CHAPTER FIVE
HITTING THE TRAIL
The horses Tally had contracted for were all the tourists coulddesire. They were sure-footed and experienced mountain climbers; theycould go without food or water for a longer period than ordinaryanimals, as they had been so accustomed. They were not heavy, but wiryand muscular,--in short, the genuine ranch horse of the RockyMountains. The two pack mules, named Frolic and Jolt, weresleepy-looking beasts, but it was only in appearance. Once theystarted on the trail they proved splendid carriers, even though theytook life their own way.
The little cavalcade left the hotel at Loveland the center of curiouseyes, for the summer tourists stopping at the inn had heard of thewell-known geologist and the Troop of Scouts. As few members of theinteresting organization of Girl Scouts had ever been through theRockies, this Troop created quite a diversion for visitors.
Tally soon turned from the beaten track that most tourists take ingoing to Estes Park, and led his party to the old abandoned IndianTrail. Finally they came to a cool shadowy thread of a path that couldbe distinguished only because the trees were not closely interlockedeach with the others.
At this hour the forest was like the translucence of the sea, bathingeverything in the cool green light of its depths; and the exhilaratingeffect was the same as the salt tang of an ocean bath.
"Makes one feel as if one were in church at Vesper time," softlydeclared Julie, glancing at the arched aisles they were ridingthrough.
"Was ever cathedral so solemn, so beautiful, as this of Nature?"replied Mrs. Vernon, in a reverent tone.
Then for another long period all was silence again, as the scouts rodealong, breathing in the beauty of the "silent places." When they hadtraveled about ten miles along this secret trail, with itsever-changing panorama of scenes, the swishing of a stream was heard.Soon after, the riders came to tumbling waters, that seemed in hasteto go over the cliff that caused them to fall into a shadowy pool farbelow. Great rocks, overhanging pines, and gorgeous flora edged bothsides of the waterfall, making a picture impossible to describe.
They descended the steep declivity that skirted the falls and pickedup the trail again at the bottom. Here the scouts found several brooksthat ran from the pool, but that were entirely separated from the mainstream. Tally examined these canals carefully, and then held up a handfor attention.
"Scout hear beaver work? Dis beaver-canal."
"Oh, really!" whispered the girls, excitedly. "If we could only watchthem at work!"
They distinctly heard the "tap, tap, tap" of something softly thuddingagainst wood, while Tally leaned over to speak.
"Mebbe kin see beaver. Leave horse tie here, an' follow Tally sof'lyto colony. But make some noise an' beaver dive home."
The scouts promised to be very careful not to make a sound infollowing the guide, and so they dismounted to secure the horses andmules until their return from the beaver pond.
The scouts now had their first glimpse of these industrious littleworkers, that are found in large colonies everywhere throughout theRocky Mountains. This particular colony had dug the canals from thepool to their pond, which was located in a bowl-like depression of thewoods, and there dammed up the outlet. But few marauders passed here,and they lived in peace in their selected home-site.
There was a good growth of aspens all about the section, and thesewould supply food and lodgings for some time to come. The huts wereerected in the middle of the largest pond of the chain. There wereseveral beavers at work cutting the aspens when the party arrived onthe edge of the pond, but so keen is the hearing and scent of theseharmless animals, that they stopped work instantly, and slipped intothe water, swimming unseen until they reached their huts.
"Huh! Dem 'fraid!" ejaculated Tally, with disgust on his face. "Come'long--us see udder places."
Then he led through the aspen forest that fringed the pond, andreached the outlet where the dam had been constructed by the beavers.Here the scouts saw a shallow waterfall that fed another canal; thisstream ended in another, but smaller, pond than the upper one they hadfirst found. In this pond were a number of large huts, and manybeavers at work at the farthest side of the pond.
"I believe they are building another dam, Tally!" exclaimed Mr.Gilroy, under his breath.
"Um--he am. Scout sit and watch."
So they all sat on the brink of the pond silently watching the busyworkers as they cut down trees, dragged them into the water and thenswam with them to the dam, where other beavers helped to place theheavy tree trunks in such a manner that any dead wood or debrisfloating downstream would catch and help to dam up the water.
