the last of the plainsmen-第15章

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y　sleeping…bag　was　a　great　black　tarantula；　as　large　as　my　hand。

For　one　still　moment；　notwithstanding　my　contempt　for　Lawson's　advice；　I　certainly　acted　upon　it　to　the　letter。　If　ever　I　was　quiet；　and　if　ever　I　was　cold；　the　time　was　then。　My　companions　snored　in　blissful　ignorance　of　my　plight。　Slight　rustling　sounds　attracted　my　wary　gaze　from　the　old　black　sentinel　on　my　knee。　I　saw　other　black　spiders　running　to　and　fro　on　the　silver；　sandy　floor。　A　giant；　as　large　as　a　soft…shell　crab；　seemed　to　be　meditating　an　assault　upon　Jones's　ear。　Another；　grizzled　and　shiny　with　age　or　moonbeams　I　could　not　tell　whichpushed　long；　tentative　feelers　into　Wallace's　cap。　I　saw　black　spots　darting　over　the　roof。　It　was　not　a　dream；　the　cave　was　alive　with　tarantulas！

Not　improbably　my　strong　impression　that　the　spider　on　my　knee　deliberately　winked　at　me　was　the　result　of　memory；　enlivening　imagination。　But　it　sufficed　to　bring　to　mind；　in　one　rapid；　consoling　flash；　the　irrevocable　law　of　destinythat　the　deeds　of　the　wicked　return　unto　them　again。

I　slipped　back　into　my　sleeping…bag；　with　a　keen　consciousness　of　its　nature；　and　carefully　pulled　the　flap　in　place；　which　almost　hermetically　sealed　me　up

〃Hey！　Jones！　Wallace！　Frank！　Jim！〃　I　yelled；　from　the　depths　of　my　safe　refuge。

Wondering　cries　gave　me　glad　assurance　that　they　had　awakened　from　their　dreams。

〃The　cave's　alive　with　tarantulas！〃　I　cried；　trying　to　hide　my　unholy　glee。

〃I'll　be　durned　if　it　ain't！〃　ejaculated　Frank。

〃Shore　it　beats　hell！〃　added　Jim；　with　a　shake　of　his　blanket。

〃Look　out；　Jones；　there's　one　on　your　pillow！〃　shouted　Wallace。

Whack！　A　sharp　blow　proclaimed　the　opening　of　hostilities。

Memory　stamped　indelibly　every　word　of　that　incident；　but　innate　delicatly　prevents　the　repetition　of　all　save　the　old　warrior's　concluding　remarks：　〃！　！　！　place　I　was　ever　in！　Tarantulas　by　the　millioncentipedes；　scorpions；　bats！　Rattlesnakes；　too；　I'll　swear。　Look　out；　Wallace！　there；　under　your　blanket！〃

From　the　shuffling　sounds　which　wafted　sweetly　into　my　bed；　I　gathered　that　my　long　friend　from　California　must　have　gone　through　motions　creditable　to　a　contortionist。　An　ensuing　explosion　from　Jones　proclaimed　to　the　listening　world　that　Wallace　had　thrown　a　tarantula　upon　him。　Further　fearful　language　suggested　the　thought　that　Colonel　Jones　had　passed　on　the　inquisitive　spider　to　Frank。　The　reception　accorded　the　unfortunate　tarantula；　no　doubt　scared　out　of　its　wits；　began　with　a　wild　yell　from　Frank　and　ended　in　pandemonium。

While　the　confusion　kept　up；　with　whacks　and　blows　and　threshing　about；　with　language　such　as　never　before　had　disgraced　a　group　of　old　campers；　I　choked　with　rapture；　and　reveled　in　the　sweetness　of　revenge。

When　quiet　reigned　once　more　in　the　black　and　white　canyon；　only　one　sleeper　lay　on　the　moon…silvered　sand　of　the　cave。

At　dawn；　when　I　opened　sleepy　eyes；　Frank；　Slim；　Stewart　and　Lawson　had　departed；　as　pre…arranged；　with　the　outfit；　leaving　the　horses　belonging　to　us　and　rations　for　the　day。　Wallace　and　I　wanted　to　climb　the　divide　at　the　break；　and　go　home　by　way　of　Snake　Gulch；　and　the　Colonel　acquiesced　with　the　remark　that　his　sixty…three　years　had　taught　him　there　was　much　to　see　in　the　world。　Coming　to　undertake　it；　we　found　the　climbexcept　for　a　slide　of　weathered　rockno　great　task；　and　we　accomplished　it　in　half　an　hour；　with　breath　to　spare　and　no　mishap　to　horses。

But　descending　into　Snake　Gulch；　which　was　only　a　mile　across　the　sparsely　cedared　ridge；　proved　to　be　tedious　labor。　By　virtue　of　Satan's　patience　and　skill；　I　forged　ahead；　which　advantage；　however；　meant　more　risk　for　me　because　of　the　stones　set　in　motion　above。　They　rolled　and　bumped　and　cut　into　me；　and　I　sustained　many　a　bruise　trying　to　protect　the　sinewy　slender　legs　of　my　horse。　The　descent　ended　without　serious　mishap。

