78 SADDLE AND CAMP 



cally known as the "O W outfit" — said to be 

 the best kept ranch in Arizona. There is a 

 log cook and bunkhouse and a log office, from 

 which Mr. Ramer manages his business and 

 where he has his sleeping quarters. He was 

 not there at the time, but the foreman invited 

 us to turn our horses loose in a pasture while 

 we had dinner. The ranch folk had eaten, but 

 the cook set the table and prepared another 

 dinner for us. 



This visit to Ramer's ranch left with me 

 one of the very pleasant memories of Arizona 

 travel — the green hollow among towering pine- 

 clad mountains, the roaring creek, singing 

 birds, and the unstinted hospitality of the ranch 

 folk. 



Our last camp along the Verde Trail, at the 

 head of Chevion's Canon, was made memorable 

 by the most terrific electric storm I have ever 

 experienced. We were sleeping in the open 

 when the first rumblings of heavy thunder 

 roused us. The night was black as ink and rain 

 was imminent. We lighted a pitch-pine torch, 

 and in ten minutes our tent was stretched be- 

 tween two small black-jack pines and our things 

 snug under cover. The rain fell in torrents, 

 the thunder roared and reverberated down the 

 canon in quick succession of terrific and ter- 



