Genuine Aboriginal Democracy

In the morning George purchased ponies and more supplies from Paul Weaton and, leaving his car at the trading post, they set out together in the direction of Tishba.

  Life flowed back into George. In every evening camp, in every pink mountain morning, he sang songs of the open road and camp.

  Turner and his nephews were agreeable companions in that wild country. The nephews displayed a fondness for sudden horseplay which made George merry again. George wrestled with them, caught them by the waist and turned them. Their favorite move was a brisk butt in the stomach against rocks or small trees. The effect knocked him quite senseless.

  Turner himself was dependable and very cooperative; he would share cups of coffee and discuss things in English. At first, their nights involved the old professors and the Apaches they had known. Later, their stories were more intimate, for they found they had a great deal in common. Turner was unmarried and childless, and partially deaf. Life had not been easy for him, either.

  Quite a serious accident nearly occurred in Crow's Pass. George rode ahead on the narrow trail and the nephews and Turner followed with some long poles he had discovered. They misjudged the turn of the canyon and knocked George quite hard on the head, stunning him. It took him several hours, but he recovered. Turner was annoyed at his nephews for their carelessness, but George told him not be troubled.

  Before the fire one night Turner lectured the nephews and seemed engaged in an effort to convince them of some position of his. George's Apache had suffered from disuse and he could make out only the single word "robbery." Later, he reassured Turner that they had enough men and there should be no concern about them being robbed.

  In his zeal to reach the hills, he agreed to cross the Little Colorado in a bad spot (he was surprised the boys had chosen it for their uncle said they knew the crossing well); halfway across George's pony slipped on a hidden rock, throwing him beneath the surging water. They came up farther downstream, two brown forms thrashing their limbs, hoofs and hands, propelling themselves onto the shore. He discovered then that he was stranded. He watched as the boys took their time discussing among themselves the best method of rescuing him. However, he grieved when the exchange became heated and there seemed to be a violent difference of opinion. Later, Turner alone inched around a big rock, throwing George a rope.

  Turner had little to say about his nephews' disappearance except to offer a feeble story about their desire to visit a nearby town. He reassured George that they would meet them again at the cave in a few weeks. George knew they would never see either man again

  He was not annoyed, only disheartened, to discover that they had taken most of the food, but, he told himself, he was no man if he couldn't forage on his own. Provided they left before heavy snow, they would eat well enough.

  George's good nature returned as they entered Gray Canyon. Sadly, he discovered that Tishba had not been developed as a site for visitors, for it was much too remote. George and Turner were able to descend into the cave and relive the work he had done, however, much to George's delight.

  Then they began searching every day for the new cave site which George was certain existed.

  Their work together in Gray Canyon was diligent and thorough.

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