Then most of them discerned the faint little beacon, and urged their weary horses to renewed effort, and the animals seemed to understand that their work was almost done for that day, and actually moved faster.
But the blizzard struck before they could reach the refuge, coating everything with ice and cutting deep into tender hands and faces. The horses were soon stiff with the cold, and it took all of the riders"
energy, even so close to a promising haven, to keep the beasts moving.
Finally Tally shouted wildly, "Light ahead! Light here!"
And at the same time his horse stumbled down a steep grade into a rushing little brook. Omney saw the danger before his horse reached the bank, and warned all the others behind him. They crossed the water safely, and after scrambling up the steep bank on the other side, they found themselves in a barnyard.
They made such a noise at this discovery, that a man hurried from one of the low, long buildings with a lantern.
"Oh, welcome sight!" sighed Mrs. Vernon, ready to faint with joy and relief.
During a momentary lull in the wind and sleet, they all rode up to the long, low ranch house, and shouted to the owners to help them. Soon every one was thawing before a roaring fire; and the poor horses were in the stable, enjoying food and rest.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BACK-TRAILING TO DENVER
The ill effects of the alkali water pa.s.sed off in a few hours, and the scouts felt able to continue the ride in the morning. The sun was shining so brightly that no one would have dared say there had been a fearful storm the night before. As they all sat about the rough table for breakfast, the host explained to Mr. Gilroy how the guides missed the right trail on the mountains, and he sketched for them a rude map to help them find the point where the Medicine Bow Mountains and Frontal Range met in the Continental Divide.
When the horses were brought to the door, and all were ready to start on the ride again, Mr. Vernon insisted upon the good mountain rancher taking a gift for his hospitality, although the latter demurred for sometime before he was prevailed upon to take the recompense.
That day Tally led his party along the well-defined trail he had missed the day before, and by sundown they were nearing the wonderful alt.i.tude and mountaintops of the Frontal Range.
At night they camped in one of the wildest spots of the mountains, where the extensive view was as imposing as any to be found in Colorado. Tally had, with true Indian instinct, found a small lake of purest cold water, where they could pitch camp. A wild animal trail circuited this lake, and while the guides prepared the supper, the Captain suggested a ride around the sheet of clear water.
The scene was splendidly wild, and isolation hung like a curtain over everything down below in the valley, that was seen through the forest trees whenever the scouts climbed a prominence. Mystic sounds chirruped at them as they rode slowly along the narrow path, lending enchantment to the beauty of the place.
The fast-fading rays of purple and rose that sped in the wake of the setting sun, cast ever-changing gleams of color across the placid lake. As the twilight advanced, the silence of the forest was felt, and only now and then came a wildwood sound to startle the scouts.
As they followed the trail that skirted the lake, they came to a rippling stream that had to be forded. Just as Julie, always in advance, guided her horse down the steep bank, a crackling of dry twigs on the other side caused the horse to stop suddenly.
"O girls! Look! Look!" whispered Julie, tensely.
There stood a fawn as if cut from stone, with ears erect and nose sniffing at the strange creatures seen so near at hand. Even as the scouts gazed admiringly, the graceful thing flaunted its short tail and, with the stamping of a hoof to protest against this interruption of her drink, disappeared, without a sound of its going.
They crossed the stream and were keeping on the trail that ran along the sh.o.r.e, when from overhead, a loon shrilled a warning to its mate across the lake that there was a strange horde of life pa.s.sing under her tree! But the male loon sent back his wild laughter at such unbased fears of his wife"s. All these incidents impressed the scouts with a sense of their being one with the wild creatures, and they regretted the fact that they were nearing camp again.
At the point where Tally had made the night camp, the reeds and gra.s.ses hugged the sh.o.r.e of the lake, and now a faint mist upcurled from the water like a transparent veil. Gradually this veil spread inland and quietly enveloped all things on sh.o.r.e. The bright fire dispelled the mist about the camp, and as the hungry scouts sniffed the odors of a good supper, the beauties of Nature were temporarily forgotten.
While the scouts were adventuring around the lake, Mr. Gilroy and Mr.
