Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-01

sand and wood ashes aud then by in
Vulnerable stones, which they piled
above. and often TO such an extent as to
form large mounds. To accomplish this
required much labor, but by reason of
so many workers was no doubt quickly
completed. Their reasons for such an
action becomes at once apparent when
we consider that pursuing parties would
be greatly hindered, il not entirely
bafled, by having their water supply
shut off along the line of march
Pausing about midway the ascent to
gain breath and view the surrounding
country, | could but note how great and
sad the change unknown circumstances
had wrought about this once thriving
pueblo. Here on this same p]recipitous
trail perhaps, IN past and buster times,
many an ardent lad and dusky maiden
paused on their respective ways. and,
while the sun sank beyond yon distant
peaks and gentle twilight spread apace
DER the quiet valley below, brcathcd
the oft-told tale of love and affection
where naught could have heard their
passionate whispers save the mute, cold
rocks. And those rough. bcetling crags
that now look so formidable and reach
out into space as though ready TO come
crashing down to blot one out OF exist
enCe, in the dim long g perChanCe
rang loudly with the echoes of merry
laughter
Under II projecting ledge, near the
summit, nestled n small house, which,
from its position, | took to be "A sentinel
or lookout post. 1t certainly was an
unimpregnable structure, as two walls
forming the back and one side we're
part of the main mountain, just as ma
ture had fashioned them, straight and
solid. One small aperture barely wide
enough to admit a man, answered
for both door and window. The interior
walls were plastered oyer quite smoothly
with a fine, clinging mud, and cemented
into the wall on one side some inches
from the roof were short, straight frag-
ments of a peculiar wood that appar-
emily was as sound as the day placed
there, which must have been at least
600 years ago.
The view from the little window was
varied and grand, the elevation being
sufficiently high TO bring miles and
miles of dark, burnt lava beds into sight
OF one side, and long sloping, sandy
valleys on the other, and year after
year perhaps, u w%atchful, keen-eyed
sentinel sat in this small, r~ock-bound
room anXiously scanning the surround
ing country for signs of the enemy.
The place had a very dry and musty
| nv DOu U us bllobEl hllC lIlOSGI u
was laden with the breath of dim tradi-
ton, IA circumstance which called to
mind, in a strange, wierd way, the
northumberland domicilc or a long
robed monk or world-dispising hermit.
The tumbled and shattered romans
of buildings scattered around
the broad, level summit formed
q scene both wild and
picturesque. In some instances
only parts of an ancient edifice had col
lapsed, leaving one or two tall, grim
walls that stood lnanimate sentinel5
over the ruined pile. Large mountain
rats scampercd in and out among the
rocks, and eagles have their nests hid
den in the dark secluded hooks. Frag-
ments of pottery, the glaze on which
time has not worn, are scattered quite
numerously about the ground. The for
mer jewellers must have been experts at
pOttcry-making, as the specimens found
are superior in finish to that made by
existing Indians. Most Of it is striped
with vari-hued colOrs, red and black
being the most conspicuous. With the
aid Of a pick was unearthcd an eXcep-
t~ionally large piece on which, portrayed
IN black. were the outlines of a gigantic
bird, with legs so long us to leave part
of them (this is merely guess work,
however), clinging to the remaining
| portion of the vessel and buried no
doubt beyond recovery. The outer
edge of the mesa curved into a rude
circle. and around the entire
circumference-the distance of
about Il mile-a high massive
wall built of small stones once stood. to
defy advances from an enemy. Part of
it yet remains and part has fallen hun
dreds of feet, into the ]yawning abyss be-
low. Pinon and cedar trees have
sprouted, grown and decaycd upon the
ground once trod as the floor of a
family mansion and wen since the fall
| of the walls.
1t seems almost Incredible that on
this desolate mount, where nothing
breaks the silence but the screech OF
wild birds or the mournful ,ominous howl
OF "a hungry coyote, u colony Of human
beings existed and made the giant
rocks ring with their activity. All
now is quiet and tomb-lilke,- tall, rank
vegetation grows upon the family
hearth, and the graves of men and
women are destined to remain forever
hid to mortal eyes and are covered per-
haps, by the shattered ruins OF the very
houses their Wondering occupants
helped to build. II. b.