"Why do they build another pond when there is such a big one above?"asked Betty.
Mr. Gilroy replied, "There is plenty of food for the family that nowresides in the huts in the upper pond, but the colony is increasing sofast that they know there will not be room enough, or food enough, forall this winter. Hence they are building now, to provide ample shelterfor the future. By starting another dam and thus creating a pond,these wise little woodsmen also secure an area of new aspens that willfeed the new colony.
"Those canals that you see running out into the flat land beyond thenew pond, are used as water courses to float the trees along intotheir pond. It is too bad we cannot see a beaver cut an aspen fromthat growth, and watch him float it until he brings it to itsdestination at the dam.
"But you can watch, from this vantage point, those old fellows atwork. You see that big beaver that sits at one side of the two nowcutting--well, he is the boss of that job. It is up to him to choosethe best aspens for cutting and order his men to begin work, while hewatches. Then when the tree is almost cut through he will warn themaway, take up the work himself, and push on the severed trunk until itcrashes down in the direction he wishes it to fall.
"You'll see how clever they are to have the aspen fall as near thewater as possible, that they need waste no energy in dragging it overthe ground to the pond."
The scouts watched, and sure enough! The old boss took up the work ata given signal to his two helpers to stand back, and soon after that,the aspen fell, half of it in the water. But the beavers must haveheard a suspicious sound just as they were going to drag the treeacross the pond, and they scuttled under the water.
Reluctantly the scouts turned away and went back to their horses,which they mounted, and soon they were riding along the way again.
"I never saw such enchanting flowers and gorgeous ferns!" exclaimedthe Captain, enthusiastically.
"Um!" came from Tally, proudly, "him got more'n t'ousan' kin' flowerin park!"
"Really! Oh, that we might secure one of each for a collection!"sighed Julie.
"It would take you longer than this summer to accomplish that,"remarked Mr. Gilroy. "Here you will find some of the rarest orchids,as well as the hardiest kinds, known. Besides, you will find aboutfifteen species of gentian, the famous blue-fringed gentian amongthem. The largest columbines ever found grow here; and sweet peas inall conceivable shades of coloring. Not only can you add wonders tothe botanical collections that you started in the Adirondacks, but youought to be able to study many marvelous birds that nest in thisprimeval park."
So they rode along, stopping frequently to gather interesting flowersbeside the trail, and to admire and watch the birds that could be seeneverywhere.
"Jule, tell me about that bird swinging over your head"]
It was during one of these short rests which had been caused by acrested bird of wonderful hue and unfamiliar form, that Joan andJulie, with a camera in hand, pushed a way through the bushes, thebetter to follow the bird's movements.
"Joan, you sit down there on that fallen pine and write down notes asI call them off, and I will climb up on top of that huge boulder andget a snapshot at him as he swings from that bough," said Julie, asshe began climbing the rock mentioned.
Once she gained the top, she called back, "Of all the surprises! Onthe other side of this boulder is a steep descent that drops down to adark p
ool. Now who would ever have dreamed there was such a poolbehind this rock!"
"Don't bother about pools or precipices now, Julie, but tell me aboutthat bird, swinging right over your head. He'll fly away, if you don't'make hay'!" laughed Joan, waiting with pencil suspended over the padof paper.
The rest of the party had heard Julie's exclamation, and were urgingtheir horses through the thick forest, nearer the two scouts. Tallyjumped from his animal and came in the direction of the boulder,trying to catch a glimpse of the bird they were talking about.
"Jo, I really believe it is a young Rocky Mountain jay--the kind Gillydescribed to us. He is hopping into the higher branches now, and I canhardly see him," said Julie.
"Dear me, Julie! If only we could swear that we got a snapshot anddescription of the jay from actually watching him, what a fine thingit would be when we get home!" sighed Joan.
"Wait--I'll get out on the far end of this immense rock and try to geta full view of him," said Julie, moving across the top of the stone tothe outer verge of it.
