over was but an incident. I was not 

 surprised that it grew dark very soon, 

 and that we blundered on and on for 

 hours in the night until the near wheeler 

 just lay down in the dirt, a dark spot 

 in the dark road, and our driver, after 

 coming back from a tour of inspection 

 on foot, looked worried. I mildly asked 

 if we would soon cross Snake River, 

 but his reply was an admission that he 

 was lost. There was nothing visible 

 but the twinkling stars and a dim out- 

 line of the grim Tetons. The prospect 

 was excellent for passing the rest of the 

 night where we were, famished, freez- 

 ing, and so tired I could hardly speak. 

 But Nimrod now took command. 

 His first duty, of course, being a man, 

 was to express his opinion of the driver 

 in terms plain and comprehensive; then 

 he loaded his rifle and fired a shot. If 



