THE COWARDLY COUGAR 



nouncement that "This is the life, boys! 

 Nothing to do but eat, sleep, and ride a horse ! " 

 fell upon unheeding ears. It was a ghastly 

 failure as an effort to cheer. 



We got safely across the Shinumo we must 

 have done so, for I am here but the memory 

 of how it was accomplished is lost in the black 

 shadows of forgetfulness. We were dumb, 

 suffering, spiritless creatures. Doubtless those 

 unfeeling cowboys tied their ropes in our 

 collars and towed us across, hand over hand, 

 as they towed Red, the visiting hound dog 

 whom they were taking along as an addition 

 to Uncle Jim's pack. I don't know. 



After leaving the Shinumo, the scenery be- 

 comes more arresting, and so does the trail. 

 Whoever is responsible for either or both 

 tried to show off, and succeeded. In one 

 place, as we dug our heels into a ledge 

 and supported the weight of an overhang- 

 ing cliff upon our shoulders, Fred exclaimed, 

 mournfully : 



"Gee! I'm sorry the camera is wet! This 

 would make a great picture." 



Paul's eyes were closed, but he was not 

 sleeping. 



" It would, indeed," he declared, with feeling, 

 167 



