Fairy tales of the western range, and other tales

Front matter

Western Range

OTHER TALES

EUGENE O. MAYFIELD

Contents

A Cowboy Alone with His Conscience 7

A Visit to a Wonderful Country 9

The Cowboy’s Dream 61

II

The days seemed to just run into each other, and had they consisted of twice twenty-four hours Jack and Teddy would not have grown weary of sight-seeing.

When they arose one morning their grandma told them if they hurried and eat their breakfast they could go with a coach load of tourists to Wind cave.

“What on earth is Wind cave?” asked Teddy.

“It is a great cave about twelve miles north of Hot Springs,” explained their grandma, “and is said to be the most wonderful place of the kind in the world.”

“What can we see there?” inquired Jack.

“I have never been there,” replied grandma, “but I know many people who have, and they all say the trip is one never to be regretted. I also know all about how the cave came to be found,” added the old lady.

“Tell us about it,” both boys said in chorus, and grandma told them the story :

“It was several years ago,” she began, “that a cowboy killed an antelope on the side of a hill near where the mouth, of the cave is. After the animal fell he got down off his pony and prepared to dress the carcass. As he stooped over he heard a hissing sound close by and jumped back in fright, fearing that a rattlesnake was about to strike. Then he looked all around, but could see nothing of the snake. Again he approached the antelope and was stooping over when the hissing noise came louder, he thought, than before. Looking up suddenly he saw a flat stone on the ground moving up and down much like the lid of a teakettle. The cowboy’s curiosity was aroused and he went to the stone and turned it over with his foot. As he did so a blast of wind rushed out of a deep hole and blew his hat far up out of his reach. Placing the stone over the hole, the cowboy went back to the ranch and told what he had seen. In time the hole was examined and it was found that it extended down into the ground. The opening was blasted out and the interior explored. The farther the workmen penetrated the hole the more surprised they were, for there were millions and millions of the most beautiful crystallizations and water formations imaginable. At last the cave fell into the hands of a company of men who explored it thoroughly and opened it up as a place of amusement and interesting study.”

“How far has the cave been gone into?” asked Jack.

“I can’t say,” replied his grandma. Then she added: “I have heard that one of the guides — for they have to use guides to keep people from getting lost — traveled over sixty miles in the cave, and when he came out his friends had given him up for dead, thinking he had lost himself in some of the dark passages. The guide told of the pretty things he had seen, which led to farther investigations. The result now is that you can walk for several miles down in the passages, from three to four hundred feet under the surface, and see things that it has taken untold ages for nature to form.”

And this is the cave that Jack and Teddy visited and where they met with some wonderful experiences.

At the entrance of Wind cave each of the party was robed in rough outer clothing and given a candle to carry. Then they started down the steep incline, a guide here and a guide there, to keep the visitors from breaking off some of the beautiful crystals that hung all about. Some were heavy stalactites that looked like pillars of marble; some were smaller, and in other places most wonderful webs of crystals were found, that resembled the meshes of a net. When Teddy saw this glistening mass of loveliness he said to Jack: “I’m glad Tommy Blower isn’t here, for he’d be sure to throw something into those pretty things.”

At various places along the way passages were found leading off to the right and left. Some were large enough for a grown person to pass through, and others were so small that even a boy could hardly effect an entrance. And into one of these Jack and Teddy managed to disappear.

It was several minutes before the boys were missed. The guide in the rear thought they were ahead of him, as they were when leaving “Paradise,” but now they were gone. In vain the guides searched and called the boys’ names — only an empty echo to their voices came back.

III

After the boys had squeezed in between crevice after crevice, up one steep place and down another, for nearly an hour, they heard water dripping and soon came upon a little spring that bubbled out through the cliffs. They were both thirsty, and after drinking all they wanted they heard a voice say : “Go into the first crevice beyond the spring and follow it until you see a light. There’s nothing to fear.”

“That must be a ghost,” exclaimed Teddy. “There are no ghosts,” replied Jack, “so let us do as the voice said.”

Passing the spring, a dark crevice was found a few feet farther on and the boys entered it. Before they had gone very far their candles were snatched out of their hands and they were in total darkness. Western boys are brave, however, and Jack and Teddy determined to learn all about the strange land they were in. They groped along for several yards until they came to an opening where -it was as bright as day. There was not a single lamp of any kind to be seen, nor was there any way for the sun to get down there, so far as they knew. The light, it seemed, came from the myriads of crystallizations which studded the roof and sides of the enclosure.

