The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-03-26


! 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 n he succeeded In keep
Ing the trail. his friends told him he
would not ind the water.holes. II
he discovered the water-hoies, they
said. his horse would not pick enough
grass to keep II going. II feed was
obtained. they warned him against rat
tlcsnakes. .arantnlas. ella monsters.
and the like. And II he escaped these
reptiles. his associates cautioned him
finally. the dcsperadoes OF the district
would be quite certain to overtake
him.
Had there been fewer or lesser dan
gers he would probably not have I'M
dertaken the ride. But with such q
formidable array against him the ven
tnre became a 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
oppressively monotonous that the man
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 a spring
In the midst OF q tangle OF cotton
woods and willows. all his desire for
adventure forsook him. He remounted
and made up the canyon Ut 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
Rnost." and the sangs that 30 long
found retreat In Its mazes have only
In latest years been generally routed.
Juhn Summers pressed on for half
an hour. cogitating on tho situation.
and arrived at these conclusions:
First Il would be eminently proper
that he learn who constituted the
party behind. second. should they
prove to BIO outlaws he would stand
small chance Of escaping by running.
Coming now to 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 no
had taken. A little higher up. level
floor Of the chaam was overgrown
with dense thicket OF pinons and
scrub-cedars. Hidden away here, the
horse was tied. and the rider giided
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.nve yards from
the main path he crawled into . suitry
rock cleft. well up from the bottom OF
the channel There. perfectly So
GREETED and making himself a. comfort
able as he might. he awaited his fol.
lowers.
Before long man appeared round
tawny rock 200 yards below. Two
others followed. and advanced until
they were near Summers. They wore
pistols and each carried ride
John Summers sat and wondered
How any one had learned tina, II was
worth while to follow him was a quss
ton he could not answer,
All three men progressed slowly
with great caution, pauslrg fire.
Quentiy when the trail seemed dim.
and not advancing until the next sign
was discovered farther on. With three
minutes scrambling, tho trio were
brought opposite John Summers
hiding place. His carbine. lying on
the rock. commanded the foremost
IA his voice rang out:
Hands up,"
Tho leader looked In the direction
of the summons. fingered hts gun.
and ended with elcsating both arms
without unnecessary delay. The large
man and the guide followed the cx.
ample OF their captain. The engin.
GERS second command was delivered
almost instantaneously:
Face this way BE careful not 10
make any awkward movements. we
don't like 'em. Now lust pitch your
guns up the bank toward US. Let
'em come 20 feet at least"
Three rifles were hurled up the
slope. fell. slid TO anchorage on the
rocks, and were safe
Then there happened surpris.
Ing thing In the rock emhrasure.
causing bewliderment on the faces
OF the three pursuers A deep
bass voice was heard TO mutter: !
Pretty lot. Amt they" To which q |
pleasant tenor responded: ~Beauts."
II was an old trick OF Summers |
with which he had amused pariors |
many times. lie tried the tenor fur, |
Their II called:
Say. you fellows. do you think"
shut. up. lack" followed his own
familiar tones.
II was apparent that the engineer !
had his foe at his mercy. thanks TO /
the fanciful guardsmen at his back.
He looked them over critically. then
said:
Spread out" They did SO.
Face about" Only backs were Wis |
ible.