"That all depends on how far we want it to be," laughed Mr. Vernon.
"One can get there in no time, or one can stop at all the attractive points along the trail and spend weeks reaching the Divide."
Then Mr. Gilroy added, "I propose leaving Loveland by an old Indian Trail Tally knows of, and thus reach Estes Park. We will take in Long"s Peak on the way, and then ride on to the Divide, stopping to climb any peak we think interesting, or visit any park or moraine along the route."
So the party reached Loveland, where Tally bargained shrewdly with a rancher for the horses and two mules for the tourists. Naturally the rancher wished to sell his horses outright, but Tally convinced him how much better an arrangement it would be for all concerned to rent the animals for the season, leaving a cash security deposited with a bank to cover the loss in case any or all of the horses were lost or injured on the way. If all were returned to the rancher in good condition, Mr. Gilroy would receive his deposit back.
This entire section of Colorado was created a National Park by Congress, in January, 1915. And Estes Park is to the National Park what a beauty patch is to the face of a belle--the point of attraction that focuses the eye of the admirer.
This National Park offers plenty of room for more than a million campers, without one being so near his neighbor as to give a sense of encroachment. For those Americans who love the untrammeled life of the woods, this park provides wonderful trout streams; flora and fauna most surprising and beautiful; and not only plains, valleys, ravines, and mountain peaks as diverting places to visit, but lakes, rivers, falls, and every ideal spot of Nature that one craves to see.
In this National Park you may come unexpectedly upon a caribou grazing on the luscious gra.s.s, or in spring you may find a doting she-bear, leading her cubs to feast on the tender green shoots. But let your boots make the slightest noise, both these wild creatures will disappear so suddenly that you will rub your eyes to make sure you are awake. Other furred and feathered inhabitants of the forests will sit, screened behind the foliage and fern, laughing silently at your amateur ways of discovering them.
You may not be woodsman enough ever to spy them, but they are about, just the same. Furtive eyes will watch your every movement as you ride along the trail. The partridge that has effaced himself by merging his mottled feathers with the s.h.a.ggy bark where he is hidden, saw every least thing you did. The wild hare, covered with tall gra.s.ses and fern, flicked his long ears in fun, when your awkward steps pa.s.sed within an inch of his nose, and you never dreamed of his sitting there! The squirrels and woodchucks wondered at your clumsy ways in the wilderness. Did they not leap and run joyously without a sound?
And you only have two feet to manage while they have four! In short, every denizen of the forest about you will know as if the message were flashed by wire, that a mere MAN is on his way through their domains.
The Park realm stretches along on the mountain top at an alt.i.tude of nine thousand feet, and more. And it embraces the most rugged section of the Continental Divide. Long"s Peak rises about fourteen thousand two hundred feet high, and towers above the park plateau. It looks down upon ten or more other peaks that are only thirteen thousand feet high, and many more of twelve thousand feet alt.i.tude. Long"s Peak is rocky and not easy to climb, but perfectly safe for man or beast. It is also free from the treacherous ice and snow that so often causes slides. Hence one can reach its summit, where a view of over a hundred miles of country is to be had. The Park is about twenty-five miles long and from ten to twenty miles wide.
This, then, was the wonderful place the scouts of Dandelion Troop were to visit and glory in.
CHAPTER FIVE
HITTING THE TRAIL
The horses Tally had contracted for were all the tourists could desire. They were sure-footed and experienced mountain climbers; they could go without food or water for a longer period than ordinary animals, as they had been so accustomed. They were not heavy, but wiry and muscular,--in short, the genuine ranch horse of the Rocky Mountains. The two pack mules, named Frolic and Jolt, were sleepy-looking beasts, but it was only in appearance. Once they started on the trail they proved splendid carriers, even though they took life their own way.
The little cavalcade left the hotel at Loveland the center of curious eyes, for the summer tourists stopping at the inn had heard of the well-known geologist and the Troop of Scouts. As few members of the interesting organization of Girl Scouts had ever been through the Rockies, this Troop created quite a diversion for visitors.
Tally soon turned from the beaten track that most tourists take in going to Estes Park, and led his party to the old abandoned Indian Trail. Finally they came to a cool shadowy thread of a path that could be distinguished only because the trees were not closely interlocked each with the others.
At this hour the forest was like the translucence of the sea, bathing everything in the cool green light of its depths; and the exhilarating effect was the same as the salt tang of an ocean bath.
"Makes one feel as if one were in church at Vesper time," softly declared Julie, glancing at the arched aisles they were riding through.
"Was ever cathedral so solemn, so beautiful, as this of Nature?"
replied Mrs. Vernon, in a reverent tone.
Then for another long period all was silence again, as the scouts rode along, breathing in the beauty of the "silent places." When they had traveled about ten miles along this secret trail, with its ever-changing panorama of scenes, the swishing of a stream was heard.
