Tales of lonely trails

gorge in which mountains, tablelands, chasms and cliffs lie half veiled in purple haze. It is wild and sublime,

of any size in all the canyon country. Cut off from the mainland it appeared insurmountable; standing aloof from the towers and escarpments, rugged and bold in outline, it

mon, a massively built grey-bearded son of the desert; he had lived his life on it; he had conquered it and in his falcon eyes shone all its fire and freedom. Ranger Jim Owens had the wiry, supple body a

he best trailer of the desert Navajos. Jones hated an Indian; and Jim, who carried an ounce of lead somewhere in his person, associated this painful addition to his weight with an unfrien

, and above a hollow where a heavy bank of snow still la

horses!" y

mp. In a moment I saw a string of wild horses thundering by. A noble black stallion led them, and as he

had not come out to kill, he looked dumbfounded. Even the Indian felt it a strange departure from the usual mode of hunting to travel and climb

d the all-satisfying touch to the background of forest, flowers and mighty pines and sunlit patches of grass, the whit

What a wonderful place! We were completely bewildered with its physical properties, and surprised at the abundance of wild horses and mustangs, deer, coyotes, foxes, grous

t's get our he

, bisected the plateau, headed near camp, and ran parallel with two smaller ones, which we named Right and Left Canyons. These three were lion runways and hundreds of deer carcasses lined the thickets. North Hollow was the only depression, as well as runway, on the northwest rim. West Point for

for long. We know where lions can go over the rim and we'll head them off, make short cut chases, something new in lion hunting. We are positive the lions can not get over the second wall, except where we came up, at the Saddle. In regard to l

lifted his broad hat and ran his fingers through his white hair. In Emett's clear desert-ea

n't kill the h

tiful horses. What wild rides he saw in his mind's eye! In cold calculation we perceived the wonderful possibil

e camp-fire. Twilight fell with the dark shadows sweeping un

d," said Jim, lighting his pipe with

rd for his pack. Moze ground his teeth on a bone and growled at one of the pups. Sounder was sleepy, but

," said Jones, "a

om the camp-fire played between the flaps of the tent. I saw old Moze get up and stretch himself.

right," Jones r

or breakfast,

roke as we saddled our horses. The pups were limber, and ran to and fro o

me chase cougi

replied t

ep camp," s

he'll eat us out

e I got everything-rope, chains, collars, wire, nippe

had been at the start of the hunt the year before. Then they had been eager, uncertain, v

was no frost. Crossing Middle Canyon about half way down we jogged on. Cedar trees began to show bright green against the soft gray s

Don," h

king, and the hair on his back bristling. All

ve never known him to do that unless th

Don, old boy,

a hollow when Don barked eagerly. Sounder answered and likewise Jude.

thest ahead. I'll bet he's struck it. W

g harder and harder, calling and answering one a

pass into the cedars like a yellow dart. Sounder howled his deep,

yelled Jim, a

s kept me going in one direction. The fiery burst of the hounds had surprised me. I remembered that J

hat by keeping in this trail part of the work of breaking through the brush was already done for him. Nevertheless, the sharp dead branches, more numerous in a cedar forest than elsewhe

nothing save the wind singing in my ears. Emett's trail, plain in the yellow ground showed me the way. On entering the cedars again I pulled Foxie in and stopped twice to yell "waa-hoo!" I heard the baying of

red, and with the exchange of signal cries found my

m. "Emett must be wit

our ears we could hear no other sound. Dismount

n," I crie

y?" both

es

. "The hound wouldn't

wouldn't," replied Jim. "But his r

" I said. "There! Now list

ong ears. It was hard to sit still and wait. At a quick

the others in short order. Don had long disappeared, but with blended bays, Jude, Moze, and

n frightened me. I saw the green of a low cedar tree shake, and split, to let out a huge, gaunt horse with a big man

led, and the dark shadows of

oze and Sounder were with him, apparently at fault. Suddenly Moze left the little glade and ven

wrong?" growled Jones

is," said Jim,

n track," int

here's another crossing it at right angles. Both are fresh: one isn't fifteen minutes old. Don

trail," said Jim, va

earshot of Sounder. We crossed a canyon, and presently reached another which, from its depth, must have been Middle Canyon. Sounder did not climb the opposite s

nyon widened and was not so deep, with cliffs and cedars opposite us, and an easy slope leading down. Sounder

up somewhere," crie

I saw him slide down a steep place, make for the bottom of the stone wall, and jump into the low branches of a cedar I knew where to loo

Treed!" I yelled. "

houted Jones, in sharp voice. "Make

nt I could not get off my horse; I was chained to my saddle by a

d?" called Jon

may have been shame or anger that dominated me then; whatever it was I made

"He might jump. It's a Tom, a t

ped or not. I knew I had to be cured of my

limbed a third of the

elled as he threw stones and sticks at the hound. Moze, ho

Watch close boys and tell m

few branches of the tree, T

mp. Shore he's co

cend. It was a ticklish moment for all of us

ry him out. Grab sticks and run at the tree

African lion. Tom hesitated, showed his white fangs, returned to his first perch, and fr

out," said Jim han

ifficult to dislodge him. At length he fell heavily, and

st to the rope with which S

re," called Jones. "You try t

erfectly in between the branches and circled Tom's head. Before it coul

farther up,

ck," ye

is lasso on the point of his pole. Tom, with a hiss and snap, struck at it savagely. The second trial tempted the lion to

" he y

action, pulling the lion out with a crash, and giving the cedar su

p out of a cloud of dust, as angry as a wet hornet, and made

ut!" he

cked by the short length of the rope in Emett's hands. Then for a moment, a thick cloud of dust envelop

ther lasso. "I didn't mean for you to pull him out

he mouth. As Jones approached, the lion began a series of evolutions so rapid as to be almost indi

im and loosed the la

e's breathing yet. Here, help me tie his

While in this helpless position and with no strength and hardly any breath left in him the lion was easy to handle. With Emett's h

him over a limb and hang him there while some one below ropes his hind paws. That's the only way, and if we don't stick to it, somebod

s, Sounder lost his interest. Moze growled, yet readily left the

es, digging spurs into

The forest was almost impenetrable. We had to pick our way. Emett forged ahead; we he

, and the other hounds with noses skyward; and last, in the dead

lling; and Emett, silent man of the desert, let from hi

under the collars of all of the hounds. Quick as the idea flashed over me I leaped into the cedar adjoining the one Jones was in, and went up hand over hand. A few

burly shoulders. The quivering muscles of the lion gathered tense, and his lithe body crouched low on the branches. He was about to jump. His open dripping jaws, his wild eyes, r

climbed on with his rope between his teeth, and a long stick. The very next instant it seemed to m

end of the lasso down to Jim, Jones yelled again, and then they both pulled. The lion was too strong. Suddenly, however, the branch broke, letting the lion fall, kicking frantically with all four paws. Emett grasped one of the four whipping paws, and even as the powerful animal sent him stagger

all over the little space under the trees at once. The dust flew, the sticks snapped, the gravel pattered like shot against the cedars. Jones ploughed the ground flat on his stomach, holdi

that moment was in which the lasso slackened, it sufficed for Jones to make the rope fast to a tree. Whereupon with the three men pulling on the other si

ed the beast from tree to tree, and Jones runnin

ides swelling; "a good-sized female. She's nearly eight feet

ness could not move. Jones strapped a collar aro

zle her," h

n jaws, and when she crushed it to splinters he tried another, and yet another, until he found one that she could not break.

