THE END OF THE CRUISE
"Christ could forgive the unforgivable, but the Colorado in the Canyon
is like the voice of God, inevitable, inexorable."--_Enoch's Diary_.
Jonas stood on a projecting rock peering anxiously down the river.
Enoch, staggering wearily into the firelight, called to him cheerfully:
"Ship ahoy, Jonas!"
"My Gawd, boss!" exclaimed Jonas, running up to take the gunny sack and
the gun. "Don't you never go off like that alone again. How come you
stayed so late?"
"Now the Na-che's gone I suppose I'll have a few attentions again!"
said Enoch. "How are you, Milton?"
He turned toward the stalwart figure that lay on the shadowy rock
beyond the fire.
"Better than I deserve, Judge," replied Milton.
"What luck, Judge?" cried Harden, who had been watching a game of poker
between Agnew and Forrester.
"My Lawdy Lawd!" shouted Jonas, emptying the gunny sack on the rock
which served as table.
There was a chorus of surprise.
"What happened, Judge! Did you eat the rest raw?"
"A goat, by Jove! Where on earth did it come from?"
"What difference does that make? Get it into the pot, Jonas, for the
love of heaven!"
"As a family provider, Judge, you are to be highly recommended."
Enoch squatted against Milton's rock and complacently lighted his pipe,
then told his story.
"There are goats still here, then! I wish we'd see some," said Milton,
when Enoch had finished.
"But what would they live on?" asked Enoch.
"That's easy," replied Milton. "There are hidden canyons and gulches
in this Colorado country that are veritable little paradises, with all
the verdure any one could ask for."
"Wish we could locate one," sighed Forrester.
"That wouldn't help me much," grunted Milton.
"What luck with the Ida?" Enoch turned to Agnew who, next to Jonas,
took the greatest interest in ship repair and building.
"The forward compartment was pretty well smashed, but another hour's
work in the morning will make the old girl as good as ever."
"She'll never be the boat the Na-che was," groaned Jonas mournfully
from his fire. "What are we all going to do now, with just one boat?"
For a moment no one spoke, then Enoch said drily, "Well, Jonas, seeing
that you and I don't really belong to the expedition anyhow and that we
invited ourselves, I think it's up to us to walk."
There was a chorus of protests at this. But Enoch silenced the others
by saying with great earnestness:
"Milton, you know I'm right, don't you?"
Milton, who had been saying nothing, now raised himself on his elbow.
"Two of you fellows will have to walk it; which two we'd better decide
by lot. We're up against a rotten situation. It would be bad, even if
I weren't hurt. But with a cripple on your hands, well--it's awful for
you chaps! Simply awful!"
"With good luck, and no Survey work, how many days are we from the
Ferry?" asked Enoch.
"Between four and five, is what Milton and I calculated this
afternoon," replied Harden.
"What's the nearest help by way of land?"
"There's a ranch, about eighty miles south of here. I guess the
traveling would be about as bad as anybody would hope for. The fellows
that go out have got to be used to desert work, like me." Harden
scratched a match and by its unsteady light scrutinized the detail map
spread open on his knee.
"Isn't Miss Allen working nearer than eighty miles from here?" asked
Agnew.
"She's in the Hopi country, whatever distance that may be," replied
Enoch. "I should suppose it would be rather risky trying to catch some
one who is moving about, as she is."
"I guess maybe she's on her way to the Ferry now." Jonas straightened
up from his stew pot. "Leastways, Na-che kind of promised to kind of
see if maybe they couldn't reach there about the time we did."
The other men laughed. "I guess we won't gamble too heavily on the
women folks," exclaimed Forrester.
"I guess Miss Allen's the kind you don't connect gambling with,"
retorted Agnew.
Enoch cut in hastily. "Then two of us are to go out. What about those
who stay?"
"Well, you have to get my helpless carcass aboard the Ida and we'll
make our way to the Ferry, as rapidly as we can. The food problem is
serious, but we won't starve in four days. We won't attempt any more
hunting expeditions but we may pot something as we go along. It's the
fellows who go out who'll have the worst of it."
Enoch had been eying Milton closely. "Look here, Milton, I believe
you're running a good deal of temperature. Why don't you lie down and
rest both mind and body until supper's ready? After you've eaten,
we'll make the final decisions."
"I don't want any food," replied Milton, dropping back on his blankets,
nevertheless.
