JIMMY GOES OVER THE MOUNTAIN

The Yampa, or Bear River, was a welcome sight to us in spite of its disagreeable whitish yellow, clay colour; quite different from the red water of the Green River.  The new stream meant more water in the channel, something we needed badly, as our past tribulations showed.  The recent rise on the Green had subsided a little, but we now had a much higher stage than when we entered Lodore.  Quite likely the new conditions gave us six feet of water above the low water on which we had been travelling.  Would it increase or diminish our dangers?  We were willing, Emery and I, even anxious, to risk our chances on the higher water.

Directly opposite the Yampa, the right shore of the Green went up sheer about 700 feet high, indeed it seemed to overhang a trifle.  This had been named Echo Cliffs by Powell’s party.  The cliffs gave a remarkable echo, repeating seven words plainly when shouted from the edge of the Yampa a hundred yards away, and would doubtless repeat more if shouted from the farther shore of the Yampa.  Echo Cliffs, we found, were in the form of a peninsula and terminated just below this point where we stood, the river doubling back on the other side of the cliff.  On the left side of the river, the walls fell back, leaving a flat, level space of about twenty-five acres.  Here was a little ranch of which Mrs. Chew had told us.  The Chew ranch lay back from the river on top of the cliffs.  We found no one at home here at this first ranch, but there was evidence of recent habitation.  There were a few peach trees, and a small garden, while beyond this were two buildings,—­little shacks in a dilapidated condition.  The doors were off their hinges and leaned against the building, a few logs being placed against the doors.  Past the dooryard, coming out of a small canyon above the ranch, ran a little brook; up this canyon was a trail, the outlet to the ranch above.  We camped near the mouth of the stream.

It had been agreed upon the night before, that we should endeavour to make arrangements to have Jimmy taken out on horseback over the mountains.  Before looking for the ranch, however, we asked him if he did not wish to reconsider his decision to leave here.  We pointed out that Jensen, Utah, was only fifty miles away, half that distance being in quiet water, and that the worst canyon was behind us.  But he said he had enough of the river and preferred to see what could be done.  While I busied myself about camp, he and Emery left for the ranch.

About seven o’clock that evening they returned in great spirits.  They had found the ranch without any trouble nearly three miles from our camp.  Mrs. Chew was there and gave them a hearty welcome.  She had often wondered what had become of us.  She invited the boys to remain for supper, which they did.  They talked over the matter of transportation for Jimmy.  As luck would have it, Mrs. Chew was going to drive over to Jensen, and Vernal, Utah, in two days’ time, and agreed to take Jimmy along.