WATER TRAILS OF THE CERISO 



Butte, and making straight for the mouth 

 of the canon that is the easiest going to the 

 winter pastures on Waban. So they still 

 cross, though whatever trail they had has 

 been long broken by ploughed ground ; but 

 from the mouth of Tinpah Creek, where the 

 deer come out of the Sierras, it is easily seen 

 that the creek, the point of Black Rock, 

 and Charley's Butte are in line with the 

 wide bulk of shade that is the foot of Wa- 

 ban Pass. And along with this the deer 

 have learned that Charley's Butte is almost 

 the only possible ford, and all the shortest 

 crossing of the valley. It seems that the 

 wild creatures have learned all that is im- 

 portant to their way of life except the 

 changes of the moon. I have seen some 



o 



prowling fox or coyote, surprised by its 



sudden rising from behind the mountain 



wall, slink in its increasing glow, watch it 



32 