"The beans is done but you only get a handful of them in the stew,
to-night," said Jonas, firmly. "I'm cooking all the meat, 'cause it
won't keep, but you only get half of that now."
Agnew groaned. "Well, there doesn't seem much to look forward to.
Let's finish that game of poker, Forr. Take a hand, Judge and Hard?"
"No, thanks," replied Enoch. "I'll just rest my old bones right here."
"I'll help you out, if Forr won't pick on me." Harden glanced at
Milton, but the freckled face gave no sign that Harden's remark had
been heeded.
Enoch quietly took the injured man's pulse. It was rapid and weak.
Enoch shook his head, laid the sturdy hand down and gave his attention
to his pipe and the card game. It was not long before an altercation
between Forrester and Harden began. Several times Agnew interfered but
finally Forrester sprang to his feet with an oath.
"No man on earth can call me that!" shouted Harden, "Take it back and
apologize, you rotter!"
"A rotter, am I?" sneered Forrester. "And what are you? You come of a
family of rotters. I know your sister's history! I know--"
Enoch laid a hand on Agnew's arm. "Don't interfere! Nothing but blood
will wipe that out."
But Milton roared suddenly, "Stop that fight! Stop it! Judge! Agnew!
I'm still head of this expedition!"
Reluctantly the two moved toward the swaying figures. It was not an
easy matter to stop the battle. Forrester and Harden were clinched but
Enoch and Agnew were larger than either of the combatants and at a word
from Enoch, Jonas seized Forrester, with Agnew. After a scuffle,
Harden stood silent and scowling beside Enoch, while Forrester panted
between Agnew and Jonas.
"I'm ashamed of you fellows," shouted Milton. "Ashamed! You know the
chief's due in the morning." He stopped abruptly. "I'm ashamed of
you. You know what I mean. The chief--God, fellows, I'm a sick man!"
He fell back heavily on his blankets.
Enoch and Harden hurried to his side. "Quit your fighting, Judge!
Quit your fighting!" muttered Milton. "Here! I'll make you stop!" He
tried to rise and Jonas rushed to hold the injured leg while Harden and
Enoch pressed the broad shoulders back against the flinty bed. It was
several moments before he ceased to struggle and dropped into a dull
state of coma.
"It doesn't seem as if a broken leg ought to do all that to a man as
husky as Milt!" said Agnew, who had joined them with a proffer of water.
"I'm afraid he was sickening with something before the accident," Enoch
shook his head. "Those dizzy spells were all wrong, you know."
"We'd better get this boy to a doctor as soon as we can," said Agnew.
"Poor old Milton! I swear it's a shame! His whole heart was set on
putting this trip through."
"He'll do it yet," Enoch patted the sick man's arm.
"Yes, but he'll be laid up for months and his whole idea was to put it
through without a break. The Department never condones accidents, you
know."
"I guess I can give you all some supper now," said Jonas. "Better get
it while he's laying quiet."
"Where's Forrester?" asked Enoch as they gathered round the stew pot.
"He mumbled something about going outside to cool down," replied Agnew.
"Better let him alone for a while."
"Too bad you couldn't have kept the peace, under the circumstances,
Harden," said Enoch.
"You heard what he said to me?" demanded Harden fiercely.
"Yes, I did and I heard you deliberately tease him into a fury. Of
course, after what he finally said there was nothing left to do but to
smash him," said Enoch.
"I don't see why," Agnew spoke in his calm way. "I never could
understand why a bloody nose wiped out an insult. A thing that's said
is said. Shooting a man even doesn't unsay a dirty speech. It's not
common sense. Why ruin your own life in the effort to punish a man for
something that's better forgotten?"
"So you would swallow an insult and smile?" sneered Harden.
"Not at all! I wouldn't hear the alleged insult, in most cases. But
if the thing was so raw that the man had to be punished, I'd really
hurt him."
"How?" asked Enoch.
"I'd do him a favor."
"Slush!" grunted Harden.
Agnew shrugged his shoulders and the scanty meal was finished in
silence. When Jonas had collected the pie tins and cups, Enoch said,
"While you're outside with those, Jonas, you'd better persuade
Forrester to come in to supper. Tell him no one will bother him.
Boys, I think we ought to sit up with Milton for a while. I'll take
the first watch, if you'll take the second, Harden."
Harden nodded. "I'll get to bed at once. Call me when you want me."
