along a very steep bank which ended 

 a hundred feet below in a granite 

 precipice. It had been raining and 

 snowing in a fitful fashion, and the clay 

 ground was slippery, making a most 

 treacherous footing. One of the pack 

 animals just ahead of my horse slipped, 

 fell to his knees, the heavy pack over- 

 balanced him, and away he rolled over 

 and over down the slope, to be stopped 

 from the precipice only by the happy 

 accident of a scrub tree in the way. 

 Frightened by this sight, my animal 

 plunged, and he, too, lost his footing. 

 Had I been riding side-saddle, nothing 

 could have saved me, for the down- 

 hill was on the near side; but instead 

 I swung out of the saddle on the off 

 side and landed in a heap on the up- 

 hill, still clutching the bridle. That 

 act saved my horse's life, probably, 