While the boys were still gazing about in wonderment a jolly little man came out of the side of the cave and said: “I welcome you to my country, and I hope you will enjoy yourselves every moment while you are here.”

“But who are you?” asked Jack, for he had never seen such a queer little body before in his life.

“My name is Chief Round Moon,” replied the little man, “and this country belongs to me, as it did to my forefathers since the beginning of time. Now if you will excuse me a moment I will go and dress myself in my natural garb,” he added.

The little man was back again before Teddy and Jack hardly had time to think, but, instead of being dressed in a long gown, as at first, he stood before them in the gaudy trappings of an Indian chief. His skin was a light copper color and his chin dimpled, while his nose bowed up in the middle. When he smiled it was as the laugh of a happy child.

“I know you boys must be hungry,” he said, “after your long tramp; so come with me and while you eat I will try and entertain you with a brief account of what you may see if you care to.”

They crossed the cave and entered another large room, lighted in the same manner as the other one. “This is my dining room,” he said. “Pray be seated and the Princess will soon be here with your dinner.”

“But where is the table?” asked Teddy.

The chief laughed and pointed to a mat made of rushes that lay in the center of the room. “That is what you would call a table,” he said, “but we call it by another name. However, it answers the same purpose, and if that be true there is no need to worry.”

A rattling of shells on a wooden tray attracted the attention of the boys and as they looked up an Indian girl, prettier than any girl they had ever seen, entered the room. “This is Princess Bright Eyes,” said the chief, by way of introduction. “She is my daughter, and, like myself, takes pleasure in doing you honor.”

Princess Bright Eyes made a low bow and placed the tray on the mat. As she passed out of the room the boys saw that she was even smaller than her father, whose head did not come up to Teddy’s shoulder. Her attire was interesting. She had on a loose blouse-like waist, covered with the prettiest beads the boys had ever seen. Her dress was dark and sparkled as if set in precious stones, and her leggings and tiny little moccasins were beaded.

But the boys were too hungry to think much about how their host and hostess were dressed, and they began to eat as heartily as if they had been fasting for days, instead of but a few hours.

Chief Round Moon did not disturb them until Teddy moved back from the mat and said he could eat no more. What their meal had consisted of they did not know, and being polite little fellows they dared not ask. All they knew was that the food was good and tasted unlike anything they had ever eaten.

Jack had just finished his meal when the Princess came in with the dessert and insisted that the boys must try some of her favorites. Then she placed on the mat a dish of the oddest pink and purple berries that ever grew down under the earth.

While the boys were eating the berries the old chief told them something of the wonderland into which they had come. “I know you will be surprised,” he said, “when I tell you I am over one thousand years old, yet it is true. The Princess, whom you just saw, is my daughter, and she is nearly five hundred years old. I have always lived in Wind cave, and when I am two thousand years old I will die and be buried in a crevice that you boys passed just before you came to the spring. All of our peopie live to be two thousand years old, unless they meet with an accident, for accidents happen down here just as they do up in your world. My race is the oldest in existence, and long before Adam entered the garden of Eden my people made their home here.”

“But where do you get your clothing and food?” asked Jack, as he and Teddy left the mat and took a seat on a gray stone.

“My domain is greater than you suppose,” replied Chief Bound Moon. “It extends many leagues in all directions, except upward. I dare not go in that direction, for I would then lose my power, and harm might come to my people. My castle is a short ways to the left of where we are now — perhaps a league and a half. This is my summer home. After you are rested I will take you to my castle and arrange for your journey through my country.”

“We will be delighted to go,” said Teddy, “but won’t you please tell us something of your country down here before we start?”

“I have no objection,” replied Chief Round Moon, “but it would be pleasanter for you to wait and let the Princess explain to you as you go along, for she will be your guide.”

The boys thanked the old chief, and after calling the Princess to accompany them they all started for the castle. As they passed along the chief told several funny stories, and by the time the castle was reached the boys were laughing until tears ran down their cheeks.