he were now beneath his dignity; Jude began to nurse and lick her sore paw; only Moze the incorrigible retained antipathy for the captive, and he growled, as always, lo

I

o had gone after the pack horses, hove in sight on the sage flat, it was pl

ho lost his temper when matters concerning his hors

stallion, and Emett succeed

e the others without him. When I told that redskin that we had

p the Navajo," sai

. The two lions lay just within its shady precincts. Emett and I, using a long pole in l

t a packsaddle a

buckled the packsaddle straps before he left the vicinity. In about three jumps he had separated himself from the panniers, which were then placed upon the back of another horse.

. "I was afraid of it; never had b

all," replied Emett dubiously

Jones asserted;

ble life, according to Emett, the sorrel broke

lion. He doesn't look afraid," said Jo

ones as if he ha

stallion. I like

ad not taken him, when a colt, from his wild desert brothers. He scented the lions, and he

d let him see the lions. We

ng we expected. He stood stiff-legged

he'll pack them

cruel enough to be lassoed and disgrace enough to be "hog-tied," as Jim called it, but to be thrust down into a bag and packed on a horse was adding insult to injury. Tom frothed at the mouth and seemed like

m," said Emett, resignedly, as Jones

y. "He's helping us out; he's p

reason. As to that, many incidents coming under my observation while with him, and se

ped out the lioness. Jones fastened her chain to a small pine tree, and as she lay powerless he pulled out the stick back of her canines. This allowed the wire muzzle to fall off. She signalled this freedom with a roar that showed her health to be still unimpaired. The last action in releasing her from

cal properties as wonderful as their expression. Great half globes of tawny amber, streaked with delicate wavy lines of black, surrounding pupils of intense purple fire. Pictures shone and faded in the amber light-the shaggy tipped plateau, the dark pines and smoky canyons,

he had the lioness, chaining him to an adjoi

al. And it seemed no wonder to me that the Navvy should hang back from this sacrilegious treatment of his god. A natural wisdom, which I had in common with all human be

leamed at the lions. Terror predominated among the expressions of his countenance. Emett drew him within fifteen feet and held

in mind, for he edged up closer; but what it was never transpired

ago (f

fore the Indian had fairly gotten astride, Marc dropped his head, humped his shoulders, brought his feet together and began to buck. Now the Navajo was a famous breaker of wild mustangs, but Marc was a tougher proposition than the wildest mustang that

the Indian had bounced he now began to shoot into the air. He rose the last time with his heels over his head, to the full extent of his arms; and on plunging down his hold broke. He spun arou

ueno

n, patted the glossy neck and then nimbly remounted. Marc, not being so difficult to please as Jim in the way of discomfiting the

Jim feed the hounds. To feed ordinary dogs is a matter of throwing them a bone; however, our dogs were not ordinary. It took time to feed them, and a prodigious amount

er asserted his rights and preferred large portions at a time. Jude begged with great solemn eyes but was no slouch at eating for all her gentleness. Ranger, because of imperfectly developed teeth rendering mastication difficult, had to have his share cut into very small

ding the lions

nes, "but won't eat for days; then w

out into the immense void, always drew me irresistibly. We found the view from this rock one of startling splendor. The corrugated rim-wall of the middle wing extended to the west, at this moment apparently running into the setting sun.

d and began to slide. Just as it toppled over I glanced at the second hand of my watch. Then with eyes over the rim we waited. The silence was the silence of the canyon, dead and vas

oll louder, then slowly, like mountains on wheels, rumbled under the rim-walls, passing on and on, to roar back in echo from the cliffs of the me

d deep hole," c

red glow pass away from the buttes and peaks, the color deepening d

alls, which seemed better to go around. The hollow, however, was quite long and we decided presen

," he w

stirred the pine needles; and the weird, gray d

ght, hard hoofs on the s

d my companion

st right under that broken wall of rock; ri

the color of the rocks,

hey sce

y heard us break a twig. They've stopped, bu

ash, but sudden, as of the impact of soft, heavy bodies, a strange wild sound prec

ed Jones. "Right under our

ard the bottom the thicket barred our progress so that we had to smash through and I came out a little ahead of Jones. And far

my companion. "How's this for q

. I plainly heard the wheeze of blood in its throat, and the sound, like a death-rattle, affected me

pealed down

ring the signal. "If you have anot

le the doe gasped and quivered. The peculiar sound, probably made by the intake of air

atural selection, the variability of animals under different conditions of struggling existence, the law whereby one animal s

us through the g

?" he aske

ved so assuredly and loomed up so big in the dusk that I experienced a sudden

ied Jones, "but this is the first time I eve

he long ears of the deer, I n

e been an all-fired strong lion. He'll come back, you may be sure of

quantity of fresh venison. Upon being acquainted with our adventure,

a lion somewheres, because Don wouldn't lie

he death, but the lingering and terrible manner of it, and especially how vividly it connoted the wild-life drama of the plateau. The tragedy we had all but interrupted occurred every night, perhaps often in

nged cats, boys, o

Hey, Navvy, coco!

side his cigarette, kicked up

e said to me. "Coco,

d, "Me s

ie?" he

," I r

north wind best-from under the warm blankets-because of the roar and lull and lull and roar in the pines. Crawling into the bed presently, I lay there and listened to the rising storm-wind for a long time. Sometimes it swell

inging, and when I peeped languidly from under the flap of my sleeping bag, I felt a

ifully white. A fine dazzling snow was falling. I walked to the roaring camp-fire. Jim's biscuits, well-browned and of generous size, had just been dumped into the middle of our breakfast cloth, a tarpaulin spr

d his s

solemn ritual to the break of day. Emett says it is a custom of the desert tribe. You remember how we saw the Mokis sitting

ght, and mentally observed that I would wa

ow is what we want, but now we can't fi

ine, the branches of which he was using to make shelter for the lions. While I looked on Tom tore his to pieces several times, but the lioness crawl

table place. And if something, no matter what, got out of order or broken, there was Emett to show what it was to be a man of the desert. It had been my good fortune to see many able men on the trail and round the camp-fire, but not

egun with all of us to assimilate

of food that I happened to have on my own plate. When I had finished and had no desire to eat more, he gave up his faculty of imitation and asked for anything he could get. The Navajo had a marvelous appetite. He liked sweet things, sugar best of all. It was a fa

