"What do you think of this, boys?" said Griggs, at sunrise the next
morning.
"Splendid!" cried Chris.
"Glorious!" shouted Ned. "Oh, bother the old gold and the tramping
through choking deserts. Come along, Chris."
"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Griggs.
"Swell ourselves out again," replied Chris. "I'm dried-up like a stalk
with all that miserable tramping, and I shan't come right again till
I've been in for an hour."
"In where?"
"Why, in that big pool. You listen. You can hear me crackle with the
salt and dust caked over me. I'm afraid to laugh, for fear I should
crack my skin."
"Get out! But a good wash will be a treat. I say, though, that place
looks deep. You can both swim very well?"
"Oh, tidily--eh, Ned?"
"I should think so!"
"That's all right then," said Griggs; "but how about--"
"About what?" cried Chris, for the American stopped.
"The anacondas and alligators and snapping turtles and garfish with
teeth sharp as sharks?"
"Oh, I say," cried Ned, with his face contracting as he glanced at the
smooth clear waters of the largest pool in sight. "You don't think
there's anything of that sort in there, do you?"
"I dunno. Haven't given it a thought," replied the American.
"Come along," cried Chris; "he's laughing at us."
"Not I," said Griggs.
"Anacondas," said Chris thoughtfully. "Yes, they are the big
boa-constrictor-like chaps that half live in the water, and lay hold of
anything that goes in. No, it's all stuff, Ned. They don't live here;
they're in South America. There's nothing to mind."
"I don't know so much about that," said Griggs. "What about alligators
and snapping turtles? There's safe to be plenty of them in a place like
this."
"But they wouldn't try to touch us," cried Chris. "I shall chance it."
Ned looked anxious.
"Here, I say, Griggs," he said. "No games. We want a bathe horribly.
You don't think there really are any biting things in the water, do
you?"
"I dunno, my lad. This is a new place altogether to me. There are
plenty of vicious hungry things down in Mississippi and Florida, I know
that."
"But we're not in Mississippi nor yet in Florida," cried Chris. "I say,
Griggy, where are we?"
"Why, here, to be sure," replied the American.
"Don't talk stuff!" cried Chris angrily. "What part are we in?"
"I'm not a geography-book, my lad, and I don't know where we are, only
that we've travelled south-west. No finger-posts up here and no lines
to show where the States are divided."
"Now you're bantering again, Griggs," cried Chris irritably. "You must
know."
"If you come to that, why, so must you, my lad. But I really don't
know, only that we're well into the wild unsettled parts of the country,
and I should say nobody had ever been here before but prospectors--chaps
like the poor fellow who came crawling to us regularly done up."
"But where should you think we are?"
"Well, I'm inclined to think that we're got well into Arizona, my lad,
where the great unexplored salt deserts are."
"Very well, then, we've explored that part and come across the deserts,
and got into the good land now."
"Oh, have we?" said Griggs derisively. "Why, we've only just tasted a
bit of one. Do you know how big these wilds are?"
"A few miles across, I suppose--fifty or so, at the outside."
"That's mild for a guess," said Griggs. "Why, I believe, there's room
enough out in these wilds for us to lose ourselves and wander about for
years."
"Very well, then, let's wander," cried Chris. "That's nothing to do
with what we want to do here, and that's to bathe and get rid of all
this sand and dust."
"Well, then, if you'll take my advice you'll keep on the shallows close
to the edge, in case--Yah! Look at that!"
The boys were already looking, their attention having been caught by the
rising of a little wave caused by some fish or reptile rushing through
the water for a few yards before curving over, making a great splash as
it disappeared.
"A big fish seizing a small one," cried Chris. "Well, that won't hurt
us," and hurrying along the edge of the pool they were not long before
plunging in for a good swim, to come out ready to dry themselves in the
sun, and, after dressing, enjoying the sensation of being freed from the
dust and salt which had clung to their skins.
"I say, bother the old gold!" said Ned again, as they stood gazing at
the mountains half bidden by the delicate clouds of mist curling about
their sides and clinging to the great peak which had formed their guide.
"Isn't it lovely! Why can't we live here?"