Snake　Gulch　had　a　character　and　sublimity　which　cast　Nail　Canyon　into　the　obscurity　of　forgetfulness。　The　great　contrast　lay　in　the　diversity　of　structure。　The　rock　was　bright　red；　with　parapet　of　yellow；　that　leaned；　heaved；　bulged　outward。　These　emblazoned　cliff　walls；　two　thousand　feet　high；　were　cracked　from　turret　to　base；　they　bowled　out　at　such　an　angle　that　we　were　afraid　to　ride　under　them。　Mountains　of　yellow　rock　hung　balanced；　ready　to　tumble　down　at　the　first　angry　breath　of　the　gods。　We　rode　among　carved　stones；　pillars；　obelisks　and　sculptured　ruined　walls　of　a　fallen　Babylon。　Slides　reaching　all　the　way　across　and　far　up　the　canyon　wall　obstructed　our　passage。　On　every　stone　silent　green　lizards　sunned　themselves；　gliding　swiftly　as　we　came　near　to　their　marble　homes。

We　came　into　a　region　of　wind…worn　caves；　of　all　sizes　and　shapes；　high　and　low　on　the　cliffs；　but　strange　to　say；　only　on　the　north　side　of　the　canyon　they　appeared　with　dark　mouths　open　and　uninviting。　One；　vast　and　deep；　though　far　off；　menaced　us　as　might　the　cave　of　a　tawny…maned　king　of　beasts；　yet　it　impelled；　fascinated　and　drew　us　on。

〃It's　a　long；　hard　climb；〃　said　Wallace　to　the　Colonel；　as　we　dismounted。

〃Boys；　I'm　with　you；〃　came　the　reply。　And　he　was　with　us　all　the　way；　as　we　clambered　over　the　immense　blocks　and　threaded　a　passage　between　them　and　pulled　weary　legs　up；　one　after　the　other。　So　steep　lay　the　jumble　of　cliff　fragments　that　we　lost　sight　of　the　cave　long　before　we　got　near　it。　Suddenly　we　rounded　a　stone；　to　halt　and　gasp　at　the　thing　looming　before　us。

The　dark　portal　of　death　or　hell　might　have　yawned　there。　A　gloomy　hole；　large　enough　to　admit　a　church；　had　been　hollowed　in　the　cliff　by　ages　of　nature's　chiseling。

〃Vast　sepulcher　of　Time's　past；　give　up　thy　dead！〃　cried　Wallace；　solemnly。

〃Oh！　dark　Stygian　cave　forlorn！〃　quoted　I；　as　feelingly　as　my　friend。

Jones　hauled　us　down　from　the　clouds。

〃Now；　I　wonder　what　kind　of　a　prehistoric　animal　holed　in　here？〃　said　he。

Forever　the　one　absorbing　interest！　If　he　realized　the　sublimity　of　this　place；　he　did　not　show　it。

The　floor　of　the　cave　ascended　from　the　very　threshold。　Stony　ridges　circled　from　wall　to　wall。　We　climbed　till　we　were　two　hundred　feet　from　the　opening；　yet　we　were　not　half…way　to　the　dome。

Our　horses；　browsing　in　the　sage　far　below；　looked　like　ants。　So　steep　did　the　ascent　become　that　we　desisted；　for　if　one　of　us　had　slipped　on　the　smooth　incline；　the　result　would　have　been　terrible。　Our　voices　rang　clear　and　hollow　from　the　walls。　We　were　so　high　that　the　sky　was　blotted　out　by　the　overhanging　square；　cornice…like　top　of　the　door；　and　the　light　was　weird；　dim；　shadowy；　opaque。　It　was　a　gray　tomb。

〃Waa…hoo！〃　yelled　Jones　with　all　the　power　of　his　wide；　leather　lungs。

Thousands　of　devilish　voices　rushed　at　us；　seemingly　on　puffs　of　wind。　Mocking；　deep　echoes　bellowed　from　the　ebon　shades　at　the　back　of　the　cave；　and　the　walls；　taking　them　up；　hurled　them　on　again　in　fiendish　concatenation。

We　did　not　again　break　the　silence　of　that　tomb；　where　the　spirits　of　ages　lay　in　dusty　shrouds；　and　we　crawled　down　as　if　we　had　invaded　a　sanctuary　and　invoked　the　wrath　of　the　gods。

We　all　proposed　names：　Montezuma's　Amphitheater　being　the　only　rival　of　Jones's　selection；　Echo　cave；　which　we　finally　chose。

Mounting　our　horses　again；　we　made　twenty　miles　of　Snake　Gulch　by　noon；　when　we　rested　for　lunch。　All　the　way　up　we　had　played　the　boy's　game　of　spying　for　sights；　with　the　honors　about　even。　It　was　a　question　if　Snake　Gulch　ever　before　had　such　a　raking　over。　Despite　its　name；　however；　we　discovered　no　snakes。

