(Roc% (mounfam Tt?on*>ettf<mt> 



her as long as I desired, and proudly declared 

 that if she was turned loose anywhere within 

 thirty miles she would promptly come home or 

 die. A trip into the mountains beyond Tellu- 

 ride was my plan. 



A "return horse" is one that will go home at 

 once when set free by the rider, even though 

 the way be through miles of trailless moun- 

 tains. He is a natural result of the topography 

 of the San Juan Mountains and the geographic 

 conditions therein. Many of the mines in this 

 region are situated a thousand feet or so up 

 the precipitous slopes above the valleys. The 

 railroads, the towns, society, are down in 

 the canons, — so near and yet so far, — and the 

 only outlet to the big world is through the 

 canon. Miners are willing to walk down from 

 the boarding-house at the mine; but not many 

 will make the vigorous effort, nor give the three 

 to four hours required, to climb back up the 

 mountain. Perhaps some one wants to go to a 

 camp on the opposite side of the mountain. As 

 there is no tunnel through, he rides a return 

 horse to the summit, turns the horse loose, then 



170 



