Snake Gulch 



motion above. They rolled and bumped and cut into 

 me, and I sustained many a bruise trying to protect 

 the sinewy slender legs of my horse. The descent 

 ended without serious mishap. 



Snake Gulch had a character and sublimity which 

 cast Nail Canon into the obscurity of forgetfulness. 

 The great contrast lay in the diversity of structure. 

 The rock was bright red, with parapet of yellow, that 

 leaned, heaved, bulged outward. These emblazoned 

 cliff walls, two thousand feet high, were cracked 

 from turret to base ; they bowled out at such an angle 

 that we were afraid to ride under them. Mountains 

 of yellow rock hung balanced, ready to tumble down 

 at the first angry breath of the gods. We rode 

 among carved stones, pillars, obelisks and sculptured 

 ruined walls of a fallen Babylon. Slides reaching all 

 the way across and far up the canon wall obstructed 

 our passage. On every stone silent green lizards 

 sunned themselves, gliding swiftly as we came near 

 to their marble homes. 



We came into a region of wind-worn caves, of all 

 sizes and shapes, high and low on the cliffs; but 

 strange to say, only on the north side of the canon 

 they appeared with dark mouths open and uninviting. 

 One, vast and deep, though far off, menaced us as 

 might the cave of a tawny-maned king of beasts; yet 

 it impelled, fascinated and drew us on. 



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