ranch in Middle Park, before reaching which was a
"divide," the top of which soared far above the surrounding hills, and
then came the Gore, or Park range, split by the Grand River into an
impassable canon, along whose steep side ran the old Ute trail, up, up,
until it crossed the snow-covered summit beyond timber line, and thence
descended by serpentine and circuitous windings to the southern entrance
of the Park. From there to the ranch on the Troublesome was open level
country, across which was comparatively easy traveling. The other pass
over the Gore range, which was used by the trapper and Jack when they
made their incoming trip to Rock Creek, was already closed by snow as
far as travel by horses was concerned, and for that matter the Ute trail
was closed, except for being opened by the band of Indians and thirty or
forty ponies bucking their way through to Sulphur Springs.

CHAPTER V.

THE CAMP IN THE WILLOWS.

The most difficult portions of the journey would be encountered the
first day over the numerous ridges of barren waste intervening between
Rock Creek and the high divide. Old Joe shook his head in uncertain
manner when Jack asserted his confidence in being able to follow after
Colorow. Yamanatz nodded in assent at the dangers confronted by the
dilemma of Jack's unfamiliarity with the trail, and then in that
portentous monosyllabic manner of Indians in brief words conveying whole
paragraphs of information but adding to the dismal forebodings, said:

"White man all right. Plenty sign when trail in big woods. Heap sign on
big trees. Come big open, no trees, no sign; one look, two look, three
look, all same. All snow, no trail, no tree. Get lost; sundown, no fire,
no camp. White man cold. Pretty soon sleep; fall off pony; sleep long
time."

Then Jack knew that "three looks" would carry him from the top of one
high hill to the top of another, as far as the eye could reach to the
horizon, into a country absolutely treeless, and where even an Indian
would be lost if he had never been shown the trail. To attempt the trip
alone would be sheer madness and only result in that subtle overpowering
sleep into eternity--death by freezing.

Yamanatz stopped speaking for a moment to give his hearers ample time to
fully understand him, then continued: "White man sabe? Colorow gone one
sleep, mebbe so not make 'em Gore range. White man catch 'em pony
tomorrow. Two sleeps before can take 'em trail to follow Col