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 overV 

 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, 



