238 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



thing struck terra-firma, a sound of showers of stones 

 rattling, then silence. Far up the precipitous sides 

 of the opposite valley we saw a lonely sheep, rushing 

 along post-haste to tell the others to be warned in 

 time. It must have got our wind, and decided to 

 make a bold bid for safety by taking a header down 

 the steep incline. 



Clinging spider-like to the ridges we worked our 

 way to a fearsome bit of country, beyond which many 

 worth-having rams grazed in bunches of three and 

 four. To get to the fairly open ground within range 

 it was shorter to cross a natural bridge to the spot, 

 a narrow track leading round the side of the crevasse. 



The Leader said he did not think it advisable to 

 travel by this route, as the path appeared to him to 

 have no real ending round the corner, and we should 

 probably have to retrace our steps and so have all 

 the excursion for nothing. I gave it as my opinion 

 that the track continued for some way beyond our 

 line of vision along the side of the ravine. I was 

 not stubborn about this, because I am open to con- 

 viction on any point. I am ready at a moment's 

 notice to change completely round if I can see I was 

 wrong at first. I pride myself on being able to say, 

 " I have made a mistake." There are some men, 

 and many women, who think it a sign of strong- 

 mindedness to stick to a thing when once they have 

 said it. I count it greater and more magnanimous 

 to confess an error and redeem it. 



We never stopped to convince or think it out, but 

 essayed the bridge of Nature's building. Crossing it, 