“I am sorry that you cannot get into my castle/’ said the chief as they passed through a gate where a little Indian stood guard with a rattle box in his hand, instead of a gun, “but you can walk about the grounds and peek in the windows and doors if you care to.”

Jack replied that he was sorry he had grown so large.

The castle was built of pink and blue crystals. It had a wide veranda running around its front, and there were many turrets and domes. Out in front was a wall with openings cut through, but so small that the boys could not pass. Teddy solved the problem by jumping over, and Jack soon followed. Looking through the doors and windows the rooms were found to be furnished very plainly. On the walls hung many different kinds of skins from animals, and the floors were carpeted with rushes. In the throne room was a raised platform on which stood a little tepee.

The chief explained that the tepee was not for use, but merely placed there according to the customs of his people. “Nor does a chief ever use a platform when holding council with his people/’ added the old chief. “We always meet on the level.”

While the visitors were examining the castle the servants of the chief had been passing in and out — all little men and women like Chief Round Moon and Princess Bright Eyes. None of them appeared to pay any attention to the boys unless they were spoken to, and then they would politely answer such questions as were put to them.

By this time it was late, and while the boys were yet looking about the castle they heard the sound of a bell, and a moment later they were greeted with a weird melody which came from tiny chimes up in the belfry over the watch tower. When the music had ceased Chief Round Moon said : “It is growing late and we had better prepare for supper.” Then he said something to a servant, who ran away as fast as his short legs would let him, and soon returned carrying a new mat, which he spread on the ground. A moment later other servants came out with refreshments and the boys were invited to be seated. For the second time since entering this strange country Teddy and Jack were guests at the table of Chief Bound Moon.

After they had finished their meal the chief looked at his watch, which was not much larger than one of the buttons on Jack’s waistcoat, and said that he would have their beds prepared and on the morrow they would start on their trip. Then he clapped his hands and half a hundred little Indians came out with robes and furs and spread them on the pavement in front of the main entrance to the castle. “You boys can sleep here with safety,” said the old chief, “yet I am sorry that I cannot give you better accommodations.”

The boys again thanked the chief and lay down to rest — and to dream of the wonderful things they had seen since they left the home of their grandma in Hot Springs. Teddy was soon fast asleep and Jack was ready to follow when he heard a slight noise, and looking up saw that their bed was being guarded by ten little Indian men, each armed with a long reed, at the end of which was a pretty rattle box covered with colored beads. The last thing Jack remembered that night was the erect forms of the wee guards of honor, as they noiselessly tramped back and forward. Then he, too, fell asleep and dreamed of being scalped with a rattle box covered with red and blue beads.

IV

After Jack and Teddy had eaten their breakfast the Princess and they started on their visit to the various places of interest. When they had passed the spring where the boys had heard the voice in the cliffs Princess Bright Eyes said : “My venerable father, Chief Round Moon, has instructed me to go with you to all parts of his domain you desire and show you how his people live and what they do. The first place we will visit will be an Indian village. You must not expect to see our people armed with rattle boxes down there, for they are not. They are warriors and carry bows and arrows, and all of them have tomahawks. This is necessary because they must be prepared to defend their chief and go on the hunt to get game for their families. They will not injure you, however, as no one here ever harms another, unless there is just provocation.”

“We’ll be good/’ said Jack, and Teddy nodded his approval.

They traveled for some time along a dark passage, the Princess leading the way with a lighted torch. The boys had begun to wonder when they were to come to the village, and Teddy was on the point of asking, when it began to grow light. “We are almost out in the sunlight,” said the Princess, as she extinguished her torch and left it in a hollow place in the side of the stone wall.

The boys observed it was getting as light as day, yet they saw no sun until suddenly they came out into an opening, surrounded by green trees, and then the rays of the queerest little sun burst forth. “What a funny sun,” said Jack. “It isn’t half so large as the last time I saw it.”

“You never saw that sun before,” replied the Princess. “It is not the same sun that shines on you. We have a little moon, too, and they are both controlled by the same invisible and all-wise power that moves the planets on the earth.”

“But why don’t Chief Bound Moon have his castle out here on the open?” asked one of the boys.

