THE RIVER
We now traveled for a week in a northwest direction, going through a
country very much like what we had been passing 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 shore 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 associate 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 shipshape 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.
"I tell you, this is fine," cried Jim, as he began to peel off his
clothes. "I'm in first. Haven't had a bath for a month."
"You look it," I commented.
Tom and I got out of our few garments in short order. I was the quickest
and beat Jim to the water by about five feet as I splashed in. It made
me yell.
"Gosh, but she's cold," I cried, making the water fly as I plunged
under.
"Gee whiz," yelled Tom, as he stepped gingerly in. "I should say it was
cold. Talk about ice water!"
"Don't talk! get under!" cried Jim.
And he gave Tom a tremendous shove in the back that sent him with a
sprawling splash into the water. Tom sputtered angrily and Jim soused
him under.
There was a big rock out a ways on the edge of the current. It was a
great wedge rock of granite, ten feet broad and twenty-five feet in
length.
"I dare you to swim out there," challenged Jim.
"All right," I assented.
I was really a fine swimmer, better than Jim, though not so daring. This
was a dangerous proposition. Jim went first, going up stream a ways,
then he sprang out into the river.
In a minute we saw what a foolhardy attempt it was. The current caught
him and sped him along like a straw. We could see his black head as it
bobbed along down stream, now and then submerged by a wave that seemed
to us a mere ripple.
He struggled valiantly to strike across the current, for he must reach
the rock or be carried down the river to sure death. We looked on in
fascinated terror.
Nothing but his extraordinary strength saved Jim at this juncture. As he
was being dashed past the rock he threw out one hand and grasped the
edge of it, then the water slammed him against it with great force.
For the moment he seemed stunned, but he clung to the rock as the player
in a big game does to the ball as he goes over the line.
"Hold on, Jim, tight," we yelled.
We saw his muscles strain as he pulled himself slowly out of the hungry
water. Then he reached the inclined surface of the rock and fell
forward, all curled up like a man who is knocked out on the football
field.
We were pretty well frightened and Tom thought he was done for, but I
felt sure that Jim would come around in a few minutes. We did not have
to wait long before Jim sat up. He gave his head a shake and was himself
again.
"Don't try it," he yelled to us. "You can't monkey with this river."
He need not have warned us, for neither one of us was likely to try the
experiment. How was Jim to get off that rock? was the question. It was
impossible for him to take to the stream again, nor was the rock a
desirable permanent residence.
In a minute Jim began to dance around on the rock, and we thought at
first it was his exuberant spirits. But this was not the case.
"Gee, boys!" he yelled. "This rock is hot, get me off quick before I
become a cinder. What are you waiting for? Get me a rope."
Why had I not thought of that before? I jumped out of the river and made
a full speed trip to the camp. The sight was a great shock to Coyote and
Piute, and they jumped to one side, snorting and visibly affrighted.
I got the rope and made a flying return trip to the river. I soon made a
lasso loop and stood poised on the bank, directly opposite Jim, ready
for the throw.
"You stand still now and I bet that I will lasso you," I cried.
This accomplishment the captain had taught us and sometimes it came in
handy. So I wheeled the loop around my head several times and sent it
whirling out over the river. It struck the rock all right, but would
have fallen short if Jim had not caught it.
"Pretty good for a first throw," yelled Jim.
"Now, Robinson Crusoe, fasten it around your chest and under your
shoulders," were my shouted instructions.
Jim did this and it left his arms free. Tom and I now took the rope and
went up the river a ways to the beach. Tom stood on the bank well
braced, while I went out in the river as far as I could and have a good
foothold.
"Are you rested enough to try?" I yelled to Jim.
"Sure," he replied. "Are you ready?"
"Ready," I shouted.
Jim stood poised on the edge of the rock, then with a spring he launched
upstream as far as he could. I drew in the slack as quickly as possible,
then I felt the force of the current as it clutched at Jim. It pulled
like a powerful runaway horse.
It almost drew us down the river; if Jim had not been able to help
himself we would never have made it. But with the rope to give him
confidence he fought strongly against the current.
It certainly tested our strength to the utmost. But the sinewy arms that
I had acquired and the knotted muscles at the back again stood us in
good stead.
I was aroused to the limit, and with a last powerful pull, we got Jim
into shallow water and carried him to the little beach, for he was about
all in, having shipped considerable water.
We worked his arms and rolled him in the most approved fashion and he
soon came around, but he was perfectly willing to lie for awhile on the
warm sand. As we worked there we talked over Jim's escapade.
"This will be the last time I'll fool with that river," said Jim
ruefully. "It was just by luck that it did not send me down by the
underground route."
"You're a pretty game fish to land," I said.
"You branded me under the arms all right with that rope," he said.
"It did raise quite a welt," remarked Tom. "I guess Jo thought you were
a maverick when he lassoed you."
"You fellows look like white men now," said Jim, "since you've had a
bath."
"It seemed mighty good to get to plenty of water," I said, "after coming
through the desert."
"We'll be tired of water before we get through with this river,"
remarked Tom.
"It's the trip for me," said Jim cheerfully. "Do you know what it means,
boys, to tackle a stream like this that hasn't been navigated except by
two parties since the world began?"