or today?" q

ds," replied Jones. "I did intend to go after the lion tha

top snowin' so

er; the leaden clouds, rolling close to the tree-tops, grew

not long after his departure he sent out a p

instantly. "An Indian never

though we soon heard the jangle of bells, which told us he had the horses comin

he said leaping off th

e saw a cougar or a tr

ed the Indian. "B

put in Emett. "I guess

"Jim, keep the hounds tight an

toward the rim, and a quarter of a mile from camp we cross

een made by a giant lion we had named Sultan. They were huge, round, a

d been about, but to Emett and me it was mystifying. Two hundred yards from camp we came to a fallen pine, the body of which was easily six feet h

er came right into camp; he scented our lio

m. Words were superfluous. We knew what was coming. A made-to-order lion

n of words that had come to thrill me. "Jim, Old

sheds and yawned, looking at us knowingly. Emett spoke a word to the Navajo, and then we were trotting down through the forest. The sun had br

the pack as usual and kept to a leisurely dog-trot. When within twenty yards of the fallen log, he

ished. His savage hunting instinct awakened through some channel to raise the short yellow hair on his neck and shoulders and make it stand stiff. He stood undecided with warily shifting nose, then jumped forward with a yelp. Another jump brought another sharp cry from him. Sounder, c

wild bursts of speed, needing no spur, kept their noses even with his flanks. The soft snow, not to

to pass the pines. The mist from the melting snow moistened our faces, and the rushing air cooled them with fresh, soft sensation

indfall, or a thicket where he had dragged a deer, because the race was too splendid a thing to cut short. Through my mind whirled with inconceivable rapidity the great lion cha

ed across the sunlit patches. The black pup was neck and neck with Ranger. Sounder

and their intervening ridges. We lost ground. The pack left us behind. The slope of the plateau became decided. We rode out of the pines to find the snow failing in the open. Wat

one with the snow. I reckon we'll do as well to wait until to-morrow. He's down in th

ses were but features of the lion hunt. The warm sun had been hours on the lower end of the plateau, where the sno

at by the time we reached camp

ed me. I heard Jim calling Jones. Thinking it was time to eat I went out. The snow had all disappeared and the for

et out,"

sleep? I'm not hungry,

saddle up," c

s tent, with rumpled

ree, feedin' for all he was worth. Pie jumped out an' ran up the hollow an' over

e big fell

fine color, sort of reddish. I never s

ere a little while ago.

ones holding up his f

unted and, close together, with the hounds in

hollow, the better to chance meeting with E

after him and in less than ten seconds were racing up the hollow, their thrilling, blending bays a welcome spur to action. Though I spoke not a word to my mustang nor had time to raise the bridle, he wheeled to one side and began to

us behind and disappeared so quickly as almost to frighten me. My mustang plunged out of the forest to the rim and dashed along, apparently unmindful of the chasm. The red and yello

promontories running out and slopes of weathered stone reaching up between to a level with the r

imed it a female of exceeding beauty. I could have touched her with a fishing rod and saw how easily she could be roped from where I stood. The tree in which she had taken refuge grew from the head of a weathered slope

yelled Jones, in my r

e, then something bright shone for a second to the right along the wall. I ran with all my might

The slope inclined at a steep angle and was one long slide of bits of yellow stone with many bunches of scrub oak and manzanita. Those latter I saw with satisfaction, because in case I had to go down they would stop the little avalanches. The slope reached down perhap

wl of the pack when it sighted game. With that I saw the lione

boy!" I yelled, w

the stones told m

Hi!" ro

away from Don as if he had been tied and reached the thicket below a hundred yards ahead of him. And when Don leaving his brave

Head her off! Turn he

A puff of yellow dust rose in front of the lioness. I was in line, but too far ahead. I fired again. The steel jacketed bullet hit a stone and spitefully whined aw

very chase, we were afraid the great hound would run to meet his death. We knew it was coming somet

cried Jones. "She'll kil

ful how closely the two bullets followed each other, as we could tell by the almost simultaneous puffs of dust rising from under the beast's nose. She must have been show

had awaited him, the other hounds burst from the thicket. With that, a gold

houted Jones. "Go down and ke

l I jumped to the edge of the slope. The scrub oak and manzanita saved me many a fall. I set some stones rolling and I beat them to the bottom. Having passed the t

out into a little open patch of stony ground at the end of which the tree s

hen suddenly awoke to the fact that th

! Get down!

predicament. Moze would surely get to the lioness if I did not stop him, and this seemed impossible. It was out of the question for me to climb after him. And

nd reaching below gave Moze a sounding smack with her big paw. The hound dropped as i

o a small bush nearby. I heard the yells of my companions and looking back over the tops of the cedars I saw Jim riding down and higher to th

d her teeth. I repaid this incivility on her part b

ipping with sweat. I found to my surprise that my face was wet as was also my sh

anted, wiping his face. "W

ance of the chief actor upon the scene. Jones cast his lasso apparently to try her out, and the noos

dogs!" ye

Jim. "She's g

under, Jude and one of the pups. I made them fast to a cedar. I got my hand

the breaking of branches, the howling of the other dogs. Ranger broke away from me and so enabled me to get my other hand on the neck of crazy Moze. On more t

ld of the lioness. The hound presently stopped his plunging which gave me an opportunity to look about. The little space was smoky with a smoke of dust. I saw the lioness stretched out with one lasso

took advantage of this absence

walked up. Sand and dust lay thick in his beard an

choked, or Jones had unusual luck, for we muz

d suddenly, missing him

e tackled the lion, and I gave him

rance then under the c

elieve you pitched him over

d slipped over a twenty-foot wall. If he had gone over just under the

d just a little water from my canteen into the crown of my hat, t

or fully realized the exigency of the situation, for each o

," said Jim appearing with a lon

to try the direction Jim and I thought best. My companions led the way, carrying the lioness su

. Jim laughed, Jones swore, and I groaned. Sometimes I had to drop my th

' like that for?"

turned quickly. Little tremors quiver

out the stick between her teeth

s pointed to her quivering sides and then raised her ey

gone,"

more stunned and heartbroken if it had been the tragic death of one of our kind. In that wild environment, obsessed by t

Jim. "And wasn't she a

nes. "She choked. What idiots we were! W

th had stilled the wild heart. We gave up presently, still did not move on. We were exhausted, and all the while the hounds lay panting

night," said Jim. "Let's skin

eemed a good opportunity to see how much the old gladiator could eat; and Jim and I cut chunks of meat as fast as possible. Moze gulped them with absolute unconcern of such a thing as mastication

ascent of sliding stone absorbed all our faculties and strength. Little headway could we have made had it not

the western ramparts. A red sunset bathed the canyon in crimson, painting the walls, tinting the shadows to resemble drop

supper. Between bites the three of us related the story of the red lioness.