He rolled himself in his blanket, Agnew following his example. A
moment or so later Jonas could be heard calling,
"Mr. Forrester! Ohee! Mr. Forrester!" The Canyon echoed the call,
but there was no answer, Enoch strolled down to the river's edge where
Jonas was standing with his arms full of dishes. "What's up, Jonas?"
he asked.
"Boss, I think he's lit out!"
"Lit out? Where, Jonas?"
"Well, there's only one way, like you went this afternoon. But his
canteen's gone. And he had his shoes drying by the fire. He must have
sneaked 'em while we was working over Mr. Milton, because they're gone,
and so's his coat that was lying by the Ida, with the rest of the
clothes."
Enoch lifted his great voice. "Forrester! Forrester!"
A thousand echoes replied while Agnew joined them and in a moment,
Harden. Jonas repeated his story.
"No use yelling!" exclaimed Enoch. "Let's build a fire out here."
"Do you suppose he's had an accident?" Enoch's voice was apprehensive.
"No, I don't," replied Agnew, stoutly. "He's told me two or three
times that if he had any real trouble with Hard, he'd get out. What a
fool to start off, this way!"
"You fellows go to bed," Harden spoke abruptly.
"I'll keep a fire going and if Milt needs more than me, I'll call. The
Judge had a heavy afternoon and I was resting. And this row is mine
anyhow."
Enoch, who was dropping with fatigue needed no urging. He rolled
himself in his blanket and instantly was deep in the marvelous slumber
that had blessed him since the voyage began.
It was dawn when he woke. He started to his feet, contritely,
wondering who of the others had sacrificed sleep for him. But Enoch
was the only one awake. Milton was tossing and muttering but his eyes
were closed. Jonas lay with his feet in last night's ashes. Agnew was
curled up at Milton's feet. Harden was not to be seen. Enoch hurried
to the river's edge. A sheet of paper fluttered from the split end of
a stake that had been stuck in a conspicuous spot. It was unaddressed
and Enoch opened it.
"I have gone to find Forrester, and help him out. I took one-third of
the grub and one of the guns and a third of the shells. If we have
good luck, you'll hear of us at the Ferry. I have the detail map of
this section.
"C. L. HARDEN."
Enoch looked from the note up to the golden pink of the sky. Far above
the butte an eagle soared. The dawn wind ruffled his hair. He drew a
deep breath and turned to wake Jonas and Agnew, and show them the note.
"Did you folks go to sleep when I did?" asked Enoch when they had read
the note in silence.
Jonas and Agnew nodded.
"Then he must have left at once. No fire has been built out in front."
"Well, it's solved the problem of who walks," remarked Agnew, drily.
"How come Mr. Harden to think he could find him?" demanded Jonas,
excitedly.
"Well, they both will have had to start where I did, yesterday. And
neither could have gone very far in the dark." Enoch spoke
thoughtfully. "If they don't kill each other!"
"They won't," interrupted Agnew comfortingly. "Neither of them is the
killing kind."
"Then I suggest," said Enoch, "that with all the dispatch possible we
get on our way. You two tackle the Ida and I'll take care of Milton
and the breakfast."
"Aye! Aye, sir!" Agnew turned quickly toward the boat, followed
eagerly by Jonas.
Milton opened his eyes when Enoch bent over him. "Let me give you a
sip of this hot broth, old man," said Enoch. "Come! just to please
me!" as Milton shook his head. "You've got to keep your strength and a
clear head in order to direct the voyage."
Milton sipped at the warm decoction, and in a moment his eyes
brightened.
"Tastes pretty good. Too bad we haven't several gallons of it. Tell
the bunch to draw lots for who goes out."
Enoch shook his head. "That's all settled!" and he gave Milton the
details of the trouble of the night before.
"Well, can you beat that?" demanded Milton. "The two fools! Why,
there were a hundred things I had to tell the pair who went out.
Judge, they'll never make it!"
"They've got as good a fighting chance as we have," insisted Enoch,
stoutly. "Quit worrying about them, Milton. You've got your hands
full keeping the rest of us from being too foolish."
But try as he would, Milton could do little in the way of directing his
depleted crew. His leg and his back pained him excruciatingly, and the
vertigo was with him constantly. Enoch after trying several times to
get coherent commands from the sufferer finally gave up. As soon as
the scanty breakfast of coffee and a tiny portion of boiled beans was
over, Enoch divided the rations into four portions and stowed away all
but that day's share, in the Ida. Then he discussed with Agnew and
Jonas the best method of placing Milton on the boat.
