Part 21 (1/2)

It was a correct guess. It was true the stream was not very large, but it was much appreciated.

”This is the first creek we have seen running in this direction,” said Jim. ”It means that we will soon be at the Colorado River.”

After we had made our camp, we started over towards the great vermilion cliffs and found the formation just as interesting at close quarters as in the distance. We had never seen anything as sharp-cut and symmetrically carved as the b.u.t.tes and pinnacles that rose around us.

”I wish we had time to stop here,” said Jim, ”I would like to take a pick and make an exploration of these cliffs, but I said before that we would have no more picnics and I meant it.”

CHAPTER XVI

THE RIVER

We now traveled for a week in a northwest direction, going through a country very much like what we had been pa.s.sing through, except the last three days.

During this time we went into the mountains again, following a northward trending valley. The mountains were a much lower range than the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

One day, about noon, as we were riding along this valley, Jim disappeared around a turn in the trail and we heard him give a yell.

I was frightened, thinking that he had been hurt, and putting the spurs into Coyote, I dashed after him. Rounding the corner I saw what had drawn the yell.

Below us in a transverse valley we caught sight of a glittering section of the river. At last! We took off our hats in a silent salute. Then pressed on to cover the intervening miles as fast as we could.

”That isn't the Colorado yet, Jim?” questioned Tom.

”No, that is the Green River,” he replied. ”We will come to the Colorado after the Grand and Green meet, that form it.”

After a while we reached the level mouth of the valley, where it joined the valley of the Green. We galloped rapidly to see who would be the first to reach the river. Jim and I reached the edge simultaneously.

We threw ourselves from our ponies, but Jim was a little the quickest and he plunged down the bank and into the river.

But our first experience showed us that it was not to be trifled with, for a swift current in sh.o.r.e carried Jim down and if he had not caught an overhanging bush, he would have been taken out into the river and drowned.

”It certainly is a river,” exclaimed Tom, ”but why do they call it Green when it is brown?”

”Probably it is green further north,” answered Jim. ”It depends on the color of the strata it flows through.”

”Get out,” I said, ”this river was called Green after the man who discovered it. I read it in a book in the captain's cabin on the plateau.”

”I don't care,” said Jim, who was apt to be dogmatic when cornered. ”My idea is the most reasonable and I bet everybody in the U. S. thinks it's green because of its color. It must be inconvenient to know so much.”

”It is,” I replied hotly, ”when you have to a.s.sociate with an ignoramous all the time.”

”Come on, boys, let's have a swim and cool off,” suggested Tom.

”Better make camp first,” said Jim.

We found a good place back a ways from the river in a grove of old cottonwoods. Having made everything snug and s.h.i.+pshape we ran down to the river, but further up from the point where Jim plunged in.

Here the stream came in gently in a wide curve and there was quite a stretch of sandy beach.