The Adventures of Young Maverick

feet, As down the rocky steep with clattering din He leaped into the path his wanderings to begin. The clouds began to blaze in golden glory As down the winding path his way he wended, The bastioned crags, in full light worn and hoary, Took on a flush as though with roses blended; From out the sky celestial dews descended, Which warm dry desert winds came up to greet, Tired of playing with the day now ended, Uprising softly, rosy lips to meet, Lulled with light lullabies and drowsy memories sweet. The freshet's pathway brought him to the wicket Flanked by two boulders of pink porphyry, Which gave to the ravine fringed by the thicket Of thorn of mesquite and wild locust tree; He peered into the shaded paths to see Whether there lurked of men in ambush there, But all was quiet and from danger free, No hint of hidden bailiff or of snare, Only the hush of shades gathered for evening prayer. Young Maverick gave them pause until well over, And stars were gathering in the purpling sky; Then silently, with tread like stealthy loverf He sought the covert's border, there to try Whether alarm might greet his watchful eye ; But all seemed open on the grassy slope, No lingering horsemen left behind, to spy On his return, no need of dread to cope With sentries watchful beat or whistling coiling rope. Free on the lap of hill-side now he stands, A gleam of light upon the darkened grass; Below him slope the richer pasture lands, Above, and backward, yawns the stony pass T... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.