160 SADDLE AND CAMP 



drop beyond into the beautiful Sevier Valley, 

 dotted with parks of green trees that mark 

 hamlets and villages, yellow, at this time, with 

 ripening grain fields, interspersed with bright 

 green alfalfa meadows, combining to form bril- 

 liant color effects and contrasts. To the west- 

 ward the railroad enters the valley through the 

 river canon. 



Halfway down the northern slope of the 

 mountain I came upon a small ranch, on a nar- 

 row bench, its fields irrigated from a running 

 spring. Here I halted to water the horses and 

 drink from the spring myself. As I was about 

 to remount the ranchman came around the 

 house with a large pan of honey, just taken 

 from the hive. He set it down for me to ad- 

 mire, and as I admired an angry bee stung me 

 on the outer corner of my left eyelid and imme- 

 diately another, to even matters up, stung me 

 on the inner corner of my right eyelid. 



The ranchman was offering his sympathy 

 when he was stung just between his eyes. Thus 

 bound by a common affliction, we became 

 chummy. He offered me honey for luncheon 

 and I accepted, and while the horses ate oats I 

 enjoyed, as fully as circumstances would per- 

 mit, an ample dish of honey and an hour's chat 

 with my friend. 



MJIEM 



