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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



calmly down by the roadside and waited 

 while a messenger returned to the set- 

 tlement we had last passed through and 

 borrowed a new bolster for the wagon. 

 In a way this last accident was provi- 

 dential, for the fact that the bolster had 

 either to be returned within a certain 

 time or paid for, tended to hasten on 

 the expedition. In about two weeks 

 from the day we left Jemez Springs, 

 we arrived at Aztec, having walked 

 nearly every step of the distance, some- 

 thing over two hundred miles. 



It has been suggested that we use an 

 automobile on these trips instead of a 

 prairie schooner. I can only say that I 

 wish any one who thinks this, might be 

 set down on a certain piece of road over 

 which we traveled after leaving Jemez 

 Springs. Twice we unloaded the wagon 

 and transported the goods piecemeal, 

 before we reached a comparatively good 

 track. It took considerable imagina- 

 tion to call those stretches of rocky hill- 

 side and gully roads, and although it 

 was possible to get over them with a 

 wagon I think an automobile could 

 scarcely have made the trip. 



Even difficult experiences and disas- 



ters, however, cannot dampen the en- 

 thusiasm of those who love the gypsy 

 life with all its freedom. We find real 

 joy in rising at five o'clock on a sum- 

 mer's morning — to eat a breakfast that 

 would astonish the jaded appetite of 

 a New Yorker. Then, hustling the 

 camp equipment into the wagon, we are 

 off at seven, walking perhaps ten or 

 twelve miles before the noon halt is 

 made. The sun may be hot, but the air 

 is so invigorating that it matters not. 

 We reach a ruin where, perhaps, I am 

 seized with a desire to probe into the 

 refuse heap for buried treasures, while 

 the archaeologist is taking his measure- 

 ments and pictures. One forenoon I 

 unearthed seven pieces of pottery in 

 this way, before it was necessary for the 

 expedition to move on. 



But no ! I am sure that it is quite 

 impossible to make any one realize the 

 charm of an existence like this, by 

 merely telling about it. One must be 

 there and do things and get the "feel of 

 the country" into his blood, and then, 

 unless he be tied too firmly to life's con- 

 ventionalities, he will return again and 

 vet again. 



In the high altitudes of the Southwest we always had a oamp fire, even on a summer's evening, but 

 in desert regions firewood is not to be had. Often very weird and wonderful were the stories told by 

 cowboy, trapper, and treasure hunter, as they visited with us about the fire at night 