“He likes the stillness of the rock formations best,” replied the Princess; “yet you must not think he does not get rays of sunlight, for he does. There are passages leading through the rocks which carry reflections of the sun from point to point, by the aid of crystallizations, until the castle is reached, as well as the darker passages, and the sheen from the precious stones and crystallizations affords all the light necessary. And even if there were no sun, we would have artificial lights.”

After passing through the open space the boys were taken up an incline, and on looking downward the most wonderful country they had ever seen spread out before them. It was a fairyland in reality. Running through the valley was a clear stream of water, which the Princess told them was called the Elkhorn.

“Was the stream named after the railroad Jack and I came to Hot Springs on?” asked Teddy.

“No, the railroad was named ages after the river was,” replied the Princess, and the boys laughed.

“Now we will go down in the valley,” said the Princess, “and after you have traveled a little ways we will come to the outer edge of the Indian village.”

Skirting the stream for half a league they came suddenly upon a village of tepees, scattered much the same as those of the Indians the boys had read about. A pack of little Indian dogs came to greet the visitors and barked savagely until the Princess spoke to them, and then they all tried to greet her with a kiss. At one tepee two old squaws were dressing a hide that had been taken from an elk, the size of an ordinary cat. The horns were lying on the grass and the boys saw that they were smaller than anything of the kind they had ever seen. Playing on the common were dozens of little Indian boys and girls, who showed no fear when the strangers came among them.

As the party advanced into the village they began to meet the braves. Some of them were dressed for the hunt, and some of them had red and blue paint on their faces, showing they were ready for war, if Chief Round Moon called them. Princess Bright Eyes motioned to one of the sub-chiefs and he immediately advanced and saluted. He was told that Jack and Teddy were from the other world, and had been sent to the village by her father. The sub-chief, whose name was Ring-in-the-Toe, bowed to the boys, as if they had been royal personages and, turning, walked rapidly away. In a minute or so he came back and brought with him six young Indians, each carrying a bow and arrows, and a glistening little tomahawk. At his belt each carried a keen knife. When Teddy saw them coming he asked Jack if they were going to be killed. The Indians had no such intentions, however. They had merely come as a guard of honor, and a moment later the party started on the trip through the village.

Everywhere the boys went they found only things in miniature. The Indians were small, the ponies they rode or drove were small, and the homes they lived in were so small that neither of the boys could crawl into them. In the center of the village were the tepees of the sub-chiefs, each painted a bright carmine, while the other tepees were drab, with yellow rings around them. There were openings for the smoke to come out, and from many of them curled up in the air rifts of vapor. The boys asked what made the smoke so red, and it was explained that nothing but red wood was used on the fires.

Not far from where the chiefs had their tepees was a park in which were all kinds of trees and flowering shrubs, and the walks were lined with purple flowers that resembled pansies. In the center of the park was an open space where the Princess said the war dances were held. Little birds flitted about in the trees and wee squirrels chased each other from branch to branch. At the foot of one sturdy little tree stood a fountain from which a stream of water flowed. Teddy said he was thirsty and when one of the Indians handed him a shell full of the fluid he found that he was drinking the most delicious lemonade he had ever tasted. The Indians did not call it lemonade. They gave it a queer name, and when asked how it was made they replied that its origin was one of the secrets of the age, and they dare not disclose it. After the boys had drank all they desired they were taken on through the park and to the zoological gardens, where they were told they could see at least one of every animal that lived under the earth. And such a wonderful sight as it was. There were elephants, leopards, lions, bears, camels, monkeys, and in fact so many different creatures that the boys could not count them. They were all confined in a great cage that covered an immense space of ground, but there were no partitions in it. The animals romped and played together as if they had been kittens. The boys asked how it was that they did not quarrel, and were told that animals in Round Moon's domain never disagreed, but lived in perfect harmony.

Jack asked if any one ever entered the cage, and for reply one of the Indians opened the gate and went in. He went up to an elephant and, stepping on the animal’s snout, was lifted up on his back. Then the elephant knelt down while the Indian got off. Approaching a fierce lioness, which was playing with her cub, the Indian held out his hand and the lioness put up her paw to shake with him. Then he went over to where a lot of monkeys were chattering, and, after he had snapped his fingers a time or two, a score of them ran up a tree and out on a limb, where they hung by their tails until told to stop. A giraffe was nibbling buds from the top of a tree when the Princess called him by name, and he came over to the side of the cage and put his nose down for her to rub.

