Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1914-06-12
ChAPTE Err v.

The Journey to Fortuna ia q scant
fifty miles by measure, but within
these eight kilometers there Is q lapse
Of centuries in standards. As Bud and
De Lancey rode out of battle-scarred
Aqua Negra they travelled a good road,
we'll worn by the Mexican wood-wag-
ons that hauled In mesquit from the
hills Then. as they left the town end
the wood roads scattered, the highway
changed by degrees to a broad trail,
dug deep by the feet of pack-animals
and marked but lightly with wheels. It
followed along the railroad, cutting
over hills and down through gulches,
and by evening they were in the heart
Of Old Mexico.
Here were men In sandals and wom-
en- barefoot; chickens tied up by the
legs outside Of brush jacales; long
nosed hogs, grunting flercely as they
skirmished for food; and half-naked
children, staring like startled rabbits
at the strangers.
The smell Of garlic and fresh-roast-
Ing coffee was In the air as they drew
into town for the night, and their
room was an adobe chamber with tile
foor and iron bars across the win.
doWs. Riding south the next day they
met yaqueros, mounted on wiry mus
tangs, who saluted them gravely, talk
Ing no shame for their primitive wood
en- saddle-trees and pommels as broad
as soup-plates.
AS they left the broad plain and
clambered up over the back of a noun
tain they passed Indian houses, brush
Quilt and matched with long, coarse
grasses, and by the fires the women
ground corn on stone metates as their
ancestors had done before the fall.
FOR IN Mexico there are two peoples,
the spaniards and the natives, and the
INDIANS still remember the days when
they were free.
II was through such land that Phil
ana Hooker rode on their gallant
ponies leading pack-animal we'll
ioaded with supplies from the north,
aua as the people gazed from their
miserable novels and saw their outfit
Vuey wondered at their wealth.
But II they were moved to envy, the
o'uk OF heavy pistol, showing through
Tue swell Of each coat, discouraged
'nem from going farther; and the cold,
searching look of the tall cowboy as
ne ambled past stayed in their men,
Dry long after the pleasant "Adios!"
oi De Lancey had been forgotten.
americans were scarce in those
uays, and what few came by were rid
ing 70 the north. How bold, then, must
luis big man be who rode in front
ana certainly he had some great re-
"ard before him to risk such horse
among the revoltosos! SO reasoned
.ne supplemented natives of the noun
ANS gazing In admiration at Copper
Dottom, and for that look in their eyes
0uu returned his forbidding stare.
mere Is something about a good
Nurse that fascinates the average Mex
ioan-perhaps because they breed the
nAest themselves and are in position
70 1udge-but Hooker had developed a
lomantio attachment for his trim little
'nestnut mount and he resented their
w'de-eyed gapings as lover resents
Stances at his lady. This, and frontier
education, rendered him short-spoken
anu gruff with the paisanos and it was
.ei1 TO the cavalier De Lancey to do
'ne courtesies Of the road.
AS the second day wore on they
tipped down into rocky canyon. with
nlse cliffs of red and yellow sandstone
SOWING In the slanting sun. and soon
suey broke out into q narrow. valley.
wen wen wooded with sycamores and mes
0ulss and giant blackberry trees.
me shrill toots Of dummy engine
"ne suddenly from down below and
-. mantle Of black smoke rose majes.
'aiiy against the sky-then, ct turn