stangs is play to this wor

ng; even the glowing camp-fire tempted me in vain, an

ht had faded to the gray of dawn. The sound I recognized at once to be the Navajo's morning chant. I lay there and listened. Soft and monotonous, wild and swelling, but always low and strange, the savage song to the break of day was exquisitely beautiful and harmonious. I wond

felt the spiritual power of the trees, the rocks, the light and sun, and he prayed to

ion arose-whether we or the hounds were the more crippled. Ranger did not show himself; Don could just walk and

forts to locate it. The wire, however, was not to be found. This was a calamity, for, as we asked each other, how could we muzzle lions without wire? Moreover, a half d

known land, to be prone to fight. If there is an explanation of this singular fact, it must be that men at such time lose their poise and veneer of civilization; in brief, they go

the big stallion hurled his huge bulk over logs and through thickets, it appeared evident he meant to usurp Jim's ambition and kill the Navajo. Hearing Emett yell, the Indian turned Marc toward camp. The horse slowed down

ting his revenge on Marc, and he would have kept his seat on a wild mustang, b

ear he had been seriously hurt, perha

d, with no movement of body or m

bly back broken. I have seen it

could not speak. Jim, who always wanted Navvy

dian, all right

ound, uncertain and deeply grieved, until a mou

ead Indian," e

the Indian's back and got in

n, forever to minister to the needs of horses, men, and th

avvy to be dangerously hurt, knelt by him and pulled

Jim, returning on th

on," repl

soused the liniment all

nstrated Emett, starti

an's body; he rose at a single leap, and uttering a wild, piercing yell broke into a run

unded we all gaz

ead Indian!" e

aimed Emett, who seld

s, grabbing the bottle.

downward and b

ted Emett an

s! Turpentine! Jim bro

ay stretched out on the sward, and t

I

that the camp-fire roared like a furnace. "More snow" was the verdict o

me," I sa

and forthwith proceeded

ions, which struck me as being singularly selfish co

's a cold night. There'

ll get 'em,

Indian that didn't h

I ques

but in no wise changed my mind. When I went to bed I had to crawl over Navvy. Moze lay at my feet as u

ame in the Ind

avvy?"

ie-sle

sleepy and ti

ha sleepie-mu

ot awaken me in the morning, for when my eyes unclosed the tent

crusted the ground. The hounds, wearing cloth moccasins, which plainly they detested, trotted in front. Don showed no effects of his great run down the sliding slope after the

we had passed the edge of the pines; then marking a

w interest in anything. Under the cedars in the soft yellow dust we crossed lion tracks, many of them, but to

look for tracks. I'll keep the

e rim. In one of those flats I came upon a broken sage bush, the grass being thick thereabout. I discovered no track but dismounted and scrutinized t

As I neared the cedars again Foxie snorted. Under the first tree I found a ghastly bunch of red bones, a spread of grayish hairs and a split skull. The bones, wer

s. Answers came from near and far. Then, what with my calling and the replies, the

of brush than did Emett as he made his way to me. He arrived from the fores

im after one quick glance at

d. I ran to Foxie and vaulted upon him. A flash of yellow

on!" ye

ght for us! He passed, a savage yellow wolf in his feroc

ft, and in a few minutes we were strung out behind Emett, fighting the branches,

of us coming up together found Emett dis

e down," he said, po

ned to the m

him under the rim here, sleeping off his gorge. Now fellows, I'll

issures often forced us to circle them. The hounds, traveling under the walls below, kept pace with us and th

es, while he rode a little farther on. As I tied my mustang I heard the ho

ng to their rims; and some ran down like giant steps. From one of these I watched below. The slope here under the wall was like the side of a rugged mo

I could not turn back, and sliding, clinging to what afforded, I worked down the crack. A wall of stone hid the sky from me part of the way. I came o

ow of twilight. Below me were slopes and slides divided by ravines full of stones as large as houses, with here and there a lonesome leaning crag, giving irresistible proof of the downward trend, of the rolling, we

stone and slide below. Luck was mine as usual; the hounds were working up toward me. How I strained my sight! Hearing a single cry I looked eastward to see Jone

cool air, seemingly to leave a quality of wildness upon it; yet I could not locate him. Ranger disappeared. Then for a time I only heard Jim. Moze was next to appear and he, too

crag. Stretched out upon the top of it

i!" I yelled till

you?" came

Climb down the crack. The lion is here; on top of that ro

e call for Emett that pealed like a clear clarion along the curv

shelf and he moved not a muscle. What a place for him to choose! But for my accidental ventu

and thrilling sounds about me I became vaguely aware of hard, panting breaths, like coughs somewhere in my vicinity. As Jones had set in motion bushels of stone and had already scraped his feet over

bugle blast, and immediately after Sounder and Jude joi

two!" I yelled to Jones, n

otted!" replied Jones. "You stay there

ned no response, though Jim far b

e separated from each other by a wall of broken stone, waiting impatiently

that marvel of color and distance, with wild life about him, with wild sounds

ath. He came into sight just to the left of our position, and he ran down one side of t

a lion on that crag above you. He might jump

see what happened. My lion had peeped up once, and, seeing me, had crouched closer to his crag, evidently believi

rious exclamations

pole-Jones, back down-back down! he's comin'-Hi! Hi! Whoop! Boo-o! There-now you'

was the lion, the second was Don. The rest of the pack came tumbling helter-skelter in their wake. Following them raced Jim in long kangaroo leaps, with Jones in the rear, running for al

om sharp intermittent yelping to an unbroken, full, deep chorus. Then presently all quieted down, and for long momen

seemed only a few minutes, and all that time my

haggy side of Buckskin Mountain and far beyond to where Kanab Canyon opened its dark

ine, not merely the lion-for he was only the means to an end-but the stupendous, unnameable thing beneath me, this chasm that hid mountains in the shades of its cliffs, and the granite tombs, some gleaming pale, passionless, others red and warm, painted by a maste

a-h

of the depths. I saw Jon

e you kept your lin

e along, come a

e, but they could not find the lion, though they scented him, for they kept up a continual baying. Jim got up

down there; he might jum

y feet high on thi

tching my rifle and camera and then lending his shoulders, I reached the bench below. Jones came puffing around a corner of the cli

ack, the lion rose, spat at us defiantly, and deliberately ju

beast not endowed with wings. We saw the lion bounding down the identical tra

e yelled hoarsely. "They'll kill t

rail below. Already they were in full cry with the matchless Don at the fore. Manifestly to

poor, helpless, bound lion. Suddenly the regular baying swelled to a burst of savage, snarling fury, such as the pack made

nful as the certainty was it was not so p

m finally. "Bumping their nose into a

uld jump off that quick and run bac

d it," replied Jim. "Well,

ff the bench. Jones said he would cli

udged along it with rather less enjoyment than on any trail I had ever followed to the canyon. Jim waited for me over the cedar ri

ll of seven feet, we'll

the hounds kept us on that trail. For the time being ent

me to hurry. I took to a trot and came upon him and the hounds under a small cedar. The lion stood among the dead branches. His sides where shaking convulsively, and his short breaths could be plainly heard.

