CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A FOREST FIRE
"Now, friends, let us get away as soon as possible, or the guides mayspend all their reward money on firewater, and be unable to start fora week," suggested Mr. Gilroy, confidentially, to the scouts.
"Why don't you take the money and deposit it for them in a bank?"asked Julie.
"I offered to keep it for them, but they were not overanxious to partwith the cash. I know the boys too well to dream that they canwithstand temptations of a town when they have such easy money toburn."
So the riders planned to leave immediately, starting away soon afterthe midday meal.
"I'm not sorry to leave the Springs with its ailing visitors behind,"remarked Joan, as they got back into the saddles.
"Thank goodness we are not rheumatic, or gone to pieces, to have tocome here to be mended again," declared Julie.
"I should think the horrid water would kill them, instead of curing,"added Ruth, making a wry face at the remembrance of her taste of thewaters.
"It isn't the water that cures, remember," said Mr. Gilroy, "it is thepeople's faith in it. And some folks believe that the moredisagreeable a cure tastes, the better it will act."
From Hot Sulphur Springs the party rode through Gore Canyon, and thenover the Gore Range, as Mr. Gilroy had planned. The climb up thelatter mountains was one of the thrilling experiences of the trip.
Following Tally through an unbroken wilderness, they unexpectedly cameupon an old lumber-road. Along this they trailed until it ended in anatural clearing of over a thousand acres. The park was surrounded bydense forests with apparently no trail leading from it.
"Here we are, boys! In, all right, but no way out," called Mr. Vernon,smiling at the perplexed looks of the riders.
"That means that every one has to hunt for a blaze of some kind,"returned Mrs. Vernon.
"The blazes are here, all right, but the trail is such an old one thatthe young timber has, likely, grown up and hidden the old pines whichcarry the signs," added Mr. Gilroy.
Thereupon, every scout began to thrash through bushes and betweenyoung trees, hunting for the much-desired blaze. It was Betty's luckto find it, although she really wasn't looking as anxiously for it aswere the other scouts.
She saw a queer scar on an old pine before her when she broke throughsome brush, and she was studying its strange formation when Tally cameup behind her. He recognized the blaze and laughed.
"Betty find him! Come see!" shouted he.
The others galloped across the park and stared at the deeply scarredpine, while Tally read its meaning to them.
"It must have been blazed in the days of the First People," saidJulie.
But little attention was paid her remark, as every one was eager to goon. Tally broke a way through the jungle of bush and young timber, andfinally they all came out to the silent woods again.
They rode through twilight forests of gigantic red-spruce trees,measuring from three to six feet in diameter and towering over ahundred feet in height. The ground under these was carpeted with pineneedles, which lay, year after year, until no sound echoed from thehoofbeats upon them.
Looking in any direction, the scouts could see only dense forests,with not a crevice in their vaulted roofs of green where the sun mightfilter through. These pines seemed to waft down virgin incense uponthe heads of the riders, who fully appreciated the still beauty of theplace, and the velvety corridors they went along.
Then the trail became steeper, and the trees grew smaller, allowinggreat splashes of sunshine to bask here and there upon the passivetreetrunks, or to sprawl out upon the thick pine needles that coveredthe ground.
After riding for several hours, the scouts left the pine forestbehind, and rode out upon a faint trail that ran through aspen brakes.Now and then they came to parks where the trail lost itself, and everyone had to seek for it again.
A great deal of time was lost in each park they came to, over thusfinding the trail, as so many misleading ones were made in the thickbuffalo grass by wild animals that came to graze there. The only thingTally relied upon for the right way was by finding a blaze upon an oldtree nearby.
During the climb, the horses often came upon sudden precipitousdescents that had to be zigzagged down through loose stone and debris,then up again on the other side. When the riders reached the highestaltitude of the Gore Range and looked about, they found themselvesamong sheer cliffs, that obstructed any distant views.