"Because we've got something else to do," said Chris grimly. "Besides,
how could we live?"
"Live? Why, the same as we did at the plantation. I believe that
everything would grow here and that we could raise abundance of fruit."
"And who should we sell it to?"
"Bother! Never mind about selling it," cried Ned contemptuously. "Eat
it ourselves."
"Live on oranges, eh? What stuff you talk! Ask your father what he
thinks."
"But there'd be plenty of other things here to eat. We could grow corn,
and graze cattle, and keep poultry. I dare say we shall come across
buffaloes and deer. Then there are abundance of birds, and I dare say
these fish in the pools would be good, without reckoning on the salmon."
"What salmon?" said Chris grimly.
"The salmon in the rivers that come down from the mountains over there."
"Of course!" cried Chris mockingly. "Here, let's go salmon-fishing this
morning. We've got hooks and lines packed up somewhere, and I don't
suppose it will take us long to find a salmon-river."
Ned stared wide-eyed at his comrade, who burst out laughing.
"Oh I say, Ned, what a baby you are! I shall tell them over our
breakfast everything you--Oh! I say! Smell that?"
"Yes," cried Ned eagerly. "Coffee."
"No, no; that other smell. I know! old Griggs is frying something for
breakfast. Come on."
The scene around was glorious; there was the blue sunlit sky, in the
distance the purple mist and the glistening silver of pool after pool,
while all else was golden green--tree, bush, and waving reed, rush and
grass. To a couple of boys whose eyes had been smarting for days in the
dusty glare, the country around seemed perfect in its beauty. But
though they had been revelling therein, and enjoyed it to the full, now
that they were refreshed by their bath all seemed as nothing compared
with the film of grey smoke that arose from close by the heap of packs
beyond which the ponies and mules were grazing, half-hidden by the lush
rich grass which brushed their flanks.
But it was not only the sight of that slow-rising smoke, there was the
odour which floated to their nostrils, and set them off running in a way
which seemed to suggest that their swim had washed away all the
stiffness and languor of the day before.
"Breakfast," shouted Griggs as they drew near, and his cry brought up
Wilton, Bourne, and the doctor, each with his double rifle and shot-gun
across his shoulder.
The change was so great after the sufferings and excitement of the past
hours, that every one was enthusiastic, and the conversation became
general about the future; but very soon all but one became listeners,
the one being the doctor, who laid down the law as to future
proceedings, giving it as his opinion that the success of the
expedition, or more especially the continuance thereof, must depend upon
their keeping in touch with water.
"Yes, that's right," said Griggs, as if speaking to himself.
"You see," said the speaker, "our stores must rapidly grow less, and we
have to face the fact that we shall have to throw ourselves upon the
resources of the country; hence to go on journeying through the deserts
means failure, perhaps worse, for we may find some day that we have gone
so far that we cannot retrace our steps. You follow me, Griggs?"
"Quite, sir," was the reply. "You are saying what I think, only much
better. I don't want to push forward my opinions, but I know a little
about these matters, having journeyed farther north years ago, and
having had a good deal to do with the horrible alkali plains, as they
called them."
"Exactly, and we shall always be glad of your advice and counsel," said
the doctor. "Now, it seems to me that wherever we can we must keep to
the mountains. It will be more arduous for our beasts, but near the
high lands we may generally find water. Where there is water there are
grass and trees, and where there are these we may find food in the shape
of birds and other animals, as well as provision for our ponies and
mules."
"Plenty of fish in that big pool," said Chris.
"Oh!" cried Ned in protest. "We only saw one."
"But he was after another," said Chris sharply, "and that big one is
sure to have plenty of young ones."
"His relatives, eh?" said Bourne, smiling.
"Of course," added Wilton, with a laugh, "and that will include the old
folks as well as the young."
"Yes," said the doctor, "and you boys must try your hands at catching
them whenever there is a chance. In fact, we must all bear in mind that
it is urgent that we should be on the lookout for food--not in a
destructive way, but so as to have the next day's supplies in hand. But
now about to-day. We have excellent quarters here, the beasts are
revelling in good pasture, and though I am anxious to go on I think we
had better stay where we are, say for a couple of days more, not to do
nothing, but to let this be the camp from which we make an expedition or
two towards that peak and part of the way up its slopes, so as to
determine in which direction we shall go next."
