74 SCALING THE CLIFFS. 



the present occasion by the murky sky which lowered 

 above the cliffs, as well as by the dead Indian, who 

 still retained the upright position against the rocks in 

 which Jake had placed him. His limbs had become 

 rigid, his eyes were open, and he seemed to fix a stony 

 stare upon the party as they approached. 



A couple of vultures flapped heavily across the sum- 

 mit of the chasm, their foul instincts having led them 

 to the spot to banquet on the corpse. One of these 

 perched upon a pine which leaned forward from the 

 cliff. 



" Wagh ! " exclaimed Jake, with strong disgust, " look 

 at that thur stinkin' case. I guess they'd 'a made a 

 meal o' the Redskin ef we hadn't kem too soon. Hyur's 

 a pill for yer," he continued, raising his rifle. 



At the report, which echoed from side to side of the 

 canon with a thousand reverberations, the ungainly 

 bird dropped from the branch, and whirling down with 

 great rapidity, it fell with a heavy sound upon a pile 

 of boulders which parted the waters of the creek. 



The hunters had brought a strong hide lasso with 

 them from the canoe, and old Jake, having attached 

 this firmly to the rope which he had used on the pre- 

 ceding day, and which still depended from the cave, 

 swung himself up with many a kick and scramble. In 

 this position he presented so ludicrous a spectacle that 

 the boys could not restrain their mirth, and burst into 

 shouts of laughter. 



" Giggle-goggle, young f ellurs, till yer busts. Ye're 



