The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-06-11
BY Charles (Petel Barnum

liz WAS 80 AdtC III hho that tbo Bacofhh =
Of a few days would usher in July;
vet since March not a drop OF rain
had fallen. Under the direct. pierc.
ing rays OF the midday sun we had
been slowly climbing the rocky, zigzag
trail leading to the summit of the
mountain range dividing Antelope and
Monitor Valleys. The sides OF the little
mountain ponies we rode heaved vio.
lently under the strain. Up, up. up, we
went, the slipping of q hoof occasion.
ally, starting loosened stones rolling,
tumbling and crashing down into the
canyons miles below us. We finally
gained the apex and stopped. dismount.
ed and loosened the cinches of our
saddles.
AZ we looked northerly over that
immense level stretch of country we
know as Antelope Valley, there was
before Us nothing but sea of brush
from which the sun and wind had
sapped the last drop of moisture,
and an occasional patch of alkali. white
and powdery. glistening under the rays
Of the sun, beyond which We could
dimly discern the misty outlines OF
Lone mountain, the towering butte
marking the northern end of the valley
Peering into the distance l saw some.
thing that was not a mirage; so far
was it that looked steadily for many
minutes before ii was possible to
decide whether those faint objects were
real or phantoms. Reaching for my
glasses soon verified my conjecture
it was mustangs. long file of them.
walking slowly, one behind the other.
with heads held low. / counted one.
two, four. six, nine, twelve, fifteen
head-one was far behind. read.
jasted my lenses aud looked again. 1t
was the stallion. the big proud com.
mander Of the band. who had left some
trusty old mare on the lead while he
watched the rear end Of the column,
watching always for the enemy they
fear most-one OF their own kind carry.
ing q man With guu or rope.
Two OF three miles In their rear was
another band. eight head In number.
They also were trudging along in that
same listless. apparently careless. man.
ner. Away beyond these. so far that
even through my powerful glasses
they seemed rs mere specks floating in
the air. was another bunch. ! looked
at them until my eyes blurred. j
could neither count them nor tell
whether or not they were moving. The
intentions Of the first two bands, how.
ever, could be easily guessed--they
were crossing the Antelope Valley to.
ward the mountains on the eastern side,
travelling in the heat OF the day toward
the water that would not be reached
until night.
At last these wild horses had given
mp the search for isolated snow patches
and unfenced springs on the west side
OF the valley and were forced to go to
the inclosed waterholes and the traps
to queneh their thirst.
At the first CLINT of dawn the follow.
log morning We packed little -four.
terked beef. aud coffee, two trying pans.
couple of empty lard pals and our
blankets in pair OF alforjas and lashed
them onto pack horse. Just as the
eastern sky began to redden left camp
10 the Toyiabe mountains and with two
halfbreed Shoshone Indians started for
those fenced springs which We believed
were now the only place that the wild
horses could find water. At Z o'clock
that evening we arrived at the first trap.
II was situated in wide canyon high
up 10 the mountains;a a small but very
strong fence inclosed the springs. which
Tor years had been the favorite water
Ing place. not only for mustangs. but
Tor deer and many wild birds.
AT the lower end of the field large
opening had been left for q gate,
tnrough which were many well worn
uaiis-horse tracks were everywhere,
ihe western slope of the canyon wal
aperfect network Of trails. all OF which
naa been recently used. Up the mair
canyon the mustangs had not only used
all the numerous old paths, but hat
made many new ones. Directly outside
'ne gate there was not spear OF vege
sa'ion; many bands had evidently ap
preached as far as the opening. thei
stood around, else ran away. fearing t
20 within the confines Of the barbe,