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Show 114 It was his plan to drive the stray cattle which had come down on the wrong side of the mountain while we returned with the loaded wagons. It was obvious to all of us the job was too heavy. All except Papa. I don't know how Eldon managed alone, but it took the combined strength of his two little sisters to man the brakes and drive the team when we got into the steep canyon going down Corn Creek. We had been warned not to let the double-trees bang against the heels of the horses, for fear they would become frightened and we would have a "runaway. " This fear corroded my mind almost to extinction. For the first part of the journey I drove and managed the brakes by myself, spelled off by Macel when the road was level, but when we got on the dugways and could look straight down to the creek far below, it was necessary for her to take the lines, while I threw my entire weight on the brakes. I was positive I was doing myself irreparable internal injury, judging from the way my insides felt, but they seemed to survive, even though they were sore for three weeks. Eventually we reached Kanosh and were joined by Papa later that evening. Our return journey with both wagons loaded with wheat and apples (the wheat made perfect packing for the pearmains, antecedents of the delicious) was complicated by quite a heavy snowfall. There were also thirty-five head of cattle to be driven back. The ground under the snow was soft, which made the road slippery and dangerous for the wagon wheels. Papa decided he had better drive one wagon, Eldon and Macel the other. I was delegated to drive the cattle back. |