42 HUNTING SPOKTS OF THE WEST. 



and dark abrupt character of this rent in the earth, made 

 them almost sick as they looked down into it; the more 

 so, perhaps, that there was no way of continuing their 

 journey but by crossing it. Had they been made of 

 india-rubber, they might have rolled themselves up into 

 balls and bowled down to the bottom, with the utmost 

 ease ; but even that would have left them with the dif- 

 ficulty of getting up the other side, as apparently insu- 

 perable as ever. However, cross it they must ; and as, 

 the day previous, they had seen numerous foot-marks of 

 Indians, horses, and buffaloes leading in this direction, it 

 was evident that they had managed to pass it, and if 

 they could, so might others. It was dangerous, but that 

 could not be helped ; so the steadiest and best behaved 

 horses and mules were first induced to begin the perilous 

 descent, those who were less, to be trusted bringing up 

 the rear. There was one advantage attending their steep 

 downward course, and that was, that, once in for it, and 

 there was no turning back. Onward they were obliged 

 to go ; and amid clattering stones, loosened by their 

 tread, and that leaped and bounded down before them, 

 they at last reached in safety the very bottom of this 

 dreary ravine. 



Here they rested for a while, as was evident their pre- 

 decessors the Indians had done ; various traces of whose 

 camp were scattered about. The track upwards and out 

 of the cleft was presently discovered ; and winding along 

 the ravine till it was reached, afforded ample opportunity 

 for noticing the remarkable and fantastic effects of the 

 rushing waters that coursed throughout it. Pillars, forts, 

 battlements, turrets, by turns presented themselves, till 



