CHAPTER VI 



PIGEONS AND BEAR 



OUR trail led over a parched desert, sup- 

 porting only miniature sage brush and 

 greasewood. We had intended to visit a 

 remarkable salt spring to the southward, but 

 this would have consumed a day and carried us 

 into a region nude of forage for the horses. 

 Therefore it was decided to pass on and head 

 directly for Cedar Creek, eighteen miles from 

 Fort Apache, and the nearest available water. 

 Kelly's Butte and many other smaller but 

 picturesque buttes and formations peculiar to 

 the desert, as well as several striking peaks, 

 were passed, or stood out against the sky line 

 in the distance. The sun beat down upon the 

 naked sand in blinding, blistering intensity and 

 dust rose in dead clouds to choke us. 



Billy, quite rested and apparently as fresh 



59 



