142 - THE MAMMOTH CAVE. ^ 



which we have already traveled, and by walk- 

 ing. Under such circumstances we feel a keen 

 appreciation of the value of horses and railroads. 



On our outward journey our party did not 

 manifest the same degree of gayety or agility as 

 during the inward passage. The contrast was 

 striking : they filed along with heavy gait, and 

 often in moody silence, — it being frequently 

 necessary for the leaders to halt, count heads, 

 and drum up the stragglers. All appeared will- 

 ing to take advantage of every opportunity to 

 be seated without being fastidious as to the 

 character of the seat. 



On returning through Cleveland's Cabinet, all 

 were anxious to secure specimens of the flowers, 

 etc. The floor is ' strewn with fragments of 

 these flowers, and visitors are privileged to take 

 therefrom as many as they wish, without let or 

 hinderance, but are not permitted, of course, to 

 disturb those on the ceiling or walls. Many of 

 the party selected the largest they could find. 

 We, on the contrary, took pains to collect a va- 

 riety of the smallest that would give a proper 

 idea of their character, anticipating their op- 

 pressive weight on the long journey yet before 

 us. Our conjectures proved correct. Before 

 proceeding a mile several of the party began to 

 throw down their specimens without a word of 



