Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-03-30
CHAPTER XVI
Mountain Sheep.

- eAut In BY the red-ribbed lava
p4<p and great dry wastes, matter
UHlu6U accepted as Inevitable. So he
G9ed 1t was accepted by the 9TH
q ut even Mercedes uttered a
No word was spoken Of home.
- was thought Of loved ones,
locked deep In their minds.
tacit agreement Ladd again be-
G the leader Of the party. The
thing he asked was to have the
olo q food that remained spread
- upon a tarpaulln. Assuredly, 1t
$3.50 slender enough supply. 1t was
oD0olble to read the gravity of
x1ae66 face, for he still looked like
q dad man, but the slow shake Of his
Aom4 told Gale much. There was
Gxain Of hope, however, In the signin-
eanco With which he touched the bags
- 1n1t and said, "Shore 1t was sense
poe11ns al that saltI"
Ihan he turned to face his com
Eadeu.
That's little grub for six starvin'
peopao corralled In the desert. But
II grub end amt worryin' me. Yaqui
can ct sheep up the slopes Water
That's the beginnin' an middle an
md q oux case"
sTAA1S.I reckon the waterhole here
never - dry" replied Jim.
AK &he Indian"
upuS Being questioned, Yaqui spoke
q fhs dreaded 1no seco Of the Mexi-
cara In a dry year this waterhole
ni1ed
sDlEk. take a rope an see how much
Vatero In the hole"
Gala could not find bottom with
shirty-1oot lasso. The water was as
eook c3oar, sweet as If 1t had been
koo{ h 4 shaded iron receptacle.
EadA welcomed this information
With. surprise and gladness- Lets
~. Last year was shore pretty dry.
nebbe this summer won't be. Mebbe
en- wonderful good IuckTl hold. Ask
Yaqui II he thinks It'll rain"
Mercedes questioned the Indian
~Ho says no man can tell surely.
HIT n thinks the rain will come" she
rspafeA
hGre It'll rain, you can gamble
= ~ now" continued Laid. IF
tlserlSEonly grass for the hossesl We
can't Ut out Of here without bosses.
Dick, take the Indian an scout down
the arroyo. Today l seen the bosses
wero gettin' fat. Gettin' fat in this
desefti But mebbe they've about
gra1od up all the grass. Go an see,
D1ek An may you come back with
mere good newsT
Gn1o found that the arroyo widened
a. = opened. Near the head, where
h was narrow, patches Of gray grass
new Everywhere. Gale began to Won
der where the horses were Finally
IN trees and brush thinned out, and
Z mile-wide gray plain stretched down
to reddish sand dunes. Over to one
I'D we're the white horses, and here
Was grass enough for many; the ar
Fpyo was indeed an oasis.
Ladd and the others were awaiting
Galefs report, and they received 1t
With calmness, yet with Joy no less
evident because 1t was restrained
Gala in his keen observation at the
nonnent, found that he and his COM
eadee turned with glad eyes to the
we1nan Of the party.
Benor Laddy, you think-you-be-
noRuNwe shall" she faltered, and
~ voice failed.
Mercedes, no white man can tell
Vhnk1l come to pass out here" said
IAxd, earnestly. ashore have hopes
~ never dreamed Of 1 was pretty
nonr a dead man. The Indian saved
- Beldin' had It right. YaQurs
~ godsend. Now, as to the future,
~ Hike to know mebbe as well as
- 4 we're ever to get home. Only
49, what am, say, Quien sabe1
hi oomethin' tells me Yaqui knows.
All him, Mercedes. Make him tell |
Hes silent Indian, but make him
tsIl."
Mercedes called to Yaqui. At her
Kidding there was always a suggestion
- hurry, which otherwise was never
manifest In his actions. She put
hond on his barred muscular arm and
hogan to speak In Spanish. Her voice
lhkilled Gale, though he understood
6rnrceIy a word she said. He did not
I'D translation to know that here
Ike the longing Of a woman for life,
lnge, hom1, the heritage Of woman's
hart.
sSil' rolled out the Indians reply,
~ Of power and depth.
Mercedes drew a long breath, and
~ hand sought Thorne's.
HE says yes" she whispered. "He
1nuwers he'll save US; he'll take W
" back-he knowsw
The Indian turned away 10 his
rs, and the silence that held the
bie group was finally broken by
I'd,
Shore ! said so, Now NIL we've
70 DO 10 use sense, Friends, I'm
commissary department OF this
81 AN ~haf J say goes You all
1911 car &ycaDl when 4 Tall Vou |