The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-04-04

among the stones up Canaan WASH
For two days Summers had plodded
on, pursuing his solitary way through
this silent region. He had left the
Colorado river, bound for Escalante,
fearful of all manner Of disasters on
the road. II he succeeded in keep
ing the trail, his friends told him ne
would not find the water-hoies. III
he discovered the water-holes, they
said, his horse would not pick enough
grass to keep it going. If feed was
obtained, they warned him against rat
tlesnakes, tarantulas, ella monsters,
and the like. And IL he escaped these
reptiles, his associates cautioned him
finally. the desperadoes of the district
would be quite certain to overtake
him.
Fad there been fewer or lesser dan
gers he would probably not have un-
dertaken the ride. But with such a
formidable array against him the ven- !
ture became q sort of trial OF the met
tie of John Summers, government en-
gineer, and he determined to achieve
It. The journey thus far had been so
OppItSSfNciy luOuOtOuOuS tiot liz AA@>~N@
was wishing that something would
turn up" soon.
Yet when, shortly, the clatter-
ing of horses hoofs over the stones
below him in the rocky wash came to
his ears as he sat resting by spring
in the midst of tangle OF cotton
woods and willows, all his desire for
adventure forsook him. He remounted
and made up the canyon at his best
speed.
Horses suggested men and men sug-
gested outlaws in southern central
Utah at that day. And outlaws were
exactly what the engineer did not
care to encounter. For decade the
district has passed as Robbers
Roost," and the gangs that so long
found retreat in it's mazes have only
in latest years been generally routed.
John Summers pressed on for half
an hour, cogitating on the situation,
and arrived at these conclusions:
First it would be eminently proper
that he learn who constituted the
party behind; second, should they
prove to be outlaws he would stand
small chance of escaping by running
Coming now to q fork of the can
yon which lent itself admirably to his
purposes, the traveller formed plan
for an investigation. He led his horse out
of the dry trail and up the other rocky
wash. The footing was over hard.
shiny stones, and no trace was left,
Summers thought, of the course he
had<taken. A little higher up, level
1sn6or of the chasm was overgrown
with a dense thicket of pinons and
scrub-cedars. Hidden away here, the
horse was tied, and the rider glided
back toward the trail.
Not for an instant did he show him
self, but, sheltered by one rock or tree
after another, he warily wormed his
way along. Seventy-five yards from
the main path he crawled into sultr,
rock cleft, well up from the bottom o
the channel There, perfectly Sc
GREETED and making himself as comfort
able as he might, he awaited his fol
lowers.
Before long a man appeared roun'
a tawny rock 200 yards below. Tw
others followed. and advanced unit
they were near Summers. They wor
pistols and each carried rifle.
John Summers sat and wondered
How any one had learned that it wa
worth while to follow him was a que:
ton he could not answer.
All three men progressed slowl,
with great caution, pausing FRI
xha cnornod din
and not advancing until the next sig
was discovered farther on With thre
minutes scrambling, the trio wei
brought opposite John Summer
hiding place. His carbine. lying c
the rock, commanded the foremo
as his voice rang out:
Hands up!"
The leader looked in the directio
of the summons, fingered his gu
and ended with elevating both arm
without unnecessary delay. The lart
man and the guide followed the e
ample of their captain. The engi
GERS second command was delivers
almost simultaneously:
Face this way. Be careful not
make any awkward movements; '
don't like 'em. Now just pitch yo
guns up the bank toward us. l.
'em come 20 feet at least"
Three rifles were hurled up Z
slope, fell, slid to anchorage on t
rocks, and were safe.
Then there happened a surpr
ing thing in the rock embrasul
causing bewilderment on the fac
of the three pursuers. de
bass voice was heard to mute
"Pretty lot, amt they?" To which
pleasant tenor responded: ''Beauts."
II was an old trick of Summer
Itch bo hod aurucod mario