Vernon had cut hemlock bows for bedding, so that all was ready for the night before supper was served. After enjoying Tally"s cooking to the utmost, the scouts sat down to listen to the various wild adventures of Omney and Talley. But one after another, they dozed before long, and Mr. Gilroy suggested they all retire for the night.
Talley knew not how long he had been sleeping when he was unaccountably aroused as if by a strange noise in camp. He sat up and listened, but all seemed quiet, so he soon was dozing again. The snapping of a twig, some distance away, however, made him open his eyes drowsily and wonder sleepily if the horses were securely hobbled.
He was too tired to keep awake long enough to get up and go in search of the animals. The thought of it, however, before he fell sound asleep caused him to dream fitfully all night.
He awoke very early and got up to rea.s.sure himself that all was well in camp. He could see no sign of any horse or mule, so he shook Omney, and the two ran in search of the strayed animals.
When the rest of the touring party woke up to find the sun shining into their eyes, no sign of guides or horses was seen. Mr. Gilroy began to prepare breakfast, and Mr. Vernon was sent to fish. The girls were each detailed on some work, and by the time the meal was ready, sounds of hoofs were heard along the trail.
"Dat Jolt, he makka all horse go way down trail. Omney an" me fin" dem miles down," explained Tally, with a vindictive look at the mule. As if he fully understood the Indian, Jolt sent back an answering gleam from his wicked eyes and kicked up his hind legs in derision.
Mr. Vernon had caught more than enough fish in the overstocked lake, and when the fried mush, bacon, and fresh fish, bread, and fragrant coffee were served, the appet.i.tes displayed were such as would drive a New York boarding-house keeper distracted.
That day the scouts rode in forests where stately aromatic pines sheltered countless wild creatures, that peered from their cloistered haunts with wonderment at the strangers. Birds of every description sang from low-swinging branches, and lesser notes from unseen insects in the bushes and gra.s.s added music to this orchestra that rendered the grandest symphony ever heard.
That evening while seated about the camp supper, Julie said, "There"s one animal I"ve wanted to see in his natural haunts in the Rockies, and not one have we been able to glimpse."
"What"s that?" asked Mr. Gilroy.
"The famous American buffalo of the plains," returned she.
"Ah, it is the Captain"s fault that you girls were not able to see the bison at home," retorted Mr. Gilroy. "Had she consented to your going with me to Yellowstone Park, you could have watched the animals grazing and wandering over their own fields."
"Well, the buffalo will still be there next year, but the scouts cannot lose a month of school this fall just to go and watch the animals in Wyoming," said Mrs. Vernon.
"Of course, your word is law to us all, but it does seem a pity, as I said before, that being so near the geysers, we should not take advantage of it," remarked Mr. Gilroy.
The scouts expressed in their faces that they thought on this matter exactly as Mr. Gilroy did, but the Captain said, "If you continue to preach your mutinous ideas to my girls, I"ll leave you out of my plans next summer when we take a trip."
"Wough! That threat will keep me quiet for all time!" laughed Mr.
Gilroy, clapping a hand over his mouth to show his instant obedience.
Every one laughed, but Tally now joined the circle and asked for orders for the next day"s ride. After talking over various trails and plans, they got up and prepared to retire for the night.
"Did any one hang up the saddles to-night?" asked Mr. Vernon, before he turned in to sleep.
"Tally, did you look after the leather?" asked Mr. Gilroy.
Tally turned to Omney, "Did him fix harness?"
"Me do it, all light," returned Omney, then he shuffled out of the circle of light cast by the fire and they heard him fumbling with heavy saddles and other trappings.
The glorious break of day in the mountains awoke every one, and soon the breakfast was under way. While the guides cooked, Mr. Vernon went for the horses. Mr. Gilroy decided to save time by taking down the harness from the trees where it was usually hung.
"Great Scout!" called he, summoning the Indians to the spot.
"What"s the matter?" asked the scouts, anxiously running after the two guides.
"A rascally porcupine has been at our leather last night!" declared Mr. Gilroy, angrily showing the ravages made on the harnesses.
Tally glared at Omney, "Why for you do dat? Don" you know dem bad rats eat all up?"
Omney said nothing, but looked very penitent. Mr. Gilroy sighed as he began an inventory of the damage.