They finally built a rough but strong framework on the forward
compartment against which Milton could recline while seated on the
deck, the broken leg supported within the rower's space. They padded
this crude couch with blankets. This finished, they made a stretcher
of the blanket on which Milton lay, by nailing the sides to two small
cedar trunks which they routed out of the drift wood. When they had
lifted him carefully and had placed him in the Ida, stretcher and all,
he was far more comfortable, he said, than he had been on his rigid bed
of stone.
By eight o'clock, all was ready and they pushed slowly out into the
stream. Agnew took the steering oar, Enoch, his usual place, with
Jonas behind him.
The river was wild and swift here, but, after they had worked carefully
and painfully out of the aftermath of the falls, the current was
unobstructed for several hours. All the morning, Jonas watched eagerly
for traces of the Na-che but up to noon, none appeared. The sky was
cloudy, threatening rain. The walls, now smooth, now broken by
pinnacles and shoulders, were sad and gray in color. Milton sometimes
slept uneasily, but for the most part he lay with lips compressed, eyes
on the gliding cliffs.
About an hour before noon, the familiar warning roar of rapids reached
their ears. Rounding a curve, carefully, they snubbed the Ida to a
rock while Agnew clambered ashore for an observation. Just below them
a black wall appeared to cut at right angles across the river bed. The
river sweeping round the curve which the Ida had just compassed, rushed
like the waters of a mill race against the unexpected obstacle and
waves ten to twenty feet high told of the force of the meeting. Agnew
with great difficulty crawled along the shore until he could look down
on this turmoil of waters. Then, with infinite pains, he returned.
"It's impossible to portage," he reported, "but the waves simply fill
the gorge for two hundred feet."
"Tie me in the boat," said Milton. "The rest of you get out on the
rocks and let the boat down with ropes."
Agnew looked questioningly at Enoch, who shook his head.
"Agnew," he said, "can you and Jonas manage to let the Ida down, with
both Milton and me aboard?"
"No, sir, we can't!" exclaimed Jonas. "That ain't to be thought of!"
"Right you are, Jonas!" agreed Agnew, while Milton nodded in agreement.
"Then," said Enoch, "let's land Milton and the loose dunnage on this
rock, let the boat down, come back and carry Milton round."
"It's the only way," agreed Agnew, "but I think we can take a hundred
feet off the portage, if you fellows are willing to risk rowing down to
a bench of rock below here. You take the steering oar, Judge. I'll
stay ashore and catch a rope from you at the bench."
Cautiously, Jonas backing water and Enoch keeping the Ida almost
scraping the shore, they made their way to the spot where Agnew caught
the rope, throwing the whole weight of his body back against the pull
of the boat, even then being almost dragged from the ledge. Milton was
lifted out as carefully as possible, the loose dunnage was piled beside
him, then the three men, each with a rope attached to the Ida, began
their difficult climb.
There was nothing that could be called a trail. They made their way by
clinging to projecting rocks, or stepping perilously from crack to
crevice, from shelf to hollow. The pull of the helpless Ida was
tremendous, and they snubbed her wherever projecting rocks made this
possible. She danced dizzily from crest to crest of waves. She slid
helplessly into whirlpools, she twisted over and under and fought like
a wild thing against the straining ropes. But at the end of a half
hour, she was moored in safe water, on a spit of sand on which a cotton
wood grew.
"Agnew," said Enoch, "I think we were fools not to have broken a rough
trail before we attempted this. It's obviously impossible to carry
Milton over that wall as it is."
"I thought the three of us might make it, taking turns carrying Milt on
our backs. It wastes a lot of time making trail and time is a worse
enemy to us now than the Colorado."
"That's true," agreed Enoch, "but I'm not willing to risk Milton's
vertigo on our backs."
He took a pick-ax out of the rear compartment of the boat, as he spoke
and began to break trail. The others followed suit. The rock proved
unexpectedly easy to work and in another hour, Enoch announced himself
willing to risk Milton and the stretcher on the rude path they had
hacked out.
Milton did not speak during his passage. His fortitude and endurance
were very touching to Enoch whose admiration for the young leader
increased from hour to hour. Jonas boiled the coffee and heated the
noon portions of beans and goat. It was entirely inadequate for the
appetites of the hard working crew. Enoch wondered if the others felt
as hollow and uncertain-kneed, as he did, but he said nothing nor did
they.
