Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-16


west. There can hide my sheep and
myself TIL be comes. FOR the walls OF
the Pueblo Alto are very strong. That
Is the place! Borrachoi Mundo. He
chalosr'
The intelligent dogs began running
around the flock and Weakening II. The
big woolly jackknlves slowly opened
themselves. and the burro. reinvested
with his pack, fell into place I'm the
rear OF the procession.
Down the long wash" around tall.
yellow cliffs and turrets OF wator cary
ed Sandstone. over turtle back lodges
and at last out into the broad. broken
valley the slow mRrchers wound. It
was hard travelling In the dark. and
Pedro had never been thus far west
before. But his sense OF locality was
wen developed. and. steering by the
familiar stars. he pushed bravely
along. Great owls skinned just above
his head. hooting dismally. and now
and then along the side Of the vast
mesa he was skIrting shrilled the ap-
palling cry of the mountain lion. he
carried the carbine In his hand. now
peering through the darkness at the
ping to listen for sounds from the
rear.
Just as the dawn blossomed TO red
In the east they descended Q short.
steep draw" crossed a deep but wa
terless river bed and emerged upon a
smooth, circular plain. In the very
center Of II Pedro could see the high.
ragged walls OF the mysterious Pueblo
Alto, and In a few minutes more the
dogs were holding the sheep In tired
clump at the foot OF the ruins. while
Pedro climbed up 20 explore.
1t was wonderful place. the ruins
OF an ancient Pueblo stone city, de-
serted before Columbus discovered
America II lay Ia the great Navajo
reservation. 90 miles from the nearest
settlement Few white Mon have ever
seen IL even 10 this day The town
was built In the shape Of rectangle.
200 feet long. with the houses terraced
and facing inward upon a common
plaza or square. The outer walls were
still standing. 10 to 20 feet high, and
on the west side part OF the fifth story
Of a great tower, square outside and
round within. rose nearly 90 feet.
Doors and windows there were none.
and the ladders by which the walls
were once scaled had crumbled to dust
centuries before. Luckily there was
breach in the wall OF one Of the rooms.
and. driving his flock through this.
Pedro walled up the gap with the big.
fiat rocks which had fallen from the
upper stories. A little bunch grass
grew in the plaza and on the mounds
OF debris. Water there was none near
er than the pools in the Canyon de los
Osos, six miles away, but the sheep
had been watered only n few hours
before and were used TO water only
once in two days. On a pinch they
could go without for four.
AS for himself. there was water in
the little keg on the pack saddle and
food enough for a week with economy
Pedro cooked breakfast over a irc OF
chaparro and, having eaten. sat down
to wait.
There were no signs OF danger as
yet. Had he been too blind and made
a mistake? If his fears were ground.
less, II was Il bad mistake to come TO
the Pueblo Alto, for IL was In the right.
full country Of the surly Navojoes. who
would certainly make trouble II they
found him there.
But while these uncomfortable
thoughts were passing through his un-
kempt head his sharp eyes sighted a
figure, outlined against the sky. on the
top Of swell six miles away. Civilized
eyes. which are little called upon for
such use, could hardly have discerned
NJ oil Init Dorg. til. A..
was an Indian on horseback and com
ing toward him.
The figure disappeared, and another
came in sight and then another and
another till the frightened boy had
counted % Of them. He wiped his gun
carefully with a piece OF buckSkin and
counted the long. heavy cartridges in
his belt-just %. Truly here was no
chance for poor shooting. II the In
dams attacked him, he must make ev-
cry bullet count. EsquIpulo had been
a famous Indian fighter IN his day. and
the boy had often listened to his stories
of struggles with Apache, Navajo aud
Ute.
There is one thing" the old man
used to say. which thou must always
ing man In the world He will know
as well and as quickly as myself IL
thou art frightened When he attacks
thee In a strong place. he will first
make feints of charging to see what
thou art made OF. If thou art cool and
waitest TO make every shot count, he
Will at once change his ways and try
to pick thee OFF from a distance. In
which there is small danger II thou art
watchful- But if thou miss shot or
two at first he will charge into thee
and over thee and shoot thee down
from near"
Pedro did remember all this, which
he had heard hundred times. and.
though he was trembling with excite
ment and fear, he fully resolved that
he would show cool front But even
IL he repulsed their immediate attacks
what then? They could hold him
besieged Indefinitely. and there was no
chance of help except from his father.
Al. his fatherl Alone and on foot.
L. NJ. a