Soon after, the riders came to tumbling waters, that seemed in haste to go over the cliff that caused them to fall into a shadowy pool far below. Great rocks, overhanging pines, and gorgeous flora edged both sides of the waterfall, making a picture impossible to describe.
They descended the steep declivity that skirted the falls and picked up the trail again at the bottom. Here the scouts found several brooks that ran from the pool, but that were entirely separated from the main stream. Tally examined these ca.n.a.ls carefully, and then held up a hand for attention.
"Scout hear beaver work? Dis beaver-ca.n.a.l."
"Oh, really!" whispered the girls, excitedly. "If we could only watch them at work!"
They distinctly heard the "tap, tap, tap" of something softly thudding against wood, while Tally leaned over to speak.
"Mebbe kin see beaver. Leave horse tie here, an" follow Tally sof"ly to colony. But make some noise an" beaver dive home."
The scouts promised to be very careful not to make a sound in following the guide, and so they dismounted to secure the horses and mules until their return from the beaver pond.
The scouts now had their first glimpse of these industrious little workers, that are found in large colonies everywhere throughout the Rocky Mountains. This particular colony had dug the ca.n.a.ls from the pool to their pond, which was located in a bowl-like depression of the woods, and there dammed up the outlet. But few marauders pa.s.sed here, and they lived in peace in their selected home-site.
There was a good growth of aspens all about the section, and these would supply food and lodgings for some time to come. The huts were erected in the middle of the largest pond of the chain. There were several beavers at work cutting the aspens when the party arrived on the edge of the pond, but so keen is the hearing and scent of these harmless animals, that they stopped work instantly, and slipped into the water, swimming unseen until they reached their huts.
"Huh! Dem "fraid!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Tally, with disgust on his face. "Come "long--us see udder places."
Then he led through the aspen forest that fringed the pond, and reached the outlet where the dam had been constructed by the beavers.
Here the scouts saw a shallow waterfall that fed another ca.n.a.l; this stream ended in another, but smaller, pond than the upper one they had first found. In this pond were a number of large huts, and many beavers at work at the farthest side of the pond.
"I believe they are building another dam, Tally!" exclaimed Mr.
Gilroy, under his breath.
"Um--he am. Scout sit and watch."
So they all sat on the brink of the pond silently watching the busy workers as they cut down trees, dragged them into the water and then swam with them to the dam, where other beavers helped to place the heavy tree trunks in such a manner that any dead wood or debris floating downstream would catch and help to dam up the water.
"Why do they build another pond when there is such a big one above?"
asked Betty.
Mr. Gilroy replied, "There is plenty of food for the family that now resides in the huts in the upper pond, but the colony is increasing so fast that they know there will not be room enough, or food enough, for all this winter. Hence they are building now, to provide ample shelter for the future. By starting another dam and thus creating a pond, these wise little woodsmen also secure an area of new aspens that will feed the new colony.
"Those ca.n.a.ls that you see running out into the flat land beyond the new pond, are used as water courses to float the trees along into their pond. It is too bad we cannot see a beaver cut an aspen from that growth, and watch him float it until he brings it to its destination at the dam.
"But you can watch, from this vantage point, those old fellows at work. You see that big beaver that sits at one side of the two now cutting--well, he is the boss of that job. It is up to him to choose the best aspens for cutting and order his men to begin work, while he watches. Then when the tree is almost cut through he will warn them away, take up the work himself, and push on the severed trunk until it crashes down in the direction he wishes it to fall.
"You"ll see how clever they are to have the aspen fall as near the water as possible, that they need waste no energy in dragging it over the ground to the pond."
The scouts watched, and sure enough! The old boss took up the work at a given signal to his two helpers to stand back, and soon after that, the aspen fell, half of it in the water. But the beavers must have heard a suspicious sound just as they were going to drag the tree across the pond, and they scuttled under the water.
Reluctantly the scouts turned away and went back to their horses, which they mounted, and soon they were riding along the way again.
"I never saw such enchanting flowers and gorgeous ferns!" exclaimed the Captain, enthusiastically.
"Um!" came from Tally, proudly, "him got more"n t"ousan" kin" flower in park!"
"Really! Oh, that we might secure one of each for a collection!"
sighed Julie.
"It would take you longer than this summer to accomplish that,"
remarked Mr. Gilroy. "Here you will find some of the rarest orchids, as well as the hardiest kinds, known. Besides, you will find about fifteen species of gentian, the famous blue-fringed gentian among them. The largest columbines ever found grow here; and sweet peas in all conceivable shades of coloring. Not only can you add wonders to the botanical collections that you started in the Adirondacks, but you ought to be able to study many marvelous birds that nest in this primeval park."
So they rode along, stopping frequently to gather interesting flowers beside the trail, and to admire and watch the birds that could be seen everywhere.