There was considerable drift wood lodged against the spit of sand and
from it, Jonas, with a shout that was half a sob, dragged a broken
board on which appeared in red letters, "-a-che."
"All that's left of the prettiest, spunkiest little boat that ever
fought a dirty river!" he mourned. "I'm going to put this in my
dunnage bag and if we ever do get home, I'll have it framed."
The others smiled in sympathy. "I wonder if Hard has found Forr, yet?"
said Milton, uneasily. "I can't keep them off my mind."
"I wouldn't be surprised if they both had run on Curly and Mack's
outfit by this time," Agnew answered cheerfully. "It's funny we didn't
think of them instead of Diana Allen, last night."
"Not so very funny, either," returned Milton with an attempt at a
smile. "I'll bet most of us have thought of Miss Allen forty times to
once of the men, ever since we met her."
"She's the most beautiful woman I ever saw," said Agnew, dreamily.
"Lawdy!" groaned Jonas, suddenly, "if I only had something to fish
with! When we make camp to-night, I'm a-going to try to rig up some
kind of a line."
"I'm glad the tobacco supply was in the Ida." Enoch rose with a yawn
and knocked the ashes from his pipe. "Well, boys, shall we move?"
Again they embarked. The river behaved in a most friendly manner until
afternoon, when she offered by way of variety a series of sand bars,
across which they were obliged to drag the Ida by main strength. These
continued at intervals for several miles. In the midst of them, the
rain that had been threatening all day began to fall while the wind
that never left the Canyon, rose to drive the icy waters more
vehemently through their sodden clothing. Milton, snugly covered with
blankets, begged them feverishly to go into camp. "I'll have you all
sick, to-night!" he insisted. "You can't take the risk of pneumonia on
starvation rations that you did on plenty of grub."
"I'm willing," said Agnew, finally, as he staggered to his feet after a
ducking under the Ida's side.
"Oh, let's keep going, as long as there's any light to see by," begged
Enoch.
As if to reward his persistence, just as dusk settled fully upon them,
a little canyon opened from the main wall at the right, a small stream,
tumbling eagerly from it into the Colorado. They turned the Ida
quickly into this and managed to push upward on it for several minutes.
Then they put ashore under some dim cottonwoods, where grass was ankle
deep. The mere feeling of vegetation about them was cheering, and the
trees, with a blanket stretched between made a partial shelter from the
rain.
"I'll sure cook grass for you all for breakfast!" said Jonas. "How
come folks not to bile grass for greens, I don't see. Maybe birds
here, too. Whoever's the fancy shot, put the gun close to his hand."
"I've done some fair shooting in my day," said Agnew, "but I never
potted a goat in an eagle's nest. You'd better give the gun to the
Judge." He polished off his pie tin, scraped the last grain of sugar
from his tin cup and lighted a cigarette.
"I'm trying to bear my blushing honors modestly," grinned Enoch,
crowding closer to the great fire. "Milton, I've a bone to pick with
you."
"Where'd you get it?" demanded Agnew.
Enoch smiled but went on. "I accuse you of deliberately starving
yourself for the rest of us. It won't do, sir. I'm going to set your
share aside and by Jove, if you refuse it, I'll throw it in the river!"
Milton rose indignantly on one elbow. "Judge, I forbid you to do
anything of the kind! You fellows have got to have food to work on.
All I need is plenty of water."
"Especially as you think the water is making you sick," returned Enoch
drily. "You can't get away with it, Milton. Am I not right, Agnew and
Jonas?"
"Absolutely!" Agnew exclaimed, while Jonas nodded, vigorously.
"So, beginning to-morrow morning, you're to do your share of eating,"
Enoch concluded, cheerfully.
But in spite of all efforts to keep a stiff upper lip, the night was
wretched. The rain fell in torrents. The only way to keep the fire
alight was by keeping it under the blanket shelter, and Milton was half
smothered with smoke. He insisted on the others going to sleep, but in
spite of their utter weariness, the men would not do this. Hunger made
them restless and the rain crept through their blankets. Enoch finally
gave up the attempt to sleep. He crouched by Milton, feeding the fire
and trying as best he could to ease the patient's misery of mind and
body.
It was long after midnight when Milton said, "Judge, I've been thinking
it over and I've come to a conclusion. I want you folks to go on for
help and leave me here."
