46 SADDLE AND CAMP 



The previous day we were riding in forests of 

 spruce and quaking aspens. Our descent had 

 carried us through pines and live oaks, where 

 foliage and climatic conditions were as different 

 as though separated by a thousand miles. In 

 the White River valley fields of Apache corn, 

 wheat, and alfalfa filled all the space capable 

 of irrigation. Government farmers are teach- 

 ing the Indians agriculture and instructing 

 them in irrigation, with the result that some 

 of them are fairly successful in raising crops. 

 Here and there were groups of hogans, with 

 children playing around them, women were 

 working in cornfields, and now and again a 

 mounted buck, watching his cattle, dashed along 

 at a canter. This is the Indian's pace — always 

 a canter, keeping the pony to it with a quirt. 



Bill became very weary under his pack, and 

 we were compelled to travel at a slow walk to 

 suit his gait. Once he lay down, and it seemed 

 unlikely that we should be able to reach Fort 

 Apache that day with him. But we plodded 

 on and at one o'clock in the afternoon had the 

 satisfaction of entering the post. 



