46 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



to slacken my speed. I urged Charlie onward with voice 

 and spurs ; the noble animal escaped with but few scratches. 

 Going up the deep cut in the hill, the tracks of a large bear 

 attracted my attention, but it was impossible to follow them. 

 When I had gone about five miles the canyon became fear- 

 fully dark and deep ; the place presented an unearthly as- 

 pect. Here and there a large bird would rise, flap its wings 

 and fly slowly up the gorge. My horse was worn out and 

 would not go without repeated urging. The overhanging 

 rocks, the tall green pines, the damp atmosphere filled me 

 with a sort of supernatural dread. 



The large, vulture-like birds kept circling around over- 

 head, causing a shudder to pass over me. I made every en- 

 deavor to find a way out of this loathsome den. I found 

 a mountain-sheep trail winding among the rocks, over brush 

 and fallen trees, which I followed until I came to a perpen- 

 dicular rock five feet high. It seemed utterly impossible to 

 scale this rock with my horse, but I determined to make a 

 trial rather than retrace my way. My good horse tried 

 to make the leap, but fell back. I think he was as anxious 

 as myself to escape from the canyon. I took a long picket- 

 rope from my saddle, climbed to the top of the rock by hold- 

 ing on to shrubs, passed the rope around a large pine tree, 

 and, with the end in my hand, made my way below. I gave 

 Charlie a tap with a stick, and, when he made a leap,I pulled 

 with all my might upon the rope that was fastened to him. 

 To my joy, I landed him on the rock and was not long in 

 joining him. 



I found myself on a high plateau. Vegetation was 

 alive. Bunch grass and wild oats were here growing in 

 abundance. Deer tracks and sheep signs were to be seen 

 all around. I took a survey of the country while Charlie 

 got square with the oats. I was at least ten miles from 



