CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BACK-TRAILING TO DENVER
The ill effects of the alkali water passed off in a few hours, and thescouts felt able to continue the ride in the morning. The sun wasshining so brightly that no one would have dared say there had been afearful storm the night before. As they all sat about the rough tablefor breakfast, the host explained to Mr. Gilroy how the guides missedthe right trail on the mountains, and he sketched for them a rude mapto help them find the point where the Medicine Bow Mountains andFrontal Range met in the Continental Divide.
When the horses were brought to the door, and all were ready to starton the ride again, Mr. Vernon insisted upon the good mountain ranchertaking a gift for his hospitality, although the latter demurred forsometime before he was prevailed upon to take the recompense.
That day Tally led his party along the well-defined trail he hadmissed the day before, and by sundown they were nearing the wonderfulaltitude and mountaintops of the Frontal Range.
At night they camped in one of the wildest spots of the mountains,where the extensive view was as imposing as any to be found inColorado. Tally had, with true Indian instinct, found a small lake ofpurest cold water, where they could pitch camp. A wild animal trailcircuited this lake, and while the guides prepared the supper, theCaptain suggested a ride around the sheet of clear water.
The scene was splendidly wild, and isolation hung like a curtain overeverything down below in the valley, that was seen through the foresttrees whenever the scouts climbed a prominence. Mystic soundschirruped at them as they rode slowly along the narrow path, lendingenchantment to the beauty of the place.
The fast-fading rays of purple and rose that sped in the wake of thesetting sun, cast ever-changing gleams of color across the placidlake. As the twilight advanced, the silence of the forest was felt,and only now and then came a wildwood sound to startle the scouts.
As they followed the trail that skirted the lake, they came to arippling stream that had to be forded. Just as Julie, always inadvance, guided her horse down the steep bank, a crackling of drytwigs on the other side caused the horse to stop suddenly.
"O girls! Look! Look!" whispered Julie, tensely.
There stood a fawn as if cut from stone, with ears erect and nosesniffing at the strange creatures seen so near at hand. Even as thescouts gazed admiringly, the graceful thing flaunted its short tailand, with the stamping of a hoof to protest against this interruptionof her drink, disappeared, without a sound of its going.
They crossed the stream and were keeping on the trail that ran alongthe shore, when from overhead, a loon shrilled a warning to its mateacross the lake that there was a strange horde of life passing underher tree! But the male loon sent back his wild laughter at suchunbased fears of his wife's. All these incidents impressed the scoutswith a sense of their being one with the wild creatures, and theyregretted the fact that they were nearing camp again.
At the point where Tally had made the night camp, the reeds andgrasses hugged the shore of the lake, and now a faint mist upcurledfrom the water like a transparent veil. Gradually this veil spreadinland and quietly enveloped all things on shore. The bright firedispelled the mist about the camp, and as the hungry scouts sniffedthe odors of a good supper, the beauties of Nature were temporarilyforgotten.
While the scouts were adventuring around the lake, Mr. Gilroy and Mr.Vernon had cut hemlock bows for bedding, so that all was ready for thenight before supper was served. After enjoying Tally's cooking to theutmost, the scouts sat down to listen to the various wild adventuresof Omney and Talley. But one after another, they dozed before long,and Mr. Gilroy suggested they all retire for the night.
Talley knew not how long he had been sleeping when he wasunaccountably aroused as if by a strange noise in camp. He sat up andlistened, but all seemed quiet, so he soon was dozing again. Thesnapping of a twig, some distance away, however, made him open hiseyes drowsily and wonder sleepily if the horses were securely hobbled.
He was too tired to keep awake long enough to get up and go in searchof the animals. The thought of it, however, before he fell soundasleep caused him to dream fitfully all night.
He awoke very early and got up to reassure himself that all was wellin camp. He could see no sign of any horse or mule, so he shook Omney,and the two ran in search of the strayed animals.
When the rest of the touring party woke up to find the sun shininginto their eyes, no sign of guides or horses was seen. Mr. Gilroybegan to prepare breakfast, and Mr. Vernon was sent to fish. The girlswere each detailed on some work, and by the time the meal was ready,sounds of hoofs were heard along the trail.
"Dat Jolt, he makka all horse go way down trail. Omney an' me fin' demmiles down," explained Tally, with a vindictive look at the mule. Asif he fully understood the Indian, Jolt sent back an answering gleamfrom his wicked eyes and kicked up his hind legs in derision.
Mr. Vernon had caught more than enough fish in the overstocked lake,and when the fried mush, bacon, and fresh fish, bread, and fragrantcoffee were served, the appetites displayed were such as would drive aNew York boarding-house keeper distracted.
That day the scouts rode in forests where stately aromatic pinessheltered countless wild creatures, that peered from their cloisteredhaunts with wonderment at the strangers. Birds of every descriptionsang from low-swinging branches, and lesser notes from unseen insectsin the bushes and grass added music to this orchestra that renderedthe grandest symphony ever heard.