Suddenly the boulder began settling slowly down towards the pool. Thesoil underneath it had all been washed out by torrential rains, sothat it barely hung in position when Julie climbed upon it. Now thatshe added her weight to its outer side, it began rolling--turning overand over in its heavy descent.
"Oh, oh! Save me, somebody! I'll be crushed to powder!" screamedJulie, who could not jump from that great height into the jungle, norcould she maintain a footing without doing the liveliest dance of herlife.
It was well that the boulder was so heavy, and the pathway it rolleddown so soft as to make it sink into the soil and grip a _digging_hold, as it turned and turned. Had the ground been rocky or theboulder smaller, it would have simply hurled itself into the water,carrying Julie with it.
Now, however, she danced and kept stepping like a trained circusanimal does on a barrel to keep it rolling, while Joan criedfearfully, and Tally rushed through the bushes to gain the bottom ofthe gully. Julie had ceased screaming the moment she saw she was to becatapulted to an unforeseen doom, and now kept her wits about her toplan an escape.
She saw that the rock would settle down in the pool at about the samespeed it took in rolling, and then she must be all prepared to springoff from its side, far out into the water, or be sucked underneathwhen it went down. If the pool was shallow, she would be forced toslide off at the moment the boulder struck and would be left standingup in the water. She must wait to determine the best chance to take.
The time it took from the first starting of the rock down the grade toits striking the water was but a fraction of the time it takes totell. Suddenly the huge boulder plunged into the quiet-looking pool,churning up the water to a froth, and instantly causing a "tidal wave"to raise the pool far beyond its customary water line and flow up thebanks. The water, which had hitherto reflected every leaf and bladehanging over its surface, was so very deep that the monolith sank intoits secret heart and was completely submerged.
As the rock sank, Julie sprang, taking her chances in strikingsomething in the pool. But she escaped accident, and swam out of thewhirling waters almost before the boulder had disappeared. Tallyreached the pool as she jumped, and now flung himself in to helprescue her. She was equal to the test, however, and came up on land,dripping, but exultant and breathless from the dance and swim.
Tally helped her up the deep gully the rock had gouged out in itsdownward roll; and at the top where she had left Joan, there now stoodwaiting to embrace her, the entire party of riders. When all cryingand hugging was ended, Julie laughed and said:
"Folks, give me a boulder-ride in the Rockies, every time, instead ofan ordinary toboggan! Even snowshoes and skis are tame in comparison."
They laughed because they were so relieved at Julie's escape, but theCaptain exchanged glances with Mr. Gilroy, and both shook their headsin despair of ever taming such a wild creature.
"In future, Julie, leave a Rocky Mountain jay where it hides, andstudy the colored prints shown in the bird book," advised Mr. Vernon,who had felt both for himself and his wife the severe nervous strainwhile the incident was being enacted.
"Oh, Uncle, half the fun of scouting in the Rockies comes from justthese experiences. Just think of all we can talk about this winter,when we are hibernating at home!" exclaimed Julie, ready in spirit, atleast, for another joy-ride.
They now resumed the trip that had been so unexpectedly interrupted,and came to an elevation in the trail. From this point they had aglorious view of the surrounding peaks in the park. Tally pointed outLong's Peak, which towered over their heads, and Mt. Meeker alongsideit, which appeared almost as high. Mt. Washington and Storm Peak wereso closely allied to the first two heights that they looked like fourpoints of the one mountain.
Mr. Gilroy waved his hand to the northwest of Long's Peak, saying,"All that region is called Glacier Gorge, where we are bound for.There are concentrated the enormous gorges, cliffs, and otherglaciated freaks caused by cataclysms that occurred aeons ago. In myopinion, there is no lake, waterfall, or other beauty of the Alps thatcan compare to this Glacier Gorge, and I have seen them all."
"If we are so near by, why can't we visit them all?" asked Joan.
Mrs. Vernon took fright, "_Never_--with the responsibility for yougirls on my hands!"
"But, Verny, if we slip, we won't be on your _hands_,--it will be aglaciated scout on an ice-floe," laughed Julie.
