36 SADDLE AND CAMP 



Our trail turned down the bed of a dry brook- 

 let, which, fed by springs, presently became a 

 running rivulet and at length a creek. We were 

 upon the headwaters of Black River, a tributary 

 of Salt River. It derives its name from the 

 fact that the flowing water appears as black as 

 ink, though upon dipping a cupful it was found 

 to be as clear as crystal. Mineral deposits have 

 stained the boulders and sand of the creek bed 

 black. Near Thomas Peak are great lava beds, 

 said to be a full three thousand feet in thickness. 



Our trail several days before had carried us 

 out of the White River Apache Indian Reserva- 

 tion, but here we entered it again as we circled 

 Thomas Peak and cut across to Reservation 

 Creek, where, while we halted for a noon rest, 

 we caught our dinner of trout. In our search 

 for elk and other game signs, we wished to work 

 well in upon Old Baldy. With this in view 

 we turned northwesterly, and presently found 

 ourselves entangled in a series of ridges, deep 

 gulches, and rugged canon defiles, every ridge 

 covered with such a maze of fallen timber that 

 it was with the greatest difficulty we were able 

 to maintain our course or maneuver our horses. 



Steadily we rose to higher altitudes, working 

 our way through the network of fallen tree 

 trunks, over rocks, and ascending slopes where 