"I don't like to hear you talk suicide, Milton." Enoch shook his head.
"As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't consider such a suggestion for a
minute."
"But don't you see," insisted Milton, "I'm imperilling all your lives.
Without me, you could have made twice the distance you did to-day."
"That's probably true," agreed Enoch. "What of it? Would you leave me
in your fix, thinking you might bring help back?"
"That's different! You're a tenderfoot and I'm not. Moreover, greater
care on my part would probably have prevented this whole series of
accidents."
"Now you are talking nonsense!" Enoch threw another log on the fire.
"Your illness is undermining your common sense, Milton. We've got a
tough few days ahead of us but we'll tackle it together. If we fail we
fail together. But I can see no reason why if we run as few risks as
we did to-day, we should get into serious trouble. We're going to lose
strength for lack of food, so we've got to move more and more slowly
and carefully, and we'll be feeling weak and done up when we reach the
Ferry. But I anticipate nothing worse than that."
Milton sighed and was silent, for a time. Then he said, "I could have
managed Forr and Harden better, if I'd been willing to believe they
were the pair of kids they proved to be. As it is--"
"As it is," interrupted Enoch, firmly, "both chaps are learning a
lesson that will probably cure them for all time of their foolishness."
Milton looked long at Enoch's tired face; then he lifted himself on one
elbow.
"All right, Judge, I'm through belly-aching! We'll put it through
somehow and if I have decent luck, early Spring will see me right here,
beginning where I left off. After all, Powell had to take two trials
at it."
"That's more like you, Milton! Is that dawn breaking yonder?"
"Yes," replied Milton. "Keep your ear and eye out for any sort of
critters in this little spot, Judge."
But, though Enoch, and the others, when he had roused them, beat the
tiny blind alley thoroughly, not so much as a cottontail reward their
efforts.
"Curious!" grumbled Enoch, "up at Mack's camp where we really needed
nothing, I found all the game in the world. The perversity of nature
is incomprehensible. Even the fish have left this part of the river,"
as Jonas with a sigh of discouragement tossed his improvised fishing
tackle into the fire.
Agnew pulled his belt a notch tighter. His brown face was beginning to
look sagged and lined. "Well," cheerfully, "there are some advantages
in being fat. I've still several days to go before I reach your's and
Jonas' state of slats, Judge."
"Don't get sot up about it, Ag," returned Enoch. "You look a good deal
like a collapsed balloon, you know! Shall we launch the good ship Ida,
fellows?"
"She ain't anything to what the Na-che was," sighed Jonas, "but she's
pretty good at that. If I ain't too tired, to-night, I may clean her
up a little."
Even Milton joined in the laughter at this and the day's journey was
begun with great good humor.
It was the easiest day's course that had been experienced since Enoch
had joined the expedition. There were three rapids during the day but
they rode these with no difficulties. Enoch and Jonas rowed fairly
steadily in the morning, but in the afternoon, they spelled each other.
The light rations were making themselves felt. The going was so smooth
that dusk was upon them before they made camp. Milton had been
wretchedly sick, all day, but he made no complaint and forced down the
handful of boiled beans and the tin cup of pale coffee that was his
share of each meal.
They made camp languidly. Enoch found the task of piling fire wood
arduous and as the camp was in dry sand and the blankets had dried out
during the day, they did not attempt the usual great blaze. Jonas
insisted on acting as night nurse for Milton, and Enoch was asleep
before he had more then swallowed his supper. He had bad dreams and
woke with a dull headache, and wondered if Jonas and Agnew felt as weak
and light-headed as he did. But although both the men moved about
slowly and Jonas made no attempt to clean up the Ida, they uttered no
complaints. Milton was feeling a little better. Before the day's
journey was begun, he and Agnew plotted their position on the map.
"Well, does to-morrow see us at the Ferry?" asked Enoch, cheerfully,
when Agnew put up his pencil with an abstracted air.
"No, Judge," sighed Milton, "that rotten first day after the wreck,
cost us a good many miles. I thought we'd make up for it, yesterday.
But we're a full day behind."
"That is," exclaimed Enoch, "we must take that grub pile and redivide
it, stretching it over three days instead of two!"
"Yes," replied Milton, grimly.
"Jove, Agnew, you're going to be positively fairy like, before we're
through with this," said Enoch. "Jonas, get out the grub supply, will
you?"