Mr. Gilroy laughed. "And they'll be safer in glacier fields where theyknow there is great danger if they are careless, than beside quietlittle pools, upon a rock that looks as solid as the planet itself."
Mrs. Vernon now turned beseeching eyes upon her husband. "Dear, youwill persuade Gilly not to lead us into such places?"
"Oh, but Verny!" interpolated Julie. "Do let us go to see at least_one_ glacier!"
"How can you, Julie! When _you_ are the one always getting intotrouble!" returned the Captain, wonderingly.
"Don't I always manage to get out of trouble again without causing anyfatality--only amusement for the Troop?"
They all admitted that this was true, and finally the Captain wascoaxed to listen to the argument in favor of visiting the glaciers.
"I haven't the slightest idea of riding past these glaciers andleaving Gilroy to explore them alone," remarked Mr. Vernon.
"If we agree to tie ourselves to your apron-strings, Verny, will youfeel resigned to our going?" asked Julie, meekly.
"If five scouts dangle from my apron-strings, how can I scramble formyself?" laughed the Captain; but the girls knew she was weakening inher former refusal.
With wise looks exchanged between scouts and the two men, the subjectwas dropped for the time being. So they descended the height wherethey had obtained such a fine view of the peaks, and rode along thetrail that was so heavily screened by forest trees as to cast agloaming underneath them, even in the brightest sunshine.
"Gilly, how came these vast mountains here?" asked Judith.
"Yes, Gilly, why are they not scattered impartially over the land?"added one of the other scouts.
"While we are traveling along a good trail, let me tell you what Ihave gathered from scientific books on the subject," returned Mr.Gilroy.
"It is evident that the Rockies were the first points of land to lifta head above the sea of water when the American Continent was born. Asoften happens in the families of mankind, where the youngest-bornembraces all the points of beauty and abilities that are manifested inindividual allotments to all other members of the same family, so itis with Nature's mountain-children.
"The Rockies, being the youngest born of mountain ranges of the earth,inherited, as it were, the combined beauty and strength andcharacteristics that were the best in all the others. But there was nojealousy on the part of the older mountains of earth, and it isdoubtful if any one of them even knew of this new-comer to the familygroup. Each had all it could do with its own affairs, in those by-gonecycles.
"Of Earth's large family of mountai
ns, the first-born to lift a headfrom sleep on the bosom of the 'mighty waters' were the British Isles.They were not high or mighty in geography, but they were destined toraise the highest and mightiest race of people on earth.
"Then the Norseland awoke, and yawned so widely, that the pinnacles ofits jagged shore-lines instantly molded themselves into barriers toprotect the land from the inundation of the sea. Then while thisawakening took place, the marvelous Antilles sat up from the cradle ofthe ocean and cried to Mother Nature to be lifted out of their bed.And Nature, who abhors a vacuum, gave her eager help to South America.
"Having given birth to these fine prominences, Nature seemeddisinclined to cease from her creative activity. She believed it bestto finish the allotted number of children, and then raise them alltogether. So the mountains of Labrador appeared, closely followed bythe Atlantic Coast mountains.
"Then something happened in the bowels of the earth-planet that causedit to swallow so much salt-water from the seas that had covered itssurface, that the great ranges of the Rockies stood up.
"Aeons passed during this great upheaval, and aeons more passed beforeislands dotted the 'face of the waters' and God said 'Let there be'and there was!
"It is said that the tremendous struggle in the womb of Mother Earthto give birth to the Rockies was Nature's hardest labor. As we gaze onthe result of the mighty upheaval that has given us these wonderfulmountains, does not your imagination paint 'cause and effect' betterthan mere words ever can?"
With many eager questions from the scouts, about cataclysms, glaciers,volcanoes, and other forces that helped build the dry land above theface of the seas, and with Mr. Gilroy's lucid and interestingdescriptions of such work, the party reached the beautiful tract knownas Estes Park.
"Here's where we camp for the night, Scouts,--unless you have somethingmore important to do," announced Mr. Gilroy.