“Perhaps you think this is strange,” said the Princess, “but I assure you there is nothing out of the ordinary in it. You must remember that it has been millions of years since our world began and our people were advancing while your world was only dreamed of.”

“Would the animals tear me to pieces if I went into the cage?” asked Teddy.

“No, they would not injure you in the least,” replied the Princess, “and if you want to go in you may.”

But Teddy had not come to the strange country to play with wild beasts, and he declined. Nor did Jack accept the invitation.

After the boys had looked at the animals all they cared to the Princess reminded them it was already past dinner time and invited them to accompany her, and those with her, to the bank of the Elkhorn, where dinner was awaiting them.

When they arrived at the stream they found ten little Indian maidens, none much larger than a china doll, prepared to serve them with a feast of good things. Mats were spread on the grass, and while they were eating Ring-in-the-Toe told them of a tribe of Indians who lived on the opposite side of the river. “They are bad Indians,” said the chief, “and we sometimes have to go over there and punish them. At one time they all lived over on this side, but the bad spirit influenced them and they did things of which Round Moon disapproved and he sent them away. None of them ever dare come back on this side to live, but occasionally they will slip across in the night and try to make mischief.

“The last time Round Moon had to punish them,” continued Ring-in-the-Toe, “was about seven moons ago, and I am sorry to say that we had to punish them very hard, and leave many of them dead on the battle field. The Great Spirit was with Round Moon, and not a single one of his warriors was injured. When we came back we held a war dance lasting several sleeps, in the open space you saw in the park.”

“Is there any danger of them coming over while we are here?” asked Teddy.

“Not in the least,” replied Ring-in-the-Toe. “It will perhaps be over a hundred years before they come again, and it may be longer, but when they do Round Moon will punish them as before.”

“When Round Moon is dead, who will punish the bad Indians?” asked Jack.

“Before he dies,” explained the chief, “Princess Bright Eyes will marry. She is now old enough, for we celebrated her five hundredth birthday last moon. Her first baby boy will be our leader.”

“But supposing she never marries?” inquired one of the boys.

“No fear of that,” said the chief. “The Great Spirit has so willed it, and in all the millions of years that our people have lived there has never been any trouble of this kind.”

By the time the meal was finished it was getting late in the afternoon and the Princess suggested that the party go back to the village and listen to the tom-tom concert, after which they would be served with lunch and could retire to rest On the following day, she added, they might see the Indians hunting buffalo out on the range.

The concert proved to be a most interesting musical affair, over fifty Indian boys and girls beating tom-toms at the same time, yet so softly that the air was filled with melody.

After the concert the boys were given something to eat and provided with buffalo skins to sleep on, and for a second night visited dreamland with a guard of little Indians about them. But this time the red men held tomahawks in their hands instead of rattle boxes.

V

When the boys awoke the little round sun was shining full in their faces, the birds were singing, and there was a general stir of activity in the Indian village. They looked for their guards, but they had been withdrawn.

Teddy raised up on one elbow and said: “I think we had better get up, or we will miss our breakfast,” and a little later both were bathing their faces at a fountain. While they were thus engaged, the Princess appeared and informed them that breakfast was waiting.

Again they were served with queer tasting but palatable dishes. The meal over, it was announced that Chief Ring-in-the-Toe and his hunters would accompany the boys and Princess Bright Eyes to the hunting grounds.

Leaving the village, the party passed up along the bank of the Elkhorn until they were about two leagues beyond the park, where the first buffaloes were sighted. “These are only a few stragglers,” said the Princess, “but we will find plenty farther along.”

Another half league was passed when a number of Indians, mounted on wiry little ponies, rode out of a clump of trees and, after saluting Chief Ring-in-the-Toe, said that a herd of buffalo was grazing over the brow of the next range.

Each of the hunters was armed with bow? and arrows, and some carried glistening spears, which convinced the boys that they were to see all the fun they wanted before they got back.

When the party was as close to the herd as it was thought advisable to go before the hunt opened, Chief Ring-in-the-Toe mounted a pony that had been led by one of the mounted Indians, and telling Princess Bright Eyes to take the boys up on a high hillock, so they could see down in the valley, he ordered the footmen to follow and then rode off at a gallop.