The Rainbow Trail

ed horses on soft turf. It was clear daylight, with a ruddy color in the sky and a tinge of r

camp. It was astonishing how much action they had, how much ground they could cover with their forefeet hobbled together. They were exceedingly skilful

e jumped back just in time to avoid her vicious heels. Then Shefford turned his attention to Nack-yal and chased him all o

thers, warningly, as Shefford came up. "You might be k

e showed his cunning and always appeared to present his heels to Withers, who tried to approach him with a pack-saddle. The patience of the trader was a revelation to Shefford. And at length Red was cornered b

nd foot she dragged them both. They lashed her with the ends of the lassoes, which action only made her kick harder. She plunged into camp, drove Shefford flying for his life, knocked down two of the burros, and played havoc with the unstrapped packs. Withers ran to the assistance of Lake, and the two of them hauled back with all their strength and weight. They were both powerful and heavy men. Dynamite circled round and finally,

sweating freely when

ning's task with the pack

, except Dynamite," replied Withe

gerous work accomplished than half a dozen men of his type could do in a whole day. He liked the outlook of his new duty as Withers's assistant, but he

ing off to the left, precisely as he had done the day before. It got to be annoying to Shefford, and he los

Joe Lake dropped back to ride beside Sheffo

raw," he said, pointing

ll, brown, long-eared objects, very li

r?" he asked,

y. "Get down and shoot one. There

animals certainly looked like deer; he had seen a few deer, though not in their native wild haunts; and he experien

ithers. "That's a bunch of burros.... Joe's up

e rifle, and then took a long look at the animals up the draw. The

appeared absolutely sincere and innocent. Shefford hardly knew how to ta

. Shefford could not see any trail, and the wall appeared steep and insurmountable. But upon nearing the c

d careful now!"

d to face the ascent; Nack-yal balked at every difficult step; and Dynamite slipped on a flat slant of rock and slid down forty feet. Withers and Lake with ropes hauled the mare out of the dangerous position. Shefford, who brought up the rear, saw all the action, and it was exciting, but his pleasure in the climb was spoiled by sight

places. The air was cool and crisp, laden with a sweet fragrance. He saw Lake and Withers bobbing along, now on one side of the trail, now

winding trail. Mocking-birds made melody everywhere. Shefford seemed full of a strange pleasure, and the hours flew by. Nack-yal st

e. There was plenty of grass and shade, but no water. Shefford was surprised to se

looking up the draw, he saw two streams of sheep and goats coming down. Soon an Indian shepherd appeared, riding a fine mustang. A cream-colored colt bounded along behind, and presently a shaggy dog came in sight. The Indian dismounted at the camp, and his flock spread by in two white and black st

yal hung around, tossed his head, whinnied in a low, nervous manner, and looked strangely eager and wild. Shefford was at first amused, then curious. Nack-yal approached too close to t

wn tongue. Then Withers addressed the visiting Indian, and the

hat's why he always swung left off the trail. He wanted to go home. Just now he recognized his mother and she whaled away

Shefford felt sorry for Nack-yal, and when it came time to saddle him again found h

anced. A rolling, endless plain sloped down beneath him, and led him on to a distant round-topped mountain. To the right a

up then, leadin

ointing to the mountain. "Navajo Mountai

ed out on the other side. Shefford got a glimpse now and then of the black dome of the mountain, but for the most part the distant points of the country were hidden. They crossed many

had some conversation with Nas Ta Bega, whereupon the Indian

trailing us. My eyes are bad and I can't see far. The Indian will find out.

nd Withers and rode down the rough trail, helping the mustang all in his power. It occurred to him that Nack-yal had been entirely different since that meeting with his

in his saddle and let

he most wonderful country in the world! Even the Indians haven't explored it. It's haunted, for them, and they have strange gods. The Navajos will hunt on this side of the mountain, but not on the other. That north side is consecrated ground.

d about-the one overarching the entran

man. You stick to that Indian. ... Well, we start down here into this canyon, and we go down som

. . .

drivers arrived at the hidden Mormon village. Nas Ta Be

n and cedar trees surrounded the little log and stone houses, and along the walls of the canyon stood sharp-pointed, dark-green spruce-trees. These walls were singular of shape and color. They were not imposing in height, but they waved like the long, undulating swell of a sea. Every foot of surface was perfectly smooth, and the long c

who, looking up to see the intruders, scattered like frightened quail. Long gray grass covered the ground, and here and there wide,

f amber moss with purple blossoms made a beautiful camp site. Here the mustangs were unsaddled and turned loose without hobbles. It was c

face. "I'll never want to leave. It suits me to

ies were absorbed in watching and feeling, and he lay there long after Joe went off to the village. The murmur of water, the hum of bees, the songs of strange birds, the sweet, warm air, the dre

aid Shefford. "Was ther

vajo n

and with forceful br

, sinister face of his visitor that night in t

I'm scared to death," replied Lake. "He and his

concern and doubt. Joe's words

you shoot a rifl

fair shot

tlaws are all poor shots with a rifle. So 'm I. But I can handle

lly respectful. Withers introduced these Mormons merely as Smith and Henninger. They were very cordial and pleasant in their greetings to Shefford. Presently another, somewhat younger, man joined the group, a stalwart, jovial fellow with ruddy face. There was certainly no mistaking his kindly welcome

ll received. I'll tell the same thing over at Stonebridge. You'll get in right. Of course I don't expect they'll make a Mormon of you. But they'll try to. Meanwhile you can be square and friendly all the

d," replied Shefford, "and excite

loaf. I always get sentimental over here. Maybe it's the women. Some of them are pretty, and one of them-Shefford, they call her the Sago Lily. Her first name is Mary, I'm told. Don't know her last name. She's lovely. And I'll bet you forget Fay Larkin in a flash. Only-be careful. You drop in here with rather peculiar credentials, so

n the village?"

You me

s?" asked Sheff

each that I know of. Joe Lake is t

cowboys, outlaws-ever

estly. "But it can't be kept secret. I've said that time after time over in S

n outsiders do lear

ome of the cowboys I knew in Durango would ride over here there'd simply be hell. But that's a long way, and probably this village will be deserted before news of it ever reaches Colorado. There

under the cedars. The lights and shades in the Sagi that first night had moved him to enthusiastic watchfulness, but here they were so weird and beautiful that he was enraptured. He actually s

irl in lighter garb. It was almost white. She was shapely and walked with free, graceful step, reminding him of the Indian girl, Glen Naspa. This one wore a hood shaped like a huge sunbonnet and it concealed her face. She carried a bucket. When she reached the spring and went down the few stone steps Shefford saw that she did not have on shoes. As she bra

" he said, lifting the buck

a voice like it. She moved down the path and he walked beside her. He felt embarrassed, yet more curious than ever

lly carry this heavy bucket?

g and evening," she rep

her back. In the twilight it gleamed dull gold. She came up to his shoulder. The sleeve nearest him was rolled up to her elbow, revealing a fine round arm. Her hand, like her foot, was

t by and children peered shyly from the doors. He kept trying to think of something to say

itously. "Let me carry the bucke

replied. "It was a hard ride for me. Bu

ford smelled fragrant wood-smoke and saw a column curling from the low, flat, stone chimney. Then he set the bucket down on the porc

see. An

on he answered to ungovernable impulse and took a step closer to her. Dark, grave, sad eyes looked down at him, and he felt as if he could never draw his own glance away.

hers told me about a girl he called-he said looked like a sago-lily. That

s. She stood a moment, probably watching him, b

t," she said. "Bu

hat?" h

he said, simpl

y. She took up the bucket and went into the dark hou