, 1927-05-18

but two days OF it were plenty for
us and we left for the ranch Friday
after supper.
1t was a beautiful clear evening
and the open spaces-but speaking
of space, l haven't any left, so we
will have to save the ranch for next
time.
They have long clear spells in
the West, so fortunately that
beautifully clear evening of the
last tnstallment is still holding out,
and as we drive along the road
from Cody to Ishawooa we can see
the sun setting brilliantly behind
the mountains. The t~hirty-five
mile ride is even lovelier than my
previous outbound trip the day of
my arrival, and the mountains
stand out against the sky, with
the snow on the submits giistening
in the sun. Around Cody it is ra-
ther open country and low foothills,
bue each mile up the Valley road
brought us nearer to the wonderful
ridges that impressed me so much
on first sight. Almost too soon
we were at the fork in the road
where we turn off towards the
river, and here one can best take
in the topography and the beauty of
the "South-Fork" valley. (By the
South-Fork 1 mean that branch of
the Shoshone River which flows
from the southwest and joins thel
North Fork within sight of CodyS
Just above Cody On the North Frok
is the famous Shoshone Dam whose
cost of a million and a third has in
fifteen ear been repaid seven-fold
In the value of the crops made pos
sible by the water it has conserved
for irrigation.)
But to get back 10 our South
Fork road. The valley is about
forty-five miles long and of an ay-
erage width of five miles from high
ridge to. high ridge. with steps or
benches forming lodges at various
intervals above the actual riverl
flat. On the latter. close to the
icy, swirling current of the river,
is situated the ranch. while on
either side tower the two nearly
parallel ridges of mountains rising
four, five and even six thousand
feet above the valley; Cidadel, the
highest peak directly back of the
ranch. being 10000 feet as CONF
pared with the 5000 of the valley.
To the northeast, where Cody lies.
the country flattens out, but to the
southwest the ridges follow the
turning of the river, so that the ef-
feet is of mountains on three sides
l have spoken of the snow on theI
peaks; 1t was less tina year than
for many previous owing to the rel
markably open winter, but as Jl
looked up the valley l could see in
particular one huge patch on the
side of a mountain which, in meltsI
ing away irregularly, has formed a
most perfect mammoth horse, not
the least imagination being neces-
lsary ito visualize the head and neck
the bride, the shoulders and the
two. front legs; every year this
snow banlo melts' the same way. ID
that ffpr. more than a month tHs
White Horses Of Ishawooa' is there
rto,'swatchi over the. sranges and the
scesrals.n
ssfHhe s'main slranch4o.aouse is .paft
1~stone9apd part Observation-Disclosures.
n story high, n contains a large
living room, dining ROOM, kitchen.
oftlce, several bedrooms. and a
bath. Near it. right on the river
4 oank, are half a dozen "cabips'' tho
lower half boards and- the upper
haif canvas, with a board roof and
! floor, each one accommodations two
people and modelled on the perma-
/, nent camps in Yellowstone Park.
: beyond is a stone bunk house for
the cowboys. a garage. work shop.