There was a murmur of assent here, and Wilton took up the debate.
"I believe," he said, "that we shall find the source of a river up
there, and that then it would be wise to follow it down."
"That would take us towards the sea," said Ned's father decisively.
"Not for certain, sir," cried Griggs.
"Well, then, towards where the river joined another which ran into the
sea."
"Not for certain, sir," repeated Griggs.
"Very well, then, where it runs into some good-sized lake."
"Not for certain, sir," paid Griggs, so decisively that Chris laughed,
"But a river must fall into something," said Ned's father sharply,
Griggs' interruptions having made him feel nettled.
"Yes, sir, of course; but in a desert country such as it is about here
they fall into difficulties."
"I know," cried Chris; "Griggs means that they tumble down into those
great canons like that one on the Colorado, isn't it, where the banks
are a mile deep?"
"No, I don't, squire," said Griggs firmly, "though I shouldn't be a bit
surprised if we came across one of those gashes in the desert. I meant
that some of the little rivers that come down from the mountains run
bright and clear for a time in amongst the rocks till they get to the
more level ground, and then they spread-out and grow wide and shallow so
that you find they're only up to your knees. A mile or two lower down
they're not up to your ankles, while a bit lower there's no river at
all."
"What, gone down a sink-hole?" cried Chris.
"No, squire; spread-out and soaked away into the sand, which begins by
looking dark-coloured and has patches of grass growing in it for a bit,
and then you get farther and the sun has drunk up all the sand had not
swallowed."
"But there must be pools and marshes," said Wilton.
"Pools sometimes, but where you do find one it's as salt as the sea,
only a deal nastier, and if you drink any of it you find it makes you
ill."
"You've had that experience?" said the doctor.
"More'n once, sir," replied Griggs, "and it aren't nice. Which way do
you mean to go to-day, sir?"
"Straight for the mountains," replied the doctor.
"Humph!" grunted Griggs. "Won't get there in one journey."
"No," replied the doctor, scanning the beautiful elevation through his
glass, "but I think we might do what we can in the way of selecting
another camp to which we can move a day or two later."
"Yes, we can do that, sir. But what about here?"
"I should set up the tent here before we start," suggested Wilton.
"What for, sir?" asked Griggs sharply.
"It will be a big white object for our guidance on our way back."
Griggs shook his head and smiled.
"We shall take our bearings, and be able to find our camp again. The
water here will do for one big mark when we're yonder on the hills. If
you set up that tent with no one to mind it, the mules won't be long
before they come rubbing themselves against the ropes and upsetting it,
for one thing. Another is, that if a roving band of mounted Indians
came along they'd be down upon it at once to see what there was worth
taking."
"But surely there are no mounted Indians about here?" said Ned eagerly.
"Maybe no, maybe yes, my lad. I don't know that there are, and I don't
know that there aren't. Here's plenty of room for them, and a nice
country where there's water and perhaps game. Likely enough there may
be Indians. For they're here to-day and a hundred miles off to-morrow,
roving about in search of eatables."
"Yes," said the doctor gravely, "and the thought of the life they lead
is encouraging to me."
"Encouraging?" cried Bourne and Wilton together.
"Certainly. I have been a good deal exercised in my mind about the
failing of our provisions forcing us at last to turn back, but if we
follow the example of the Indians there is no reason why we, so long as
we have sufficient ammunition, should not be able to keep on for years
if it were necessary. What one band can do, surely another can."
"That's what you think, then, is it, sir?" said Griggs sharply.
"Yes; why do you speak like that?"
"Only because I'm glad you see fully what we've got to do, sir, and are
ready to do it."
"But we must husband our stores," said Bourne.
"Of course, sir," said Griggs, with his eyes twinkling. "We will, as
long as they'll stop to be husbanded; but they'll shrink away to nothing
at last, and we must look forward to the time when all the extras'll be
gone and we shall have to live on meat and water."
"Rather starvation rations, Griggs," said Wilton, while the boys stared
at one another.
