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Show 264 WESTERN WILDS. plain below, rich and green with inviting grass. I shouted to the guide: " Kloh! Toh!" ( grass, water), and jerking up ray horse, pitched forward on his neck and awoke. I braced myself more firmly to keep awake, and in a few moments, looking on a rock a little ahead, I saw a hideous painted Indian bound out from behind it and take position in the sage- brush near the trail. I yelled to the guide and grabbed my gun, and just as the hammer was clicking under my hand, Indian and rock disappeared, and the answering shout of the guide brought me to my waking senses. I knew there was hot a hostile Indian in fifty miles, so, for fear I would shoot my own horse, I gave the gun to the Navajo, and again resolved to keep awake. He still pointed ahead for grass, but indicated that it was now " pokeeto" ( a little way). ' While gazing on a sand ridge we were crossing, I seemed to see it covered with grass and flowers, and shouting that this was the place, reined up my horse suddenly, and again butted him in the back of the head, at the imminent risk of giving us both the poll-evil. . At last, near midniglit, we reached the little oasis I had anticipated in so many fitful dreams. There was abundant bunch- grass but no water, and we made a " dry camp." " While the Navajo hoppled the horses, I wrapped my blankets about me, laid my head upon my sad-dle, and in two minutes was sound asleep. It seemed that I had scarcely closed my eyes when I was awakened by a " Hah- koh, Meli-cano!" and, starting up, saw my Navajo holding the animals ready to mount, and pointing to the east, already rosy with the coming dawn. Moving his hand thence towards a point half way to the zenith, he remarked: " IZloh, toll! No calor," Navajo, Spanish and sign-language, meaning in full: " By starting now we shall reach grass and water the middle of the forenoon, and before the heat of the day." Nevertheless, I decided that a cup of coffee would help things, as there was sage- brush enough for a fire, and a pint of water still in the canteen. After coffee and bread, we found the morning ride delightful, and through a better country which produced considerable grass. The valley slowly narrowed to a mere pass ; beyond the rugged jaws of this red canon there opened an extensive plain, and in its center rose an oval mesa,, which the guide designated as Moqui. We made our midday halt at the point of the mountain; but when the guide indi-cated grass and water up and over a perfectly bare white sand- hill, I shook my head. He only smiled, and led the way. With frequent rests to our horses, we had toiled up and over the rising sand- hills for |
