THE EAGLE ADVENTURES INTO STRANGE LANDS It can not be said that the Black Eagle of the Rocky Mountains approached civilization in any heroic disguise.

At its best, accompanying a cattle train is not epic in its largeness.

To prod cattle by means of a long pole, to pull out smothered sheep, are not in themselves degrading deeds, but they are not picturesque in quality.
They smell of the shambles, not of the hills.
Day by day the train slid down the shining threads of track like a long string of rectangular green and brown and yellow beads.

The caboose was filled with cattlemen and their assistants, who smoked, talked politics, told stories, and slept at all hours of the day, whenever a spare segment of bench offered.

Those who were awake saw everything and commented on everything in sight.