That evening while seated about the camp supper, Julie said, "There'sone animal I've wanted to see in his natural haunts in the Rockies,and not one have we been able to glimpse."
"What's that?" asked Mr. Gilroy.
"The famous American buffalo of the plains," returned she.
"Ah, it is the Captain's fault that you girls were not able to see thebison at home," retorted Mr. Gilroy. "Had she consented to your goingwith me to Yellowstone Park, you could have watched the animalsgrazing and wandering over their own fields."
"Well, the buffalo will still be there next year, but the scoutscannot lose a month of school this fall just to go and watch theanimals in Wyoming," said Mrs. Vernon.
"Of course, your word is law to us all, but it does seem a pity, as Isaid before, that being so near the geysers, we should not takeadvantage of it," remarked Mr. Gilroy.
The scouts expressed in their faces that they thought on this matterexactly as Mr. Gilroy did, but the Captain said, "If you continue topreach your mutinous ideas to my girls, I'll leave you out of my plansnext summer when we take a trip."
"Wough! That threat will keep me quiet for all time!" laughed Mr.Gilroy, clapping a hand over his mouth to show his instant obedience.
Every one laughed, but Tally now joined the circle and asked fororders for the next day's ride. After talking over various trails andplans, they got up and prepared to retire for the night.
"Did any one hang up the saddles to-night?" asked Mr. Vernon, beforehe turned in to sleep.
"Tally, did you look after the leather?" asked Mr. Gilroy.
Tally turned to Omney, "Did him fix harness?"
"Me do it, all light," returned Omney, then he shuffled out of thecircle of light cast by the fire and they heard him fumbling withheavy saddles and other trappings.
The glorious break of day in the mountains awoke every one, and soonthe breakfast was under way. While the guides cooked, Mr. Vernon wentfor the horses. Mr. Gilroy decided to save time by taking down theharness from the trees where it was usually hung.
"Great Scout!" called he, summoning the Indians to the spot.
"What's the matter?" asked the scouts, anxiously running after the twoguides.
"A rascally porcupine has been at our leather last night!" declaredMr. Gilroy, angrily showing the ravages made on the harnesses.
Tally glared at Omney, "Why for you do dat? Don' you know dem bad ratseat all up?"
Omney said nothing, but looked very penitent. Mr. Gilroy sighed as hebegan an inventory of the damage
.
"Two sets of reins chawed to pieces; a throat latchet gone; threesaddles with holes eaten through them, and two bridles cut to bits,all because of a little carelessness!"
"I fixa dem allight!" exclaimed Omney, eagerly.
"But that means a morning lost while you make repairs," replied Mrs.Vernon.
Then Omney stiffened his spine and lifted his head in a majestic furyat the porcupines. He glowered down the trail and shook his clenchedfist vengefully at the imaginary depredator, saying in hissing voice,"Him one bad darn beas'!"
Every one laughed at his suppressed fury, and the tame exclamation hehad just used, but the poor guide felt better again.
The harnesses were finally mended with rope and bits of wire fromTally's outfit kit, and by noon everything was in readiness forcontinuing the trip.
Toward the end of August, the tourists reached Estes Park again, andupon riding to Long's peak village, they replaced the mended harnesswith good sections, and then rode on to Loveland, where they proposedleaving the horses they had leased for the summer.
While Mr. Gilroy and Tally led the horses back to their owner, theCaptain took the girls to the department store and soon they were busytrying on readymade dresses that they might start for Denver. Mrs.Vernon had strenuously vetoed their appearing in civilization again inthe patched and faded scout uniforms that had stood such rough usagewhile camping in the mountains.
But the uniforms were carefully packed to take back home as souvenirsof that eventful summer.
When shop-made shoes were tried on the feet that had been free allsummer from city footgear, and the scouts tried to walk on the stonepavements of Loveland, they winced with the pain of their toes incramped quarters.
"Goodness, girls! Isn't it awful to have had such freedom all summerand then return to prison cells again for feet and body?" cried Julie,frowning.
"Yes, and it will be the same when we go to bed to-night, no moreforest vastness for a chamber, no more pine for a roof, and no moresinging of wild notes to lull us to sleep!" sighed Joan.
That evening Mr. Gilroy condoled with the scouts over the immediatefuture--school, orthodox clothing, and bandbox rooms to live in allwinter.
"But there is always the hope of heaven before you," said Mr. Vernon,smiling at the circle of faces.
"What do you mean?" asked Julie.
"There is next summer again, you know, and if Gilroy is as good as hisword, he will see that you are escorted to Arizona and New Mexico fora trip!"
"Remind me of it next spring, girls, and we'll see," laughed Mr.Gilroy, winking an eye at the Captain.
So with this ray of hope for a future outing, the girls wereencouraged to start back East, and take up the irksome tasks ofacquiring a necessary education in the humdrum daily lessons ofschool.
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About this book:
Original publication data: Publisher: George Sully & Company, New York Copyright: 1921, by George Sully & Company Series: part of the _Girl Scouts Mountain Series_
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