They laughed. "Now, Gilly! What more important date is there than toeat a good supper," added Anne.
The scouts teased her at that, but Mr. Vernon said, "I have animportant date for those who will go with me."
He took up his fishing tackle, and instantly the scouts signifiedtheir eagerness to "keep the date" he had with the fish. Mr. Gilroyremained with Tally to look after camp arrangements and unload themules. Then the horses and mules were turned out to pasture, whilesupper was prepared.
Because of the heavily wooded country they were to go through, Tallyhad not bothered to carry any tentpoles. It was an easy matter to runthe ropes through the eyelets of the canvas, and string up the shelterto handy tree trunks. Hence the tents were up, and Mrs. Vernon wasasked to weave the balsam beds upon the ground, inside them, beforethe girls returned.
Fuel was plentiful and a fire was soon burning, whereby supper couldbe cooked. Tally now began preparing his various dishes for the meal,while the Captain spread out the cloth on the grass for a table.
So excellent is the fishing in these forests, that the two camp-cookshad not had time to complete baking the bread-twist, or boil thepotatoes, before the anglers arrived with a fine mess of fish. Thesewere cleaned and placed in the large frying-pan where red-and-whitestreaked slices of bacon were crisping.
The savory odor that soon arose to mingle with the immediatesurrounding air made every one sniff audibly, and wish supper wasready to eat. While the Captain added the finishing touches to thesupper, she remarked to the scouts:
"I keep brushing so many little black insects from the cloth, and yetthey seem to swarm about more than ever. Ask Tally what I can do todrive them away."
Mr. Gilroy overheard her, and replied, "I guess we are in for a plagueof midges. No use trying to get rid of them by hand, and no use movingcamp, as they infest the woods all about, when they do appear; andthey last, sometimes, for several days, then they disappear assuddenly as they came."
As the scouts began to scratch at faces, necks, and limbs, Tallyremarked, encouragingly: "De's not so badder."
"I hope you don't raise any worse pests than these in your Rockies!"cried Ruth, her hands and face red from irritation.
"Jus' wait. De'se meegies go wid sun, but moskeet--he come an' sing allnight, an' bite all same."
In spite of the discomfort the little black imps caused, the scoutshad to laugh at Tally's form of condolence. Evidently he, with histough skin, preferred midges to songsters at night.
"Why should they swarm about now, when we never saw one on the wayhere?" asked Joan, in an aggrieved tone.
"It's going to rain, and that always drives them up from theunderbrush and wet places where they live during the dry hours,"explained Mr. Gilroy.
He had been occupied in crushing caribou leaves between his palms, andnow the scouts turned to watch him. When he had extracted the juicefrom the leaves, he showed the girls how he rubbed it over his neck,face, and arms. This was very effective to keep away the pests for atime; but one had to keep on rubbing the fresh leaf-juice on the skinat intervals because the moisture evaporated with the heat from thebody.
Supper--and it was a delicious one--over, Mr. Gilroy said to the guide,"Tally, we've got to make a smudge fire all right."
"Um!" agreed Tally, "see tent; him all cover wid bites."
The girls laughed at the Indian's graphic words, for the canvas wasblack with pests,--mosquitoes and black flies, as well as the midges.
Every available pan was requisitioned for use as braziers. And movablesmokes, that Tally manufactured of pine shavings, smudged with dampmaterial, effectively fumigated the camp and drove away most of theinsects. But the scouts had to wave balsam fans quite vigorously tomake the choking smoke that circled about them eddy away.
Tally arranged a chain of these smudge-fires about the camp ground,and provided elaborate means of keeping the pests away through thenight. But all precautions were useless when the mean littlemosquitoes got in between the open places in the canvas, and begantheir songs. Every one was healthily tired, though, and all theneedlelike thrusts of the insects could not keep the girls awake.
In the morning, Julie said, "What should we have done if Tally had notsmoked away millions of the creatures!"
And Joan said, "Why, infinitesimal atoms of Dandelion Troop would nowbe flying all over Estes Park to await Judgment Day!"