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sand for about nine hundred feet。 The country's flat all around
it； and this here rock goes up all by itself； like a monument。
They call it the Enchanted Bluff down there； because no white man
has ever been on top of it。 The sides are smooth rock； and
straight up； like a wall。 The Indians say that hundreds of years
ago； before the Spaniards came； there was a village away up there
in the air。 The tribe that lived there had some sort of steps；
made out of wood and bark； bung down over the face of the bluff；
and the braves went down to hunt and carried water up in big jars
swung on their backs。 They kept a big supply of water and dried
meat up there； and never went down except to hunt。 They were a
peaceful tribe that made cloth and pottery； and they went up there
to get out of the wars。 You see； they could pick off any war party
that tried to get up their little steps。 The Indians say they were
a handsome people； and they had some sort of queer religion。 Uncle
Bill thinks they were Cliff…Dwellers who had got into trouble and
left home。 They weren't fighters； anyhow。
〃One time the braves were down hunting and an awful storm came
upa kind of waterspoutand when they got back to their rock they
found their little staircase had been all broken to pieces； and
only a few steps were left hanging away up in the air。 While they
were camped at the foot of the rock； wondering what to do； a
war party from the north came along and massacred 'em to a man；
with all the old folks and women looking on from the rock。 Then
the war party went on south and left the village to get down the
best way they could。 Of course they never got down。 They starved
to death up there； and when the war party came back on their way
north； they could hear the children crying from the edge of the
bluff where they had crawled out； but they didn't see a sign of a
grown Indian； and nobody has ever been up there since。〃
We exclaimed at this dolorous legend and sat up。
〃There couldn't have been many people up there；〃 Percy demurred。
〃How big is the top； Tip？〃
〃Oh； pretty big。 Big enough so that the rock doesn't look
nearly as tall as it is。 The top's bigger than the base。 The
bluff is sort of worn away for several hundred feet up。 That's one
reason it's so hard to climb。〃
I asked how the Indians got up； in the first place。
〃Nobody knows how they got up or when。 A hunting party came
along once and saw that there was a town up there； and that was
all。〃
Otto rubbed his chin and looked thoughtful。 〃Of course there
must be some way to get up there。 Couldn't people get a rope over
someway and pull a ladder up？〃
Tip's little eyes were shining with excitement。 〃I know a
way。 Me and Uncle Bill talked it over。 There's a kind of rocket
that would take a rope overlifesavers use 'emand then you could
hoist a rope ladder and peg it down at the bottom and make it tight
with guy ropes on the other side。 I'm going to climb that there
bluff； and I've got it all planned out。〃
Fritz asked what he expected to find when he got up there。
〃Bones； maybe； or the ruins of their town； or pottery； or some
of their idols。 There might be 'most anything up there。 Anyhow；
I want to see。〃
〃Sure nobody else has been up there； Tip？〃 Arthur asked。
〃Dead sure。 Hardly anybody ever goes down there。 Some hunters
tried to cut steps in the rock once； but they didn't get higher
than a man can reach。 The Bluff's all red granite； and Uncle Bill
thinks it's a boulder the glaciers left。 It's a queer place；
anyhow。 Nothing but cactus and desert for hundreds of miles； and
yet right under the Bluff there's good water and plenty of grass。
That's why the bison used to go down there。〃
Suddenly we heard a scream above our fire； and jumped up to
see a dark； slim bird floating southward far above usa whooping
crane； we knew by her cry and her long neck。 We ran to the edge of
the island； hoping we might see her alight； but she wavered
southward along the rivercourse until we lost her。 The Hassler
boys declared that by the look of the heavens it must be after
midnight； so we threw more wood on our fire； put on our jackets；
and curled down in the warm sand。 Several of us pretended to doze；
but I fancy we were really thinking about Tip's Bluff and the
extinct people。 Over in the wood the ring doves were calling
mournfully to one another； and once we heard a dog bark； far away。
〃Somebody getting into old Tommy's melon patch；〃 Fritz murmured
sleepily； but nobody answered him。 By and by Percy spoke out of
the shadows。
〃Say； Tip； when you go down there will you take me with you？〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃Suppose one of us beats you down there； Tip？〃
〃Whoever gets to the Bluff first has got to promise to tell
the rest of us exactly what he finds；〃 remarked one of the Hassler
boys； and to this we all readily assented。
Somewhat reassured； I dropped off to sleep。 I must have
dreamed about a race for the Bluff； for I awoke in a kind of fear
that other people were getting ahead of me and that I was losing my
chance。 I sat up in my damp clothes and looked at the other boys；
who lay tumbled in uneasy attitudes about the dead fire。 It was
still dark； but the sky was blue with the last wonderful azure of
night。 The stars glistened like crystal globes； and trembled as if
they shone through a depth of clear water。 Even as I watched； they
began to pale and the sky brightened。 Day came suddenly； almost
instantaneously。 I turned for another look at the blue
night； and it was gone。 Everywhere the birds began to call； and
all manner of little insects began to chirp and hop about in the
willows。 A breeze sprang up from the west and brought the heavy
smell of ripened corn。 The boys rolled over and shook themselves。
We stripped and plunged into the river just as the sun came up over
the windy bluffs。
When I came home to Sandtown at Christmas time； we skated out
to our island and talked over the whole project of the Enchanted
Bluff； renewing our resolution to find it。
Although that was twenty years ago； none of us have ever
climbed the Enchanted Bluff。 Percy Pound is a stockbroker in
Kansas City and will go nowhere that his red touring car cannot
carry him。 Otto Hassler went on the railroad and lost his foot
braking； after which he and Fritz succeeded their father as the
town tailors。
Arthur sat about the sleepy