"Oh no, sir. I've been through it, and it isn't half bad. You soon get
used to it, and then you find out what roast meat and cold water really
are--about the most delicious eating and drinking in the world. Your
appetite's splendid; you can sleep like a top; and as to what you can
do, it's wonderful. You never seem to be tired."
"Then you don't feel any apprehension about our having to give up for
want of supplies?"
"Not a bit, sir, as long as the powder and shot last. When they're done
the sooner we make for civilisation the better."
"Yes," said the doctor thoughtfully. "You must be right, Griggs."
"Yes, sir, I am right," said Griggs, without a shadow of brag in his way
of speaking. "I wouldn't speak out as I do if I hadn't proved it."
"How long did you lead such a life as that?" asked Chris.
"Going on for four years. Why, I've talked to you and Squire Ned here
often."
"Yes, of course, about your experiences in the big north-west," said
Chris; "but I didn't know it lasted so long."
"Don't you remember about his fight with the Indians, when they rode
round his party?" asked Ned.
"Yes, I remember," said Chris. Then thoughtfully, "You think we shall
find Indians out here?"
"No, I don't, my lad; but I feel pretty sure they'll find us."
"Most likely," said the doctor, nodding his head; "but we can beat them
off. You feel, then, Griggs, that we need be under no apprehension
about our stores?"
"Not a bit, sir, so long as we keep within touch of the mountains. I'd
almost go as far as to say that we could do better without them. We
could after a time, for it will save a lot of trouble in loading up the
baggage. But they won't fail yet awhile. A man can do without tea and
coffee and sugar and pepper, and without meal too when he's obliged. We
shan't want for salt, I dessay, though the less we come across that the
better. We shan't fail over finding where that poor old chap made his
map, on account of the eating and drinking. I was thinking about him in
the night when I woke up to have a look round."
"What about him?" said Chris, for the American had stopped short.
"'Bout how long he'd been living out somewhere in these parts."
"Or some other parts," said Wilton.
"That's right, sir."
"How long had he been out here, then?" asked Ned eagerly.
"Can't say, squire; but a many, many years, for he was pretty nigh worn
out, warn't he, doctor?"
"By privation principally," said Bourne thoughtfully.
"Privation had had a good deal to do with it certainly," said the
doctor; "but Griggs is right, he was nearly worn out."
"With his long fight?" said Wilton.
"Principally from old age. He must have been very far past seventy."
"What?" cried Bourne.
"Oh yes, he was very old," replied the doctor quietly.
"Ay, he seemed so," said Griggs. "Old enough to be a hundred; not that
he was. I'll say eighty. Well, he might easily have been wandering
about in his gold hunt for twenty or thirty or forty years."
"Oh, absurd!" cried Wilton.
"P'r'aps so, sir; but look here, he went out with a party of
prospectors, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"And he was the only survivor?"
"To be sure; he told Lee so."
"Well, it's an old story about the parties of prospectors going out into
the desert in search of gold and never coming back."
"Yes, we have heard it often."
"Then tell me this, Mr Wilton," said Griggs sharply. "When a party
goes out exploring, what sort of chaps are they?"
"A very brave, enterprising set."
"Of old men, I s'pose, sir, nearly worn out?"
"Nonsense! Able-bodied, vigorous, young and active fellows," cried
Wilton decisively.
"That's right, sir. Then how many years is it since that poor old
fellow was young, able-bodied, and vigorous, and started off into the
desert with his party? It wasn't yesterday, I'll be bound."
"No!" said Wilton, very slowly and thoughtfully.
"He managed to live a long time out here, sir, eh?" said Griggs,
smiling, "and so can we. We've got a hundred times his chance, for, as
I said before, we know what he didn't."
"What do you mean?" said Ned's father.
"We know that the gold city is somewhere, and we've got his plan to work
upon. Now, doctor," continued the speaker suddenly, "what do you say to
making a start for the mountain to have a look round?"
"The sooner the better," said the doctor, "only let's make a stack of
our stores."
"That's soon done," said Griggs, and all started to place the bales so
that the mules might not investigate matters that were no concern of
theirs.