"Feels like lunchtime to me," ventured Anne.
"I should think you'd say dinnertime--that's the way it feels to me,"laughed Julie.
"I was afraid to say that, because I am always credited,--unjustly ofcourse,--with being the gourmand of the Troop," retorted Anne.
Tally now led along a trail that ran through a small park, that laybetween two towering cliffs which shut off all sight of anything oneither side of them. Along the bottom of this ravine-like park a clearstream of water gurgled noisily.
"Shall we camp here for luncheon?" asked the Captain, seeing the sweetgreen grass and cooling stream.
"Oh, no, Verny! Let's find some woods to stop in. It's not veryinviting to feel shut in so far down," returned Julie.
So they rode on, the horses picking their careful way over stones androots, and their riders having to pay strict attention to the trail.
The trail wound about upthrusts of rock, where other streams ran tofall down the sides of the ravine, causing it to widen as it neededmore space to carry the added waters. And at last, the scouts couldsee, in the distance, that the cliffs ahead ended and the stream alsopassed from view.
"Where the cliffs end will be a dandy spot for camp. We shall be ableto sit and gaze over the park that most likely is to be found there,"suggested Joan, eagerly.
"If you don't camp somewhere soon, you'll find me ended there!" sighedAnne, comically.
Before they reached this "end" however, the Captain held up a hand forsilence, as she said, "That's a queer sound I hear!"
The others reined in their horses and listened. They then heard it,also. Mr. Vernon said, "Sounds like thunder, I think."
"No, it sounds more like a stampede of cattle on a ranch. If you'veever heard the hoofbeats of a herd of steer, you'd know that this islike it," came from Mr. Gilroy.
Tally grinned at both men. "Him waterfall!"
"Waterfall! All that volume of sound?" asked Mr. Gilroy, skeptically.
"Him _big waterfall_," repeated Tally.
"Let's hurry to find it, then!" declared Julie, urging her horseforward and gaining the corner of the cliff at the end of the ravine,ahead of her companions.
The crags completely hid all that might be beyond them; but as theriders went along, the volume of sound increased until the roaring ofwater convinced every one that the Indian must be right in hissurmise. Then they passed around the obstructing crag, and satspellbound at the panorama spread out before them.
The first glimpse of this tremendous waterfall was that of tawny greenwater bounding headlong over the precipice. Its dynamic vehemence hadcleft a fearful way through the crags on either side of it, and adownits course one could see black hulks of rock that projected out fromthe swirling flood. The roar and thunder of this tremendous streamprevented any one from hearing other sounds.
The group of riders sat enthralled by the sight, then they nextpermitted their eyes to wander beyond the immediate falls to themagnificent view spread out in such space below and beyond. In the fardistance the snow-capped peaks lay, one behind the other, until theywere lost to sight in the drifting clouds on the horizon. But, as ifloath to merge so quickly with the clouds, here and there one or morepeaks would appear with their sharp points above the mist, and therereflect the glory of the shining sun.
From the far horizon and its peaks, the eyes now dropped graduallyfrom one height to the next lower down, until they rested upon avalley that lay fully fifteen hundred feet below the crags where thescouts stood. The panorama was so vast in extent and so impressive inits s
ense of infinitude, that the spectators scarcely drew theirbreath.
The whole scene shimmered through the soft clouds that hung above thewaterfalls and made it look like the reflections in a soap-bubble,with iridescent colors shining on the sphere. So ethereal appeared thepicture that it seemed as if a slight vibration would surely shatterthe bubble. This grand painting had existed here for centuries beforethe coming of the scouts to admire it, and there it promised to remainintact for centuries more after mortals should pass from the earth.
Here and there across this valley a ribbon of water wound a silentcourse away out of sight. From the great falls a mighty river flowedfor miles until that, too, appeared like a silver ribbon, tying theland fancifully in its loops.
The silence was broken at last by Anne. "Can we find a better placefor dinner than this grand cliff?"
