In the Heart of the Rockies eBook

Since the river had become wider and the dangers less frequent, the boats always kept near each other.  Upsets were therefore only the occasion for a hearty laugh; for it took but a few minutes to right the canoe, bale it out, and proceed on their way.  Occasionally they had unpleasant visitors at their camp, and altogether they killed ten or twelve rattle-snakes.  In some of the valleys they found the remains of the dwellings of a people far anterior to the present Indian races.  Some of these ruins appeared to have been communal houses.  At other points they saw cliff-dwellings in the face of the rock, with rough sculptures and hieroglyphics.  The canons varied in length from ten to a hundred and fifty miles, the comparatively flat country between them varying equally in point of appearance and in the nature of the rocks.  As they got lower they once or twice saw roughly-made rafts, composed of three or four logs of wood, showing where Indians had crossed the river.  The journey so far had been much more pleasant than they had expected, for as the river grew wider the dangers were fewer and farther apart, and more easily avoided; and they looked forward to the descent of the Grand Canon, from which they knew they could not be far distant, without much fear that it would prove impracticable.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GRAND CANON

Passing from a short canon, the boats emerged into a valley with flat shores for some distance from the river.  On the right was a wide side canon, which might afford a passage up into the hills.  Half a mile lower down there were trees and signs of cultivation; and a light smoke rose among them.  At this, the first sign of human life they had seen since they took to the boats, all hands paddled rapidly.  They were approaching the shore, when Leaping Horse said to Harry:  “No go close.  Stop in river and see, perhaps bad Indians.  Leaping Horse not like smoke.”

Harry called to the other canoe, and they bore out into the stream again.  The chief stood up in the boat, and after gazing at the shore silently for a moment said: 

“Village burnt.  Burnt little time ago, post still burning.”  As he resumed his seat Harry stood up in turn.

“That is so, chief.  There have only been five or six huts; whether Indian or white, one can’t tell now.”

Just at this moment an Indian appeared on the bank.  As his eye fell on the boats he started.  A moment later he raised a war-yell.

“Navahoe,” the chief said.  “Navahoe war-party come down, kill people and burn village.  Must row hard.”

The yell had been answered from the wood, and in two or three minutes as many score of Indians appeared on the banks.  They shouted to the boats to come to shore, and as no attention was paid, some of them at once opened fire.  The river was about a quarter of a mile wide, and although the shots splashed round them the boats were not long in reaching the farther bank, but not unharmed, for Ben had dropped his paddle and fallen back in the boat.