From　the　sandy　niche　of　a　cliff　where　we　lunched　Wallace　espied　a　tomb；　and　heralded　his　discovery　with　a　victorious　whoop。　Digging　in　old　ruins　roused　in　him　much　the　same　spirit　that　digging　in　old　books　roused　in　me。　Before　we　reached　him；　he　had　a　big　bowie…knife　buried　deep　in　the　red；　sandy　floor　of　the　tomb。

This　one…time　sealed　house　of　the　dead　had　been　constructed　of　small　stones；　held　together　by　a　cement；　the　nature　of　which；　Wallace　explained；　had　never　become　clear　to　civilization。　It　was　red　in　color　and　hard　as　flint；　harder　than　the　rocks　it　glued　together。　The　tomb　was　half…round　in　shape；　and　its　floor　was　a　projecting　shelf　of　cliff　rock。　Wallace　unearthed　bits　of　pottery；　bone　and　finely　braided　rope；　all　of　which；　to　our　great　disappointment；　crumbled　to　dust　in　our　fingers。　In　the　case　of　the　rope；　Wallace　assured　us；　this　was　a　sign　of　remarkable　antiquity。

In　the　next　mile　we　traversed；　we　found　dozens　of　these　old　cells；　all　demolished　except　a　few　feet　of　the　walls；　all　despoiled　of　their　one…time　possessions。　Wallace　thought　these　depredations　were　due　to　Indians　of　our　own　time。　Suddenly　we　came　upon　Jones；　standing　under　a　cliff；　with　his　neck　craned　to　a　desperate　angle。

〃Now；　what's　that？〃　demanded　he；　pointing　upward。

High　on　the　cliff　wall　appeared　a　small；　round　protuberance。　It　was　of　the　unmistakably　red　color　of　the　other　tombs；　and　Wallace；　more　excited　than　he　had　been　in　the　cougar　chase；　said　it　was　a　sepulcher；　and　he　believed　it　had　never　been　opened。

From　an　elevated　point　of　rock；　as　high　up　as　I　could　well　climb；　I　decided　both　questions　with　my　glass。　The　tomb　resembled　nothing　so　much　as　a　mud…wasp's　nest；　high　on　a　barn　wall。　The　fact　that　it　had　never　been　broken　open　quite　carried　Wallace　away　with　enthusiasm。

〃This　is　no　mean　discovery；　let　me　tell　you　that；〃　he　declared。　〃I　am　familiar　with　the　Aztec；　Toltec　and　Pueblo　ruins；　and　here　I　find　no　similarity。　Besides；　we　are　out　of　their　latitude。　An　ancient　race　of　peoplevery　ancient　indeed　lived　in　this　canyon。　How　long　ago；　it　is　impossible　to　tell。〃

〃They　must　have　been　birds；〃　said　the　practical　Jones。　〃Now；　how'd　that　tomb　ever　get　there？　Look　at　it；　will　you？〃

As　near　as　we　could　ascertain；　it　was　three　hundred　feet　from　the　ground　below；　five　hundred　from　the　rim　wall　above；　and　could　not　possibly　have　been　approached　from　the　top。　Moreover；　the　cliff　wall　was　as　smooth　as　a　wall　of　human　make。

〃There's　another　one；〃　called　out　Jones。

〃Yes；　and　I　see　another；　no　doubt　there　are　many　of　them；〃　replied　Wallace。　〃In　my　mind；　only　one　thing　possible　accounts　for　their　position。　You　observe　they　appear　to　be　about　level　with　each　other。　Well；　once　the　Canyon　floor　ran　along　that　line；　and　in　the　ages　gone　by　it　has　lowered；　washed　away　by　the　rains。〃

This　conception　staggered　us；　but　it　was　the　only　one　conceivable。　No　doubt　we　all　thought　at　the　same　time　of　the　little　rainfall　in　that　arid　section　of　Arizona。

〃How　many　years？〃　queried　Jones。

〃Years！　What　are　years？〃　said　Wallace。　〃Thousands　of　years；　ages　have　passed　since　the　race　who　built　these　tombs　lived。〃

Some　persuasion　was　necessary　to　drag　our　scientific　friend　from　the　spot；　where　obviously　helpless　to　do　anything　else；　he　stood　and　gazed　longingly　at　the　isolated　tombs。　The　canyon　widened　as　we　proceeded；　and　hundreds　of　points　that　invited　inspection；　such　as　overhanging　shelves　of　rock；　dark　fissures；　caverns　and　ruins　had　to　be　passed　by；　for　lack　of　time。

Still；　a　more　interesting　and　important　discovery　was　to　come；　and　the　pleasure　and　honor　of　it　fell　to　me。　My　eyes　were　sharp　and　peculiarly　farsightedthe　Indian　sight；　Jones　assured　me；　and　I　kept　them　searching　the　walls