232 Life in the Open 



especially when barbecued by some of the Mexican 

 past-masters of the art on the island. 



On one trip to Middle Ranch, the barbecue was held 

 in the evening around a big camp-fire. The Mexicans 

 had stripped off long poles of willow, and impaling big 

 joints of meat, held it over the coals, turning it around 

 and around until done to a turn ; then there were chili 

 con carne and chili Colorado a.f\d.frzjoles, and then, over 

 the cigars and pipes, tales of the old times, by the old- 

 timers, tales of the days when Santa Catalina, according 

 to legend, was traded for a horse. 



Middle Ranch Cafton, which almost cuts the island in 

 two, is remarkable for its climate. In summer a cool 

 breeze sweeps in from the sea, coming up the long wind- 

 ing river of verdure, making the conditions almost per- 

 fect ; indeed the climate of Santa Catalina Island is 

 worthy a treatise by itself, so peculiar is it, so perfect 

 from the insular standpoint. 



Hunting is what it is made. One may coop a jack- 

 rabbit in a large corral and watch greyhounds run it 

 down, and imagine it sport ; so, too, the hunter may at 

 times corral the goat of Santa Catalina in some corner 

 and slay it without trouble with the aid of a guide, who 

 is also seeking minimum physical exertion ; but the 

 hunter who will go out into the open and climb the crags 

 of the big mountains or peaks will, I venture to say, in 

 the majority of instances, have hunting and climbing that 

 would be considered all-sufficient if for " wild goat " had 

 been substituted the term " bighorn," " What 's in a 