Jim, now that we

tie him up,"

ack trail. We followed as fast as we could, soon to find that the hounds had put him up another cedar. From this he

n straight up the slope and treed again under the wall. Before we covered h

in' him hum

staying power. Don and his pack ran westward this time, and along a mile of the beaten

m. "Darn me if he ain'

barely got out of sight when old Don came pattering along the trail; then Ranger leading the others. Don did not even put his nose to the ground where the lion had switched, but leaped aside and went down. Here the long section of slope between the lion's runway and the second wall had been w

its in the second wall. The side opposite was almost perpendicular, and formed of mass on mass of broken stone

the second wall here, an' I believe a man could too. The hou

kets of prickly thorns we wormed our w

feet below us, and on a sharp point of rock close by, but too far for the

only stay the

w failed of its purpose, but the rope hit the lion. He got up painfully it seemed, and faced the dogs. That way barred he

ated his attention on the shelf; his long length sagged in the middle, he stre

claws scrape the hard, smooth rock. He fell, turning a somersault, struck twenty feet below on the rough slant, bounded from th

then were still. The dead silence of the canyon seemed to pay tribute to t

I

he second tragedy, not so pitiful but as hear

on," said Jim. "An' I'l

couldn't climb out o

ngs back there on the trail an' climb out. We're not far from West Point. I'll go back after the fir

tched him letting himself over the end of the huge slabs until he passe

ripping skin. I did not even notice the additional weight of my rifle and camera though they must have overburdened me. I ke

rim and had to rest before I could mount. When

ld probably not get out for hours. We made tracks for camp, and never did a place rouse in me such a sense of gratefulness. Emett got dinner and left on the fir

have missed the wi

at him and h

ny more?" I

tle cracks an' ridges for my feet and hands. All to once, just above where I helped you down, I heard a growl. Looking up I saw a big lion, bigger'n any we chased except Sultan, an' he was pokin' his head out of a hole, an' shore telling me to come no further. I couldn't let go with either hand to re

here. I heard hard, wheezing breaths somewhere behind me, but in the excitement I didn't

time, lookin' at you an' mayb

ext day we sought our beds. It was hardly any wonder that I felt myself jumpin

. We all agreed that that was next to impossible. Another feature, which before we had not considered, added to our perplexity and it was a dawning consciousness that we would be perhaps less cruel if we killed the lions outright. Jones and Emett arrayed themselves on the si

great trees, a dry west breeze murmured through the forest. I was lying on my bed musing idly and watching a yellow woodpecker when suddenly I felt a severe bite on my shoulder. I imagined an ant had bitten me through my sh

d I have gotten from the Navajo what Jim and Jones so characteristically called "'em"? I t

re inwardly. During the dinner hour I felt all the time as if I had on a horsehair shirt with the ends protruding t

"'em," and that was to disrobe and make a microscopical search of garments and person. With serious mind and murd

ot 'em," I s

massacre of the things that had violated me. How much time flew I could not guess. Great loud "Haw-

ey had followed me to see my humiliation. Jones, who cracked a smile about as o

our folks would-think-if the

humor of the thing, and

you fellows will g

from that particular bree

who had confessed to intimate relations with every creeping, crawling thing in the

e to catch all of the gray devils, remained practically unchanged. Jim had been acquainte

scalp the Nav

tside after this, snow or no

ow streak like that. Besides, I

owed my statement, t

ll have 'em, so'll Emett, an'

o! heap bad! You-me!" here I scratched myself and m

d, sullenly, then fla

ignified, and walked away amid

among the other hounds and limped into my tent, where I heard him groan as he lay down. Don, Sounder, and Ranger were fast asleep in well-earned rest. S

circle cast by the fire and looked out into the darkening shadows. It was plain that Shep's instincts were developing fast;

ing over me. Borne faintly to my ears, it was a fit accompaniment to the moan of the wind in the pines. It was not the cry of a trailing wolf, nor the lonesome howl of a prowling coyote, nor the strange, low sound, like a cough, of a hunting cougar

aight in line with my feet to one at right angles with my head. Finally deciding it cam

nous, low murmuring awoke me with a vengeance, for it was unusual for them to growl in the midd

st have been dreams of hunting meat. He slapped his tail against my bed. As luck would have it, just then the wind abated to a soft moan, and clear and

alone, where old Sultan might be scouting, was not exactly to my taste. And trying to think what to do, and

llow, flickering shadows on the wall of my tent told me that the sun had long risen. I found my companions fin

Shep?"

een him this morn

what I had heard

listen,"

ad succeeded the night wind. The sound of horses munching their oats, and an occasional cli

canyon," said Jim

me for tying him up so often, has treed a lion all by himself

out him and hurried wes

knowingly. "I reckon it's only a rabbit,

or something-I forget what, for wild yells f

t!" cried Jim,

chorus floated clearly on the breeze, and a

ed Jim. "Grab your lassos an' hump you

rking Navvy into the air at every jump. I caught up my camera and followed. We crosse

s waving his long arms; next the dogs, noses upward, and Don actually standing on his h

led, and right vigorousl

air sized. That's the best tree for our purpose that I ever sa

t evidently overcome by curiosity, he stopped to hide be

acked, swayed and broke. It fell directly upon Jones, the blunt end striking his head and knocking him out of the tree. Fortunately, he landed on his feet

n and with snow Jim procured from a nearby hollow, eventually stopping the bleeding. I insisted on Jones coming to camp to have the wound

ed his willingness to go up and rope t

t's only that you cannot tell what move the

the tree, passed the first branch and then another. The lioness changed her position, growled, spat, clawed the twigs, tri

e business, and Jim and Emett with

hand over hand, on the rope, the liones

se ready," he

oke in a shower; then the lioness, hissing, snarling, whirling, plunged down. She nearly jerk

ted Jones. "There, that's g

y moving ball. Emett was the first to catch the loose lasso, and he checked the rolling cougar. Jones leaped to assist him and the

shed it at the lioness. She caught it in her mouth, making the splinters fly. Jones

he collar! Qui

him, which in a moment he

t's only a short way over to camp,

ones roared. Emett and Jim yelled. And I, though frightened, was so obsessed with

! Pull her off!

all his weight on the lasso round her neck. Between the two of us we choked her hold loos

an of saving my life?" Having expressed this not unreasonable prote

ated center, began a march through the forest that for variety

orgetting his reverence and fear, began to execute a ghost-dance, or war-

ing; others when she ran on her bound legs and chased the two in front and dragged

pe to a tree. There was no opportunity. She was in the air three parts of the time and the fourth she was invisible

d out, lassos taut, facing one another. Jones stumbled and the lioness leaped his way. The weight of both brought Jim over, sliding and slipping, with his rope slackening. The leap of

ng up with the velocity of an Arab tumbler, and his scarlet face, working spasmodically, and his moving lips, showed how utterly unabl

and forth meaningless words of which "hell" was the only one distin

brought them before they realized it right into camp. Our captive li

ns or to the struggling cougar, no one knew.

