn about the gang that held this hole；〃 said Jed
Parker to me； when I had ridden back to him 〃I'll tell you about it
sometime。〃 We climbed the hill； descended on the Double R； built a
fire in the stove； dried out； and were happy。 After a square mealand a
dry one