Evening star., 1924-11-23

distance Of 243 miles we had made
that day.
Early in the morning we set off
fer Holly, Colo, just over the line.
The wheat fields began to grow
smaller, and more open country ap-
peared. AT kinsley we stopped TO
sec some friends. The glorious 4th
was being wildly celebrated, much
to hero's distress
II celebrated by throwing several
packs of firecrackers on the Goals
left in the CRATE provided for cook
ing. After I had gone to bed lifted
the flap of the tent and looked out
at the sky-rockets and Roman candles
being fred all over town
TN the morning we set off for
Trinidad where we expected to spend
the week end. The steering wheel
suddenly began to jerk TO the right.
stopped and looked at father. "A
broken spring was his verdict, after
he had looked the car over. After
he had wedged the spring with
tent peg and we had driven on toward
Las Animas, 10 minutes later the
Jerking began again. The peg had
slipped out. Again father sacrificed
peg, this time tying 1t in place. A
mile or so farther on the wedge
dropped out again, and once more
this way until the pegs and fathers
patience were exhausted. Though we
were still miles from Las Animas We
limped on, leaving our last peg in the
road.
Our camp at Trinidad was sur
rounded by majestic peaks. Fishers
Peak, beautiful mountain with an
elevation of 10000 feet, was 10 miles
distant. The snow-capped Spanish
n l. u lH-N,
Near at hand Simpsons Rest stood
1t was named after a frontiersman,
who, with his wife, defended his
stronghold on the summit from the
maurading Indians. Here, in a fleld
near camp, l made the acquaintance
of my first Western birds.
Beyond Santa Fe we stopped at a
little adobe village to get gas, and
were Immediately surrounded by In
dians who tried to sell us anything
from a rug to a bow and arrow.
sistent fellow. I turned to mother
and said something about La Bajada-
ugh, La Bajada,' exclaimed the
persistent one.
"'Yes, La Bajada,' I replied. He
looked puzzled.
La Bajada? pointing to the noun
tain behind US.
"'Yes, La Bajada,' I reiterated
hopelessly.
ugh. La Bajada.'
La Bajada-'
He looked at the auto and said
doubtfully, Ugh And thus ended my
immortal first conversation with an
Indian.
AT Albuquerque. 45 miles farther
on, we stopped to purchase a new tire
then went on. 1t had been our inten-
tion to go on to Socorro and st. Johns
instead of by Gallup, but reports we
had heard led us to change our minds,
and decide in favor of Gallup. We
camped that night at Los Lunas, turn
ing point for the two routes, in case
we should change our minds
las our minds were not changed
in the morning we set Off for Gallup,
and, as we later discovered, the land
of the washes. These washes are
peculiarly and wonderfully made.
They always appear on an otherwise
perfect stretch of road. 1t was the
rainy season, and the deeper washes
had mud and water in them.
THE landscape consisted of hills
and prairie, prairie dogs and prairie
larks. ] loved the larks that flew
along the road just in front of us, and
the little, squeaking prairie dogs that
ducked into their holes as we passed.
BY the time we had gotten to Gallup
/ had forgiven the washes. From
Gallup we set out for Houck.
AT Lupton we bought gas and sup
plies, and passed on, paralleling the
Santa Fe Railroad. Between Navajo
and Holbrooke, A. distance OF 43 miles
intervened. We started into this
wilderness with the expectation Of
being across in a couple of hours.
We had gone but short distance
when we saw black clouds piling
up on the horizon in front of us.
The storm came closer, and we could
see flashes OF lightning. and presently
see the rain falling miles away.
began to hurry, for I saw by the map
that Is miles farther on the road
turned westward away from the
storm. We were heading right for
the storm, now about miles away.
The water in the washes grew deeper.
We could hear the thunder and see
the lightning getting closer. Finally
we reached the turn, then saw what
we had not noticed before. Clouds
we're forming In the West, and the
entire sky was overcast. The dirt