The tension broke with a snap, and the others glared at the perplexedscout. Finally Julie cried, scornfully, "Can you find anything in thatscene besides patches where food is grown?"
Good-natured Anne laughed, and shrugged her shoulders. "I think it isas beautiful as the Great Spirit ever made, but unfortunately I am notyet entirely spiritual. I find I must eat a bite now and then, toenable me to enjoy these pictures."
Her excuse for the interruption made every one laugh, and Mrs. Vernonthen added, "I think Anne's suggestion very good,--to camp here andhave dinner."
"Let Hominy lead the horses back to the grassy ravine to graze, whileTally cooks dinner," added Mr. Vernon.
So Omney rode back, leading the rest of the horses and the twopack-mules. Tally soon had the dinner cooking, but there was no chanceof catching fish in that swift water, so they were satisfied that daywith pork and beans, bread and jam for dinner.
After descending the last rampart of the Gore Range, the scouts heardTally speak confidently of the locality they were in, but Mr. Gilroyseemed to differ with the guide.
"Me think us mos' here," insisted the Indian.
"Maybe you're right! I was mistaken before, so I'll give in," laughedMr. Gilroy.
"What is it, Gilly?" asked some of the scouts.
"Tally says we are nearly at Steamboat Springs, and I say we are not.Now we will see who is right!"
They had not gone much farther along the trail, however, before thescouts discovered strawberries! Great luscious wild berries they were,and growing profusely everywhere in the grass.
"I guess Tally was right," admitted Mr. Gilroy. "We're in thewonderful strawberry belt that is so famous about Steamboat Springs."
Colorado strawberries are as famous, throughout the West, as theRockyford melons are in the East; so the scouts made the most of theiropportunity to eat the delicious berries while they were at theSprings. They visited the plants where berries are packed and shipped,and also visited a factory where jams were prepared.
This progressive little town, although so young, compared favorablywith the larger cities of the East. It was equipped with electriclight, telephones, paved streets, first-class public service, andother modern welfare improvements.
The evening after the scouts had visited the packing-houses thatshipped strawberries to the markets, Mr. Gilroy sat studying a largemap. Julie kept silent for a long time (for her) and finally spoke.
"What's the map for? Any change in plans?"
"I was figuring out whether or not we might possibly have time to goon a tangent trip, and take in Yellowstone Park, as long as we are sonear Wyoming," he returned.
"Oh, fine! Do let's do that, Verny!" cried several of the girls.
"But that means an extended trip, Mr. Gilroy, and I do not see how weare going to finish all you have planned and still get back to Denverin time to take these girls back to school in September," remonstratedMrs. Vernon.
An argument instantly followed, in which the scouts sided with Mr.Gilroy, arguing that time was no consideration when such wonderfulsights as the geysers of the Yellowstone could be seen. Mrs. Vernonwas firm, however, in her protest that school came before all suchother considerations. Mr. Vernon also added his weighty decision bysaying that he had to be back in New York City the first week inSeptember, without fail.
"Then we will have to retrace our trail across the Rockies and travelslowly southward on the west side of the mountains," was Mr. Gilroy'sreluctant rejoinder.
"Does that mean we can't go any farther than Steamboat Springs?" askedJulie, querulously.
"We might go on to Craig, and visit Cedar Mountain from the peak ofwhich we can look over into Wyoming. That seems to be as near to it aswe will come this summer," laughed Mr. Gilroy.
Julie pouted, and the other scouts sat and waited for developments.Mr. Vernon thought for a time, then turned to his friend with asuggestion.
"You wanted to cross the Divide at Milner's Pass because of the scenicbeauty of the Fall River Road; now, why not cross it in going back tothe eastern slope of the Rockies, and thence turn south?"
"I had thought of doing that, but the point at issue now seems Wyoming'to be or not to be?'"