savvy whoa!" which proved conclusively that

to untie the hounds, to find them sulky and out of sorts from being so unceremoniously treated. Th

looked at Navvy with toleration. We dressed the wound in Jones' head and laug

," remarked Navvy

And Jones kept repeating: "

yelling at Navvy to hurry with the horses, ca

acknowledged that the Indian was invaluable to a hunting party in a countr

y! hurry!)" said Navvy, mi

to the forest and before we got up the bell

cloudy," said Jones, "and

up. I heard the hounds and presently saw a big, white coyote making fast time through the forest glades. It looked as if he would cross close in front of me, so I pulled Foxie to a standstill, jumped off and knelt with my rifle ready. But the sharp-eyed coyote saw my horse and shied off.

trails we had no time. We reached the cedars however at seven o'clock, and as the sky wa

while we split to look and call for him the remainder of the pack found the lion trail that he had gone on, and they left us trying to find a way out as well as to find each other. I kept the hounds in hearing for some time and meanwhile I signalled to Emett who was on my right flank. Jo

!" I cal

splitting sharp in the vaulted canyons, rolling loud and long, to lose

gh I knew the direction of the camp. This section of cedar forest was all but impenetrable. Dead cedars were massed in gray tangles, live cedars, branches touching the ground, grew clos

no alternative save to wander along the canyon and through the cedars until I found my companions. This I began to do, disgus

. He flopped down on the ground; his dripping tongue rolled as he panted; cover

ich I found to have come from a deep scratch. "A-ah! been pushing a lion too hard this morning? Got your

et my handkerchief from my canteen and started to wash the blo

as much water as it would hold and gave him to drink. Four times he emptied my im

rowsed on occasional tufts of grass. During that time the hound never raised his sleek, dark head, which showed conclusiv

the rim. Remounting my mustang I kept as close to Don's heels as the rough going permitted.

curve we had named the Bay, and I saw again the down

iff, run forward. He took a dozen jumps, then yelping broke down the stee

s and chaps, and remembering past unnecessary toil, fastened a red bandana to the top of a dead snag to show me where to come up on my way out. Then I carefully strapped my canteen and ca

ly down for perhaps five hundred feet. A precipice stopped me. From it I heard Do

Hi!" I yelled in

d stone and slope, green jumble of cedar, ruined, detached, sliding, standing cliff walls, leaning yellow crags-an awful hole. But I could get down, and that was all I car

My heavy gloves protected my hands as I slid and hung on and let go. I outfooted the avalanche

re I tried to see him, and yelled at intervals to let him know I was coming. A white bank of weathered stones led down to a clump of cedars from where Don's bay came spurring me to greater efforts. I flew down this bank, and through an

showed the fresh tracks of Don and the lion. Running down this dry, clean bed was the easiest going I ever found in the canyon. Every rod the

as old and I feared every moment to hear the sounds of a fight. Jones had said that nearly always in the cas

wondered what would happen when we reached it. The dark shaded watercourse suddenly shot out into bright light and ended in a deep cove

all the speed left in me, for I felt the chase nearing an end. Tracks of hound and lion once more showed in the dust. The slope was steep and stones I s

t thin air under me, except, far below, faint and indistinct purple clefts, red ridges, dotted slopes, running do

ibly with its illimitable space, its dread depth, its unscalable cliffs

reached me he faced again to the wall and barked fiercely. The hair on his neck bristled. I knew he did not fancy that

d fellow, we've g

tion in the chase of a lion. I had to coax him to me. B

iff wall hid my view. I peeped around it. The shelf narrowed on the other side to a yard in width, and climbed gradually by broken st

ly muttered. "We'll see th

erous overhanging wall above, and sense the bottomless depth below. I felt rather than saw the canyon swallows, swe

ons, brothers, each one relying on the other. A protruding corner shut us from sight of what wa

aight across it and on. Shelves of rock stuck out above under which I hurriedly walked. I came

had expected to find it here, so was not frightened. The lion looked up from his task of licking a bloody paw, and uttered a fierce growl. His tail began to lash to a

osed to do it. What would follow had only hazily formed in my mind, but the nucleus of it was that

o my senses. I did so and my first movement after seeing th

for a single instant to shift his glance. I had forgotten that, and in that short interval when I focused my camera the lion had seen I meant him no har

ament made itself plain to me. The lion leaped ten

ised the revolver and aimed twice, each time lowering it because I feared to shoot in such a precarious position. To wound

paw, his eyes now all purple blaze. I backed again and he came forward. Don gave ground slow

cross the front of the wind cave, where I saw, the moment it was t

at would happen when I came to the narrow point on the shelf where it would be impossible for me

got the nerve, and

ose I smelt him. His wonderful eyes, clear blue fire circled by yellow flame, fascinated me. Hugging the wall with my body I brought the r

mell of powder. The lion uttered a sound that was a mingling of snarls, howls and roars a

forgetting weapon, fearing only

bounded out from the w

ted, slowly my mind freed itself from a tight iron band and a sickenin

of time ended in a low, distant roar of sliding rock,

y legs were still shaky and I had the strange, weak sensation of a long bed-ridden invalid. Three attempts were necessary before I could

a will. Don did not evince any desire for more hunting that day. We reached the

our camp-fire among the pines. The hounds rose up and barked as Don trotted in to

said Jim. "We all had it comin' to u

e all took time between bites to talk. I told my story first

at tells the tale. We have nothing to show for our day's toil. Six lions chased, rounded up, treed, holed, and one lion killed, and we haven't even his skin to show. I did n

t the edge of the pines where they had treed their game. I sat under that pine tree for five hours, fired all my shots to make you fellows come

killed last night, flesh all gone, hide gone, bones crushed, skull split open. An' damn me fellows, if that little pocket wasn't all torn to pieces. The sage was crushed flat. The ground dug up, dead snags broken, and blood and hair everywhere. Lion tracks like leaves, and old Sultan's was there. I let Moze loose and he humped the trail of several lions south over th

up appearance of the place where

the three lions feeding, and pitched into them. Such fights wer

nd those three lions in a

" said Jones. "Especiall

storm is comin

rocky pass. As we could not control the camp-fire, sparks of which blew fiercely, we extinguished it and went to

