80 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



end of our journey. Before us rose the sloping 

 side of a ridge, covered entirely with loose shale, 

 and so steep that it was impossible to climb it even 

 on horseback without making a long diagonal across 

 its flank. At the summit the ridge was narrow 

 enough to be straddled by a wagon, and it sloped 

 down at the same angle on the other side. 



The teamster refused to go any further, and this 

 angered Isaac, who said that he would drive him- 

 self. So he unhitched the lead horses, and climbing 

 the wagon, urged on the stupid mustangs. One 

 walked in a trail that we had made, the other in the 

 loose dirt below. 



I was a good deal concerned as to the fate of both 

 man and team, but experience had taught me the 

 folly of arguing with an angry man ; so I sat on my 

 horse and waited for the outcome. Isaac had driven 

 about thirty feet above the level floor, when the in- 

 evitable happened. I saw the wagon slowly begin 

 to tip, pulling the ponies over sideways, and then 

 the whole outfit, wagon and horses, began to roll 

 down the slope. Whenever the wheels stuck up in 

 the air, the ponies drew in their feet to their bellies, 

 and at the next turn, stretched out their legs for 

 another roll. 



My heart was in my mouth for fear that Isaac 

 would be killed in one of the turns, or that wagon 

 and all would roll over a thousand-foot precipice 



