PINON WELL TO MECCA 163 



case, when he mentioned that In a locked building 

 near by there was a little store of hay, the property 

 of a Mecca man who occasionally made trips to a 

 claim in the Eagle Mountains. He also offered the 

 opinion that "a feller's hoss hadn't oughter go 

 hungry when there was hay layln' aroun'," Enough 

 said: I could pay the owner when I reached Mecca: 

 so I took French leave, off-saddled, and treated my 

 surprised Kaweah to a hearty breakfast. 



Under these circumstances I returned to my 

 former programme and passed an easy day, revel- 

 ling In shade, cool sweet water, and leisurely meals 

 at which Crusoe bore me company. Cottonwood 

 Springs is one of the few desert watering-places at 

 which the traveller would wish to stay longer than 

 necessity requires. Some bygone hermit had planted 

 a few apple trees, which promised a tolerable crop, 

 and there was even a garden patch where Crusoe 

 cultivated radishes, beans, and tomatoes for the 

 benefit of the local quail and jack-rabbits. An old 

 arrastra (the primitive means of crushing ore In a 

 circular pit, by dragging heavy weights over it, 

 with horse or mule for motive power) spoke of old 

 times and timers, and the samples of rock scattered 

 about would have furnished several museums with 

 specimens. My friend's conversation bore all upon 

 mining affairs and was Hebrew to me ; while mine no 

 doubt was equally worthless to him, for the desert 

 had dried out every Interest but one, and turned 

 him Into a sort of mineral. 



While I was deep in slumber that night I had a 

 sudden alarm of rumble and shouting, and jumped 



