Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-16
N THE PUEBLO ALTO.
BY Charles r. Lummis.


"h@g hoeFS ele head ana yelling the
werSe At the tsp of his IuRgs. A hun
dred yards ahead was a dense hudile
OF dirty gray ieeces, upborne by a
maze OF slender. scurryiug legs. Two
big. shaggy dogs were running and
barking vigorously on either flank Of
the flock, keeping 1t compact and on
the gallop.
Truly, Pedro was in serious trouble
What would the patron say when he
learned that his dock had strayed into
the Bewitched canyon and eaten of the
dreaded yerba mala. the evil weed.
while Pedro slept? And who knew
how many OF them would yet die. Az
de mi. II Is sad day.
Pedro and his shriveIed old father.
Esquipulo, hardly bigger than the boy.
bad been given charge OF one OF Don
Ramon's improved iocks Of $500 sheep
only the month before Esquipulo had
now gone back to the village with one
of the two burros for supplies. leaving
Pedro In sole charge OF the lock. The
boy was only 10 manly. hardwoss
Ing. self reliant little fellow. Ee had
been up all night collecting the flock.
which had been scattered by 4 prowi
Ing bear. and hts young eyes were
heavy. Surely Il could Go no haero
II be lay down under this pinon tree
and snatched wink OF sleep. But Tie
wink" was longer than he had Intend.
ed, and wheR he awoke the flock was
gone.
Hurrying along their broad trail he
had found the sheep In the BewItched
canyon. a spot Stunned by all shep-
herds on account OF the poisonous
weeds which grew there Thus un-
grazed, IL was full OF rank grasses.
tempting enough TO the unsusplcfous
sheep. which were eating greedIly. As
the frightened boy drew near he saw
some OF them leaping high In the air
aud falling back TO rise no more.
Stripping or his jacket and yelling
command TO the dogs. Pedro had start.
ed the flock on a mad run down the
canyon and out across the valley into
which IL opened. The only salvation for
any that had eaten OF the weed was TO
keep them running till worn out. and.
tired as he was. fear and excitement
now lent Pedro new strength. For
miles he kept the scared flock running.
himself toiliDg on behind with Wild
gestures and hoarse 'postos." But AZ
last he fen exhausted. The aheep stop
ped at once and began grazing on the
young sward or lay down for their neon
rest The dogs came sOberly back with
iolling tongues and lay down beside
Pedro.
The day wore slowly on. The sheen
did not wander now. and Pedro sat
under cedar tree. throwing pebbles at
the prairie dogs TO keep himself awake.
A couple OF coyotes came sneaking over
the hill so cunningly that they were
fairly In the flock before Pedro knew
It. He unslung the short Spencer car
bine from bis back. took careful aim
and tumbled coyote dead at 500 yards.
Tor Pedro was 6 fair shot. like most
lads Of his age in that wild country.
The other coyote ran, with Borracho
and Mundo In hot pursuit But as he
dashed through the flock he snapped In
mere wantOnness at woolly threats here
and there and left four fat wethers
dead.
The two dogs presently returned.
looking vexed. They could have torn
the animal to pieces in moment, hut
were no match for him in running, and
even now Pedro could see him looking
back from the top OF a mesa miles
away
AYE, first IL is the bad weed and
then the coyotesl / will drive them to
the mouth OF the Puerto del Aire and
sleep them tonight at the Otftos, for
they are in want OF water"
Just after sunset they halted In the
pinons under the cliffs at the mouth OF
the Puerto del Aire-the Pass OF the
Wind. 1t is a deep. narrow canyon.
whose walls, 1900 feet high, are seam.
ed with countless veins OF coal. Get
ting out his flint and steel, Pedro soon
had rousing FIRE and began to cook
his simple supper. A pot of very black
coffee. little hour mixed with water
and cooked in the frying pan ana the
roasted ribs OF a whole side OF a sheen
comprised the meal, of which Pedro
left only the bones.
tune seemed so unkind, and the wake
full night wore YEARLY with him. There
was no moon, but a thousand stars
twinkled up at him from the little pool
In the arroyo. Suddenly the boy rais-
ed himself on his elbows. brushed the
long hair back from his ears and bent
his head sideways to listen intently.
There il came again-a faint thin
wall from miles away. Pedro jumped
to his feet. seized his heavy blanket
and In moment had the fire out Then
ne sat down to think bit beside the
dogs, which were now awake and
growing low.
Los Navajoses! What can they be
doing travelling In the middle of the
night7 Tata told me to be very careful
OF them. for they are warlike OF late.
stealing many sheep and horses and
killing many people. Quiza: They
are after the sheepl II Is well that
go away from here quickly. but wherei
They are coming from the way 81 San
Matec. so ! cannot go honcwn~d on