124 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



fall, but extricated himself. Then the doctor's horse 

 got down, fastening his rider by winding the rope 

 about his legs so that escape was impossible. The 

 struggling and kicking horses were on the edge of a 

 precipice which would give them a sheer fall of three 

 hundred feet should they go over, and the situation 

 was precarious in the extreme. The ropes were 

 quickly cut and the doctor relieved from his dan- 

 gerous position, and then the horses got up safely. 



But these were not all the troubles of the trip over 

 the pass. A few miles farther on a freighter stuck 

 fast in the mud effectually barred the way. It was 

 utterly impossible to get past the big wagon, so three 

 hours were spent in assisting the freighter and clear- 

 ing the road. Camp was made that night by a small 

 spring, and by six o'clock next morning they were 

 again on the road. At noon they reached Condon's 

 Ferry, the home of " Wild-Goose Bill," who spent 

 several hours, when he first came into the country, 

 stalking and killing his neighbours' tame geese. 



The early morning breeze increased to a hurricane 

 and the dust filled the air, while heavy black clouds 

 of smoke and ashes covered the sky. The discomfort 

 of travelling was so great that camp was made early 

 in the afternoon, and they undertook the almost im- 

 possible task of getting supper amid the dust and 

 ashes. Dyche and the judge started a fire and 

 cooked a supper after a fashion, but everything was 

 so mixed with ashes that eating was almost impossi- 

 ble. The doctor was the life of the party, and his 

 exuberance kept them from utter demoralisation. 



The potatoes were half fried and full of dirt. " All 