"That was just settled, as far as Uncle and I are concerned," addedMrs. Vernon, hastily. "It's 'not to be' because I swore solemnly thatthese girls would be home before Labor Day if they were permitted totake this trip. So home we go in time to begin school the first day ofthe Fall term."
"Dear me! It looks as if Verny had the wire-pulling this time!" sighedJoan, in such a tone that every one laughed.
"And of course where _she goes_, I have to follow!" said Ruth.
"Yes, sort of a 'Ruth and Naomi' proposition," retorted Julie.
This decision reached, without further resistance from the scouts,they retired for the night with the plan agreed upon to leaveSteamboat Springs in the morning and start for the Park Range of theDivide.
The packs had been well filled for the new venture in the mountains,and having breakfasted royally early in the morning, the touristsstarted out on the trail. The horses had had such a good rest and themules were so frisky again, that the line of riders made splendid timefrom Steamboat Springs to the hills.
They had climbed up one mountain and down the other side, then thenext one, and then another, until Tally called a halt for something toeat. It was long past noon, and the horses were hungry, too. They werevery near the summit of one of the lower ranges of mountains, and Mr.Gilroy suggested that they go on to the top and there rest and eat.
"And look out for a stream of water which is palatable for use," addedMr. Vernon.
As they rode to the summit of the mountain, the scouts conversed withMr. Gilroy on various matters. But the thing that seemed to impressthem most, was the fact that here they were back in the samemountains, and yet every day added new scenes and delights to thetour.
"It really doesn't seem as if we had ever been in one of thesemountains before, because every step brings out new wonders," remarkedMrs. Vernon, as they all neared the top of the peak they had beenascending.
The sound of falling water now attracted Tally's attention, and hebroke into the heavy undergrowth to locate the stream. This done, hecame back and reported that he had found a fine place for the dinner.
They all dismounted at the spot, and the two men started downstream tofish, while the guides assigned various tasks to the different membersof the party. Then, when the scouts had finished their work and themen were not yet back from fishing, they climbed to a crag of rockwhence they expected to have a fine view.
"Well, did you ever!" exclaimed Ruth, the first to reach the top ofthe crag.
"What a queer fog for a mountainside!" was Julie's reply.
The other scouts now crowded up to see what caused these remarks, andas they gazed down upon a thick mantle of yellow, one of the girlscalled to Mrs. Vernon. She hastily climbed up beside them and lookedas perplexed as her charges.
"Tally," called she, turning to beckon the Indian, "see if this issmoke, will you?"
"Him smoke!" affirmed Tally, the moment he saw the blanket beneaththem.
"What! A fire in the f
orest?" cried several of the girls.
"Then we can't go through, can we?" asked Julie.
"Mebbe. Us wait and see," returned Tally. "But scout get camera ready_dis_ time. Fine picksher pooty soon when an'mals run f'om fire."
"Verny, get the camera! Hurry up!" exclaimed the scouts, while Tallyreturned to his cooking.
His indifference to the fire that enveloped the forest tended to allayany fears they might have had. So they sat and watched the consumingflames as they swept across the forest and everywhere destroyed thefine timber. Unfortunately, the fire started at the base of themountain so it quickly spread upward; had it begun at the top it wouldhave burned itself out slowly for lack of fuel above where the draughtalways blows it.
Joan now leaned forward, and cried, "Look, quick!"
The scouts turned to gaze in the direction she pointed, and saw anumber of beavers crossing a small park in order to reach a streamthat flowed through the clearing. Immediately after the colony ofbeavers came a few deer, stopping now and then to turn and starewonderingly at the heat that caused them such discomfort.
Then, to the amazement of the scouts, a large bear followed upon theheels of the deer, but he had no thought now of making a meal ofvenison. He seemed anxious only to reach a place where smoke and firewould not annoy him. Now and then the girls saw him stop, return a fewpaces and sound a queer growl. Then they saw the cause of this action.