I had answered him. "Emett is mad. He's

ormation with a lou

nes! They're

ed and so did the Navajo, which made me suspect that he c

ll disturbed my slumber

no cougie-dam no bue

d, the great pines only pale, grotesque shadows, everything white mantl

-cold-no c

bed," yel

ied. "Say Jones, ha

ozed off and on till noon, when the storm abated. We h

to clear u

ng above the trees. At first it moved slowly, rolling, forming, expanding, blooming like a column of whirling gray smoke; then it gathered headway and rolled onward through the forest. A gra

shadows and gloom, moving in paths of gold through the forest glade

to drip. A mist of diamonds filled the air, rainbows curved t

st buried the Navajo, to our infinite delight. We all sou

aking crimson paths in the white aisles of the

the day for lions

ay hidden in their beds of pine. The round red sun dropped out of sight beyond the trees, a pink glow suffused all the ridges;

o the warm hole of my sleeping bag

s I answered, I heard Jones

" yelled Jim. "He can't ke

ied, "do you remem

n't," gro

ho! ho-ho! bueno! bueno!" and I wound u

up in a body a

them. "Nothing doing for you

I

en off the keen edge of the frosty air, presaging a warm day. The white ridges glistened; the bun

ee lions. On the way the snow, as we had expected, began to thin out, and it failed alt

was below. Jones looked the ground over and said Jim had better take th

or the pack to open up, but we were disappointed. In less than half an hour Jim came climbing out, wit

ack, and hunt round the rims of these canyon

dle Canyon, with Don and Moze, and we were to perform a like office in Right Canyon wit

much as a single track, so we started to retrace our way. The sun was now hot; the snow all gone; the groun

ompanions across the canyon, we rode close to the rim. Sounder and Jude both began to bark on a cliff; however, as we co

verred Jones. "Let's p

ey gone out of sight when we heard them yelping. We rushed to the rim and looked over. The first step was short, a crumble

above her hung a lion, so close that she could

, directing Jones' glan

l go down. Leave everything t

der of shaly cliff, the steps of which broke under our feet. The slope below us was easy, and soon we stood on a level with the lion. The

him. I hear him below. This

the hound bayed under a tall pi?on. High in the branches I saw a great mass of yellow, and at first glanc

re! look! look!"

r a moment we made the canyon bellow. When we stopped f

of these canyons, high above them on the rim wall of the opposite side of the Bay, stood a giant white horse silhouetted against the wh

ion had jumped. He ran straight down, drawing Sou

f you can!" yelled Jones. Then in long strides he

yelping of the hounds, the clattering of stones, grew fainter, tellin

n of the facts in the case. Two full-grown lions to be kep

ow shelf now rose in me stronger and fiercer. I pronounced one savage malediction upon myself for leaving my gun. I could not go for it; I would have

on a level with them in an open place on the slope where they had me in plain sigh

om the left. I called and called, but they passed on d

mphasized by Jones' yell, tol

rolled down

he left from the point w

can-I-g

f, slide on slide, jumble, crag, and ruin, baf

yelled, and waited. He pa

there; let Don go down with y

ght and left of crags, threaded the narrow places, and turned in the direction of the baying hounds. He passed on the verge

nd a cedar above, was too short to extend to the landing below. He dropped, raising a cloud of dust, and starting the stones.

ls, he seemed a giant pursuing a foe. From time to time he sent up a yell of encouragement that wound down the canyon, to be answered by Jones and the baying hound

g time they were quiet, listening. But as the bays and yells below diminished in volume and occurrence and then ceased altogether, they became

ss again. The lower one hissed, spat and growled at me, and made many attempts to start down, each one of which I frustrated by th

ugh down to jump, he would either escape or have me helpless. I aimed deliberately at him, and hit him square in the ribs. He exploded in a spit-roar tha

ou dare come down! I'd bre

irst perch. It was then, realizing what I had done, that I would certainly have

ope. Then the faint yelp floated up again in the silence. Such dead, strange silence, that seemed never to have been broken! I saw the lions quiver, and if I ever heard anything in my li

hen! Pity for those lions dominated me. Big, tawny, cruel fellows as they were, they shivered with fright. Their sides trembl

ions to the downward slope. I saw a yellow form mo

old boy!"

d all his long length, forepaws against the pi?

o say a probable necessity,

ns; "you can't catch that hound,

he other hounds coming. Yelp on yelp, bay on bay, made welcome music to my ears. Then a black and yell

ng form on the steep ascent, seemed as lo

Where's Emett?" I asked

lied the panting Jones. "

e we to

hink out-a plan. We can't get

mp, sure; he's almost ready now. Don and the other hounds will tree him again pretty soon. If he runs up the canyon, well

art of the lions, the lower one began stepping down. I yelled a warning, but Jones did not have time to take advantage of it. He had half tu

of the hounds were on him. A cloud of dust rolled down the slope. The lion broke loose and w

t behind them, endeavored in frenzied action to join the chase. I drew them back

?on again. I waited till I saw him slip the noose over the lion's head, then I ran down the slope to yell

s, but fear of them was not in me that day. I passed out of the Bay into the mouth of Left Canyon, and began to cl

lders. These were strange actions, and though I marked it at the moment, I had ceased to wonder at our hounds. I took one picture as the lion sat in the dark shade,

e for the baying hounds, but for me it was a full hour. Alone with the hounds and a lion, far from the walks

soon and the farther up he went the less distance we would have to pack him. From the cliff I saw him run up a slope, pass a big cedar, cunningly turn on his trail, and then climb into the tree and hide in its thickest part. Don passed him, got off the trail, and ran

ught my lasso, and he handed it to me with the si

ssoed the spitting lion and then leaped down to my side. By united and determined efforts we pulled the lion

ones, leaving me with the l

d me off my feet or pulled the lasso from my hands. As it was, the choking lion, now within reach of the furious,

re he caught himself. Then Jones threw old Moze rolling, and Ranger, and all except faithful Jude. Before they could get back he roped the lion again and made fast to a tree. Then he yelled for

choking, we had his paws bound fast. Then he coul

ion, which we fastened by chain and lasso to a swinging

all the packs, and Navvy, too. I'll help Emett tie up the second lion, and

except for a collar and chain. His claws haven't been clipped.

Your horse is right up back of here, across

g; then began to retrace my trail down into the canyon. I made the descent in quick time, to find Emett standing

ed to death. I drove him into this corner between the rocks and the tree, where he has

re to tie this lion and pack him with the other

t. Now I'm some worried about the lion we left below. He ought to be

the other

hundred and

t pack hi

the best plan. Watch this fel

d before I heard the sliding of stones below, which told me that Emett was coming. He appeared on the slope almost bent do

een the lion's paws, below where they were tied, we managed to carry hi

tackled, and I believe it. We'll cut a piece off of each lasso, and unravel them

gestion I climbed the tree and started out

arned Emett. "That branch is bend

e knotted lasso, when the branch swayed and bent alarmingly. The lion sprang from his

ump!" shouted

ck up the branch. The lion leaped, missing me, but scattering the dead twigs. Then the beast, beside himself with fury, ha

ver mind and muscle. I heard hoarse roars from Emett. Then I felt a hot, b

e lion's tail. One powerful lunge of his broad shoulders tore the lion loose and flung him down the slope to the full extent of hi

I'll kill him!

ell as to make me more determined. "We'll tie up the darned tiger, if he cuts us all to

le ridicule and sight of

r hand from being torn off. He's an ugly brute, but you're right, we'll tie him. Now, let

er in which he could run and leap at will. It seemed he was in the air all the time. First at Emett, than at me he sprang, mouth agape, eyes wild, claws spread. We whipp

mett. "Now hold him tight; d

o rope a front paw. The lion crouched low and tense, only his long tail lashing back and forth

d he. "I'll tease him t

I could yell to warn my comrade the beast leaped. My rope burned as it tore through my hands. The lion sailed into the air, his paws wide-sprea

tt, calmly rising and picking up

hat band off," I repli

aped at us to the full length of his tether, sailing right into our faces, a fierce, uncowed, tigerish beast. If it had not been for the collar and swivel he would have ch

et one of us," cried Emett.

