Arizona -- Fiction; Grand Canyon (Ariz.) -- Fiction; Western stories
The Secretary had no intention of waking the strange little village at
night. He thought that, once he had relocated it, he would wait until
dawn before rousing any one. But he had not counted on the village
dogs. These set up such an outcry that, while Enoch leaned quietly
against a rude corral fence waiting for the hullaballoo to cease, the
door of the house nearest opened, and a man came out. He stood for a
moment very deliberately staring at the Secretary, whose polite "Good
morning" could not be heard above the dogs' uproar.
Enoch, with a half grin, dropped his satchel and held up both hands.
The man, half smiling in response, kicked and cursed the dogs into
silence. Then he approached Enoch. He was a small, swarthy chap, clad
in overalls and an undershirt.
"You're a Pueblo Indian?" asked the Secretary.
The Indian nodded. "What you want?"
"I want to buy a horse."
"Where you come from?"
"Off that train that went through a while ago."
"This not Ash Fork," said the Indian. "You make mistake. Ash Fork
that way," jerking his thumb westward. "You pass through Ash Fork."
Enoch nodded. "You sell me a horse?"
"I rent you horse. You leave him at Hillers' in Ash Fork. I get him."
"No, I want to buy a horse. Now I'm in the desert I guess I'll see a
little of it. Maybe I'll ride up that way," waving a careless arm
toward the north. "Maybe you'll sell me some camping things, blankets
and a coffee pot."
"All right," said the Indian. "When you want 'em?"
"Now, if I can get them."
"All right! I fix 'em."
He spoke to one of the other Indians who were sticking curious heads
out of black doorways. In an incredibly short time Enoch was the
possessor of a thin, muscular pony, well saddled, two blankets, one an
Army, the other a Navajo, a frying pan, a coffee pot, a canteen and
enough flour, bacon and coffee to see him through the day. He also
achieved possession of a blue flannel shirt and a pair of overalls. He
paid without question the price asked by the Indians. Dawn was just
breaking when he mounted his horse.
"Where does that trail lead?" he asked, pointing to one that started
north from the corral.
"To Eagle Springs, five miles," answered the Indian.
"And after that?"
"East to Allman's ranch, north to Navajo camp."
"Thanks," said Enoch. "Good-by!" and he turned his pony to the trail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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