A fat little cub finally ran out from the thick blanket of smoke, andhurried after its mother. When it came up to the old bear, it jumpedabout gleefully, never dreaming of the danger they were fleeing from.But the she-bear evidently thought this was no time for unseemly play,and gave the cub a smart cuff over the ear. The little fellow rolledover with the force of the slap, but then ran along beside his motherin meek submission to authority.
Tally now joined them again on the crag, and when the scouts had toldof the bear, Ruth added, "But there are no birds escaping, Tally."
"Dem gone long go. Fire drive dem firs'."
"I'm glad of that, but just think of all the fledglings that _can't_fly and escape," said Betty.
"Let's think of something pleasanter," retorted Julie.
"Yes, let's think of dinner that Tally says is waiting," added Anne,laughingly.
As they sat down to dine, the scouts saw Omney sitting up on theirformer post of observation. As they wanted to ride on as soon aspossible, one of the scouts asked why the guide didn't eat his dinner,too.
"Him watch if fire jump. Him kin eat dere as here."
"The fire is burning the other way, Tally," said Julie.
"Mebbe him jump back, if wind change. So Omney watch."
"If it blows this way, what must we do?" asked the Captain.
"Ride back trail us come. An' ride fas', too."
But the fire kept on burning its way in the direction it began to go,and after a long rest on the crags to permit the pall of smoke to beblown away, the guides led the way down the slope. All the down-timberhad been burned to ash which was still hot in spots. So the horsespicked their way between these heaps. Every vestige of brush, allvegetation, and living creatures were gone. Charred tree trunks showedwhere the flames had licked up the bark to get at the pine branchesoverhead, and there, high above the heads of the riders, the firestill raged through the resinous tops.
"It's a Sodom and Gomorrah for desolation, isn't it?" said Julie.
In all the fire-swept district the scouts saw not one charred body ofanimals that live in the woods. A coyote lay at the edge of the area,dead from the blow of an animal with sharp claws, but that hadhappened after the fire. Julie thought the bear probably did itbecause the horrid little coyote tried to get a bite of fat littlecub.
"But see all the poor, poor trees," sighed Betty.
"Yes, these fires destroy more timber than all other forces puttogether," returned Mr. Gilroy. "Because of the resinous matter inpine or spruce, they burn quicker and make a hotter fire than othertrees. But fortunately for future forests, the flames never can reachthe roots and seedlings buried under ground, so these shortly sproutup and start new timber.
"It is not often that a fire sweeps over the same area again forcenturies, unless some fool tenderfoot leaves a campfire burning, orshakes the hot ashes from a pipe."
They all rode forward as quickly as possible, for night was coming onapace, and every one was anxious to get out of the burnt districtbefore dark. So they pitched camp as soon as they got beyond the fireline.
That night, flares like torches shot up from many of the standingtrees on the hillside, and they continued burning for several daysafter the under fire had passed along. The light from these treetopscast weird shadows upon the camp.
"I never want to see another forest-fire," declared Joan, as sheturned her face away from these flickering glares.
"None of us do, but as long as there _was_ a fire, we are glad to haveseen it," replied Julie.
"And I'm glad it was a _little_ one," added the Captain.
"You wouldn't say that was a little fire, would you?" asked several ofthe scouts.
"Tally said it was not over a mile frontage, and that, he says, is asmall one. If we saw a fire that stretched for miles along a forestridge and kept on burning for days and days,--that, he claims, would bea big fire!"
All through that night blood-curdling cries came from the devastateddistrict. The howls of panthers, growls of the bears, cries ofcoyotes, and yelps of timber-wolves, kept the campers awake. In themorning, Tally started early to seek the cause of such a clamor in thenight.
"Dat ole dead coyote! Him mak all dat trubble," laughed the guide,upon his return to camp. "Dem starvin' an'mals all wand'da eat him, sodey fight and fight, but ole grizzle fight bes' an' git him."