Part 36 (2/2)

”Ah, no!” he determined. ”This is not it. We must climb up.”

This we did, and after a rather easy climb, going up a narrow transverse ravine, then after a steep pull we came out upon the top of the first wall.

We saw the greater outer wall of h.o.m.ogeneous sandstone rising about a half mile distant. Between us and it was a comparatively level stretch of rock, with a layer of thin soil upon it, from from which grew dwarf bushes, and everywhere were scattered boulders, some of them huge, others smaller.

”There is the place,” said Juarez, nodding at the walls in front of us.

They rose up to a height of over a thousand feet. ”There we find it.”

We walked with our long gliding stride, something as the Indians do, scarcely raising the foot. (I may as well have a word with you right here about walking, if you don't mind; it will be of use to you in long tramps. There is considerable nonsense in certain popular ideas about walking. Don't strut along with the shoulders thrown back. You will never see an Indian plainsman, nor any natural walker do that. Let the shoulders droop naturally, but keep the chest out. As you start, break the motion at the hips and use the feet as though they were paddles.

Leave the backbone out of your walk. Anything that saves a jar to that makes for tireless endurance.

In using this simple method the weight falls on the front part of the foot. Move easily, even loosely, at the joints of ankle and knee. That breaks up stiffness, relieves strain and makes for endurance. Paddle out with the feet, and as you start, break the motion at the hip by a slight bend. By this method you acquire springiness. It is something the same effect you get as you stand on the end of a springing board ready to make a dive into water. If you are persistent in using this method, you will find it worth while.)

”What is that curious formation under the cliff?” asked Tom as we approached the outer wall.

”That,” said Juarez, ”is what remains of the houses and caches of the cliff dwellers.”

It was in a great sheltering cave or open cavern in the beautifully smooth sandstone cliff, several hundred feet from the base of it.

There stood, almost as a natural granite from the rock, the square, symmetrical ruins of a tiny cliff dwellers' village. There was something extraordinarily quaint and curious about it as it nestled close under the protecting breast of the great rock.

At the base of the cliff were the ruins of a lower village. We found several complete specimens of pottery and many broken shards.

We could see that the construction of the thick walls of the close set houses was of flat stones held together by dried clay or with nothing but the rocks themselves pieced together. The windows and doors had sides and slabs of smooth, red stone.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE FACE IN THE ROCK

”Will we find the treasure up there?” asked Tom. Juarez shook his head.

”No, but those people could have told.”

We did not stop to cut steps up the precipitous sandstone to the village in the cliff, because we had no time to stop for antiquities.

”Let's divide here in two parties,” said Juarez.

”All right,” said Jim. ”I imagine that this slit may be a very narrow lateral canyon.”

”Maybe,” Juarez replied. ”I take Tom, you and Jo go together. The one finding it first will fire as a signal to the other party.”

This was agreed on and we separated. Jim and I took the wall to the north and Tom and Juarez went south. Jim had his rifle and Juarez a pistol.

We made our way carefully, but saw nothing but the blank wall of red sandstone.

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