THE NAUTILUS. 



The trader at Red Lake opened house for us and between the 

 stores of the trader and our camp chest it was something like a 

 return to civilization. The living room above the store was 

 well equipped and the ladies took possession, the gentlemen 

 making their nests in the sand-dunes. 



These trading posts are constructed much on the plan of the 

 old frontier forts. The buildings are strong, the counters high 

 and sometimes screened, for in their trade discussions the 

 Navajos may resort to direct action. A few traders have lost 

 their lives in these disputes and some of their goods. One of 

 these was an elder brother of Wetherill. We look back with 

 much pleasure to the over night at Red Lake. 



The road to Marsh Pass led through the Klethia valley. Lake 

 reservoirs, fields and corrals by the road side, luxuriant sun- 

 flowers and^fire-weeds promising greater agricultural develop- 

 ment, is our recollection of the ride. Marsh Pass is a rocky cut 

 between the Black and Skeleton Mesas. An abundance of fire- 

 wood and water stored in natural cisterns make this a conveni- 

 ent camping place, and Leslie kept camp while the entire class 

 on foot explored the ruins for a couple of daj^s in Laguna 

 Canyon. 



It was a pleasing journey of six miles along the floor of the 

 canyon with high cliffs and palisades to the noted Betatakin 

 ruins of 148 rooms. A rain storm overtook the lagging snail 

 party, and while they were crouching under overhanging cliffs 

 they were given an exhibition of many bridal- veil falls break- 

 ing over the precipices. The forest dooryard at Betatakin was 

 somewhat damp the remainder of the day, but the quaking 

 asps and spruce were swarming with Pupillidse, and here was 

 found something new, Pup ilia hebes mut. albescens. The damp 

 collectors by a fire and protected by the city arch slept the 

 sleep of the honest toiler and dried their clothing. The ladies 

 descended ladders from the roofs and spread their blankets on 

 the smooth sandstone flooring. The gentlemen slept on rocky 

 shelving above the houses and the Dean, Casabianca to the 

 core, stayed by the cooking beans and got wet. 



11 Betatakin is a homelike spot," is the first thought of the 

 visitor. The arched cavern in the cliff is 400 feet in width, 



