It was a correct guess. It was true the stream was not very large, but it was much appreciated.

"This is the first creek we have seen running in this direction," said Jim. "It means that we will soon be at the Colorado River."

After we had made our camp, we started over towards the great vermilion cliffs and found the formation just as interesting at close quarters as in the distance. We had never seen anything as sharp-cut and symmetrically carved as the b.u.t.tes and pinnacles that rose around us.

"I wish we had time to stop here," said Jim, "I would like to take a pick and make an exploration of these cliffs, but I said before that we would have no more picnics and I meant it."

CHAPTER XVI

THE RIVER

We now traveled for a week in a northwest direction, going through a country very much like what we had been pa.s.sing through, except the last three days.

During this time we went into the mountains again, following a northward trending valley. The mountains were a much lower range than the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

One day, about noon, as we were riding along this valley, Jim disappeared around a turn in the trail and we heard him give a yell.

I was frightened, thinking that he had been hurt, and putting the spurs into Coyote, I dashed after him. Rounding the corner I saw what had drawn the yell.

Below us in a transverse valley we caught sight of a glittering section of the river. At last! We took off our hats in a silent salute. Then pressed on to cover the intervening miles as fast as we could.

"That isn't the Colorado yet, Jim?" questioned Tom.

"No, that is the Green River," he replied. "We will come to the Colorado after the Grand and Green meet, that form it."

After a while we reached the level mouth of the valley, where it joined the valley of the Green. We galloped rapidly to see who would be the first to reach the river. Jim and I reached the edge simultaneously.

We threw ourselves from our ponies, but Jim was a little the quickest and he plunged down the bank and into the river.

But our first experience showed us that it was not to be trifled with, for a swift current in sh.o.r.e carried Jim down and if he had not caught an overhanging bush, he would have been taken out into the river and drowned.

"It certainly is a river," exclaimed Tom, "but why do they call it Green when it is brown?"

"Probably it is green further north," answered Jim. "It depends on the color of the strata it flows through."

"Get out," I said, "this river was called Green after the man who discovered it. I read it in a book in the captain's cabin on the plateau."

"I don't care," said Jim, who was apt to be dogmatic when cornered. "My idea is the most reasonable and I bet everybody in the U. S. thinks it's green because of its color. It must be inconvenient to know so much."

"It is," I replied hotly, "when you have to a.s.sociate with an ignoramous all the time."

"Come on, boys, let's have a swim and cool off," suggested Tom.

"Better make camp first," said Jim.

We found a good place back a ways from the river in a grove of old cottonwoods. Having made everything snug and shipshape we ran down to the river, but further up from the point where Jim plunged in.

Here the stream came in gently in a wide curve and there was quite a stretch of sandy beach.

"I tell you, this is fine," cried Jim, as he began to peel off his clothes. "I'm in first. Haven't had a bath for a month."

"You look it," I commented.

Tom and I got out of our few garments in short order. I was the quickest and beat Jim to the water by about five feet as I splashed in. It made me yell.

"Gosh, but she's cold," I cried, making the water fly as I plunged under.

"Gee whiz," yelled Tom, as he stepped gingerly in. "I should say it was cold. Talk about ice water!"

"Don't talk! get under!" cried Jim.

And he gave Tom a tremendous shove in the back that sent him with a sprawling splash into the water. Tom sputtered angrily and Jim soused him under.

There was a big rock out a ways on the edge of the current. It was a great wedge rock of granite, ten feet broad and twenty-five feet in length.

"I dare you to swim out there," challenged Jim.

"All right," I a.s.sented.

I was really a fine swimmer, better than Jim, though not so daring. This was a dangerous proposition. Jim went first, going up stream a ways, then he sprang out into the river.

In a minute we saw what a foolhardy attempt it was. The current caught him and sped him along like a straw. We could see his black head as it bobbed along down stream, now and then submerged by a wave that seemed to us a mere ripple.

He struggled valiantly to strike across the current, for he must reach the rock or be carried down the river to sure death. We looked on in fascinated terror.

Nothing but his extraordinary strength saved Jim at this juncture. As he was being dashed past the rock he threw out one hand and grasped the edge of it, then the water slammed him against it with great force.

For the moment he seemed stunned, but he clung to the rock as the player in a big game does to the ball as he goes over the line.

"Hold on, Jim, tight," we yelled.

We saw his muscles strain as he pulled himself slowly out of the hungry water. Then he reached the inclined surface of the rock and fell forward, all curled up like a man who is knocked out on the football field.

We were pretty well frightened and Tom thought he was done for, but I felt sure that Jim would come around in a few minutes. We did not have to wait long before Jim sat up. He gave his head a shake and was himself again.

"Don't try it," he yelled to us. "You can't monkey with this river."

He need not have warned us, for neither one of us was likely to try the experiment. How was Jim to get off that rock? was the question. It was impossible for him to take to the stream again, nor was the rock a desirable permanent residence.

In a minute Jim began to dance around on the rock, and we thought at first it was his exuberant spirits. But this was not the case.

"Gee, boys!" he yelled. "This rock is hot, get me off quick before I become a cinder. What are you waiting for? Get me a rope."

Why had I not thought of that before? I jumped out of the river and made a full speed trip to the camp. The sight was a great shock to Coyote and Piute, and they jumped to one side, snorting and visibly affrighted.