of 



had long been adorned with a cluster of tall 

 spruces whose presence produced vegetable 

 mould and improved soil conditions. 



On the falling-away of this buttress the tree- 

 plumed terrace commenced to sag and settle. 

 The soil-covered debris was well roped together 

 and reinforced with tree-roots. When I came 

 along, these tall trees, so long bravely erect, 

 were leaning, drooping forward. Their entire 

 foundation had slipped several feet and was 

 steadily crowding out over the pit from which 

 gravity had dragged the buttress. The trees, 

 with their roots wedged in crevices, were an- 

 chored to bed-rock and clinging on for dear life. 

 Now and then a low, thudding, earth-muffled 

 sound told of strained or ruptured roots. The 

 foundation steadily gave way while the trees 

 drooped dangerously forward. United on the 

 heights, the brave trees had struggled through 

 the seasons, and united they would go down 

 together. They had fixed and fertilized the spoil 

 from the slopes above. This spoil had been held 

 and made to produce, and prevented from going 

 down to clog the channel of the Little Cimarron 



236 