Jonas, standing on a rock that projected over the water, did not
respond. He was watching eagerly as his new fishline of ravelled rope
pulled taut in the stream. Suddenly he gave a roar and jerked the line
so violently that the fish landed on Milton's blanket.
"Must weigh two pounds!" cried Agnew.
"You start her broiling, Mr. Agnew!" shouted Jonas, "while I keep on
a-fishing."
"What changed your luck, Jonas?" asked Enoch. "You're using beans and
bent wire, just as you did yesterday."
"Aha! not just as I did yesterday, boss! This time I tied Na-che's
charm just above the hook. No fish could stand that, once they got an
eye on it."
But evidently no second fish cast an eye on the irresistible charm, and
Enoch was unwilling to wait for further luck longer than was necessary
to cook the fish and eat it. But during the day Jonas trolled whenever
the water made trolling possible, hopefully spitting on the hook each
time he cast it over, casting always from the right hand and muttering
Fish! Fish! Fish! three times for each venture. Yet no other fish
responded to Na-che's charm that day.
But the river treated them kindly. If their strength had been equal to
hard and steady rowing they might have made up for the lost miles. As
it was they knocked off at night with just the number of miles for the
day that Milton had planned on in the beginning, and were still a day
behind their schedule. Milton grew no worse, though he was weaker and
obviously a very sick man. A light snow fell during the night but the
next morning was clear and invigorating.
They encountered two difficult rapids on the fourth day. The first one
they portaged. The trail was not difficult but in their weakened
condition the boat and poor Milton were heavy burdens and it took them
three times as long to accomplish the portage as it would have taken
had they been in normal condition. The second rapids, they shot easily
in the afternoon. The waves were high and every one was saturated with
the icy water. Enoch dared not risk Milton's remaining wet and as soon
as they found a likely place for the camp they went ashore. The huge
pile of drift wood had helped them to decide on this rather
unhospitable ledge for what they hoped would be their last night out.
They kindled a big fire and sat about it, steaming and silent, but with
the feeling that the worst was behind them.
They rose in a cold driving rain the next morning, ate the last of the
beans, drank the last of the coffee, covered Milton as well as could be
with blankets and launched the boat. It was a day of unspeakable
misery. They made one portage, and one let down, and dragged the boat
with almost impossible labor over a long series of shallows. By
mid-afternoon they had made up their minds to another night of
wretchedness and Agnew was beginning to watch for a camping place, when
suddenly he exclaimed,
"Fellows, there's the Ferry!"
"How do you know?" demanded Enoch.
"I've been here before, Judge. Yes, by Jove, there's old Grant's
cabin. I wonder if any one's reached here yet!"
"Well, Milton, old man, here's thanks and congratulations," cried Enoch.
"You'd better thank the Almighty," returned Milton. "I certainly had
very little to do with our getting here."
The rain had prevented Agnew's recognizing their haven until they were
fairly upon it. Even now all that Enoch could see was a wide lateral
canyon with a rough unpainted shack above the waterline. A group of
cottonwoods loomed dimly through the mist beside a fence that
surrounded the house.
Jonas, who had seemed overcome with joy at Agnew's announcement,
recovered his power of speech by the time the boat was headed shoreward
and he raised a shout that echoed from wall to wall.
"Na-che! Ohee, Na-che! Here we are, Na-che!"
Agnew opened his lips to comment, but before he uttered the first
syllable there rose a shrill, clear call from the mists.
"Jonas! Ohee, Jonas!"
Enoch's pulse leaped. With sudden strength, he bent to his oars, and
the Ida slid softly upon the sandy shore. As she did so, two figures
came running through the rain.
"Diana!" cried Enoch, making no attempt for a moment to step from the
boat.
"Oh, what has happened!" exclaimed Diana, putting a hand under Milton's
head as he struggled to raise it.
"Just a broken leg, Miss Allen," he said, his parched lips parting in a
smile. "Have Forr and Hard turned up?"
"No! And Curly and Mack aren't here, either! O you poor things!
Here, let me help! Na-che, take hold of this stretcher, there, on the
other side with the Judge and Jonas. Finished short of grub, didn't
you! Let's bring Mr. Milton right up to the cabin."
The cabin consisted of but one room with an adobe fireplace at one end
and bunks on two sides. There was a warm glow of fire and the smell of
meat cooking. They laid Milton tenderly on a bunk and as they did so
Jonas gave a great sob:
"Welcome home, I say, boss, welcome home!"