those fellows here who say lion

ion struck the rock and hung there on it

ted Emett, "but don't get too

k, lunged for the long tail and got a good hold of it. Then with a whoop he r

e yelled. "Rope a hind

ion I again climbed the tree, untied the knot that had caused so much trouble, and very shortly we had

by way of apologizing for our crude

believe Jones put up

the job all right. But we'll

s. While I held the chain Emett muzzled the lion with a stick and a strand of la

part of it," said h

, got up to slip and fall again. The dust choked us. We senselessly risked our lives on the brinks of precipices. We had no thoug

heaviest," gloo

e brush and on the stones. Our rests became more frequent. Emett, who had the downward end of the pole, and therefore thr

t once. "You're-you

, peril and privation-to ask me to wait for him, was a co

re the other lions lay, and we stretched ourselves. A lon

They're dying of thirs

g, frothing beasts, proved to

re will we find it? Oh! wh

lly our wonderful good fortune, to lose these beautiful l

I'm all in. But you must find water. It

d hurried along it with eager gaze. I swung down on a cedar branch to a projecting point of rock. Small depressions were everywhere still damp, but the water had evaporated. But I would not give up. I jumped from rock to rock,

ged the slopes; slipped over stones; leaped fissures and traversed yellow slides. I safely descended places that in an

e wheezed, coughed, choked, but to our joy he swallowed. He had to swallow. One after the other we served them so, seeing with unmistakable relief the sure signs of recovery. Their eyes cleared and brightened; the dry coughing that distressed

nk back in unu

Our comrade appeared riding down. The voice of the Indian, calling

of the cedars. He gazed from the lions to us, h

, if you di

I

Navvy riding in front of the lions. I kept well in the rear, for if anything happened, which I calculated was more than likely, I wan

in the Navajo's overalls. He did not catch the flesh, for when Navvy turned around he wore only an expression

ed horse and persuade the Indian he had not been bitten. We failed in t

had chased a lion south along the ri

avored to introduce to our family of captives. He raised such a f

ar or a swivel in camp. We can't chain the lions with

took the largest pair of hobbles we had, and with an axe, a knife and Jones' wire nippers, fashioned t

and burning of my wrist, soon lapsed into slumber. And I crawled out next morning late for breakfast, st

brush, and these new bag-leg trousers, while somewhat remarkable for design, answered the purpose well enough. Jones' coat was somewhere along the canyon rim, his shoes were full of holes, his shirt in

ons, and that's more than we can pack out of

rejoine

n bet I have,

d then I've done," said

ood comrades showed how they took th

hains, and roll up like balls of fire. From different parts of the forest I tried to creep unsuspected upon them; but alway

This means was always effective. I simply could not stand still when he leaped; and in turn I tried every artifice I could think of to make him back away from me, to take refuge behind his tree. I ran at him with a club as if I were going to kill him. He waited, crouching. Finally, in

hment he forgot to spit and growl, and he backed behind the little pine, from which he regarded me wi

I

gray into light. The Navajo chanted solemnly and low his morning song. I go

hot breakfast smoked on the red coals. We

thin' doin' to-day," sa

nto the sage. The sun, a red ball, glared out of the eastern mist, shedding a dull glow on the ramparts of the far ca

h he meant the hounds, we all followed

followed, while Jim rode away to the left. Gradually the space widened,

was trying to work out in the thick sage, and bounded in th

pups bayed eagerly, telling us they were hunting h

wave his hand from the far side of the canyon, spur

As we rode on and on, the sounds of the chase lessened, and finally ceased. To our great chagrin we found it necessary to retrace our steps, and when we did get over th

ar forests, to and fro, around and around, we trailed Jim an

. Fully an hour passed before Jones halted us, saying we had best try a si

to my companions I leaped on my mustang and led the way. I rode as far as I could mark a straight line

horse the day I followed Don alone down the canyon. Jim was engaged in bind

p?" queri

't been long since he was in that cedar there. When he jumped the yellow pup was in the way an' got

ed Jim to lead the horse back to camp. Jones and I stood a moment

mett, and then he placed the limp, bloody body in

id Jim. "That lion will kill them

alculated the death of the pup was enough. Emett had a flare in his eye, Jones look

n this place, and I know where th

nder pi?ons, around yellow walls, along slides, the two big men followed me with heavy steps. We reached the white stream-bed, and sliding, slipping

or was almost gray; his head huge, his paws heavy and round. He did not spit, nor s

ounds, looked over the brink of the cove, and without an instant of hesitation, leaped down. The rattling crash

ee of us attested to what

," called Jones. "I

was not less than forty feet. The walls became higher as the cove deepened toward the canyon. It had a length

down on a lass

. Old Moze grumbled and broke away. But Don, stern a

hat grand hound to his

o down," dec

stay up here to help the o

said Jones. "Better work along the wa

us. We slipped a noose around him and lowered him, kicking and barking, to the rocky floor. Jones made the lasso fast to a cedar root, and I slid down, like a flash, burning my ha

bottom of the cove afforded hard going. Dead pi?ons and cedars blocked our way; the grea

t of wall. Waving his arms, he yelled unintelligible commands to u

d rock cleared, we faced a t

k!" I gasp

the great lion on his haunches with his long tail lashing out over the precipice. Back to the

d down into the canyon. He walked the whole length of the bare rock with his head stre

is neck. He stopped, and with head bent so far over the

ths lay beneath him. He stood on the last step of his mighty throne. The great downward sl

eap. Jones must have expected such a move, for he fastened his rope to a spur of rock. Standing there, revolver gripped, hearing th

tone, but still did not get out of danger. Don flew at the lion's neck and Moze buri

Moze, slow and dogged, could not elude the outstretched paws, which fastened in his side and leg. We pulled so hard we slowly raised the lion. Moze, never whimpering, clawed and scratched at the

pe straightened with a twang, had it not been fastened to the rock, Jone

realize the situation. E

l! Pull!"

cked; I pulled till I saw red before my eyes. Again and again we tried. We could lift him only a few feet. Soon exhausted,

at still, looking into space. Jones sat mopping his brow. And I, all my

eaned over the ve

legs. Now we'll pull him up a little, then w

sides heaved. Don sniffed at him in disdain. Moze, dusty and bloody, with a large strip of hid

ively. "The excitement of the game made us

te silence enfolded the canyon. The far-off golden walls glistened in the sun; farther down, the purple clefts smoked. The many-hued peaks and mesas, aloo

it showed me the lonesome crags of eagles, and the cliff lairs of lions; and it taught mutely, eloquen