Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-07-18
Caballero
By James J. Montague


ing up that canyon at all. The
second was letting the guide per-
suade me that I couldn't possibly get
there afoot, but must ride Caballero.
Caballero was regarding me at the time
with what appeared to be friendly
expression. Moreover, despite his size,
which was diminutive, he looked capa-
BILE. So set forth with two mistakes
on me.
I was little disturbed as we start
ed boldly forth to hear the guide call
out from behind me: II forgot to bring
the chow along when we left the ranch.
You go ahead an I'll ketch up with
you. Ole Cab knows the way just as
well as I do"
By this time Caballero was forth on
his way with an air Of assurance that
gained my confidence. The trail was
easy for the first mile, and then de-
scended at an. alarming angle toward
the bottom of canyon. Through this
canyon a mountain torrent was pour
ing, but I supposed, Of course, that
we would travel along beside it. love
mountain streams and was quite hap
by over the prospect of seeing one so
close at hand.
But when my mount, instead of
skirting this wild water course, walked
deliberately into 1t, thought it was
time to assert myself. "If you want
a drink, Mr.. Burro," 1 said politely, 81
will find one for you later on, but just
now I think it would be better not to
tempt these wild waters. The first
thing you know, we'll be-"
didn't finish the sentence because
I was surrounded by engulfing rapids.
My first impulse was to get off and
walk back to shore, but when / OBJ
served how far we were away from the
refuge, and how high were the waves
between us and it, desisted. seized
the pommel Of the Spanish saddle as
would seize life preserver and hung
on. "The torrent roared and we did
buffet it," to quote Mr.. Cassius, but I
did most of the buffeting, for Caballero
submerged along toward the center Of
the stream. / knew he was not
drowned, for could feel the throb of
his four propellers, but fording a rapid
running river on a mount that you
can't see, and which you fear every
minute will be bowled from under you
by a particularly heavy mass Of water
is not my idea of enjoying myself in
the man deserted wilds.
don't know how long that crossing
took, but it was not the six months /
estimated at the time. I am informed
now that 1t was not more than six min
utes, but In those six minutes, as
lived them, Columbus might have
crossed the alien ocean.
Caballero soon began to become
slightly more visible, and at length
hooked his fore knee over a boulder
and paused space to catch his breath
while the waters swirled around my
thighs. When he felt sufficiently re-
stored, he rose almost upright, grasped
rock with his other knee, and we
were ashore once more.
made feeble attempt to dismount.
I didn't know where was, or how
could get back to where came from
unless the guide came along before
died from a chill, but / had lost con-
fidence in the little animals knowledge
of the topography Of the country, and
felt I would be more able to collect
nv thoughts If l sat down on rock
and reflected for a little while. But
the burro had other plans. Waiting
only TO shake the water from his
Aanks-he almost shook me of In the
nrocess-he laid a leg over another
rock and drew himself up into the
mouth of one Of those dry canyons
which, I think, are called arroyos.
Suddenly he rose forward and sank
oft. and | perceived we had begun q
long ascent. 1t was short climb, but
NOT n merry one. Scrub trees grew hor'
izontalJy out Of the walls Of the noun
tain. and shredded my apparel when
thew snapped back at me after they
had been bent by our passage.
Looking up-for l was afraid to look
down. could see mountain tops CLEAN
inc white in the sunshine, and thanked
nv stars that / was at least not W
tbere But my gratitude came toe
soor A little later 1t became evident
chat that was just where Caballero in
tended to go. He did not go in haste
tbougb would rather have had 1t al
over He walked, step by step, making
snre of every small rock on which ne
DIaced his hoof. The movement was
rnncb like that Of small boat on
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