148 With Feet to the Earth 



leads by way of Mount Washburn and 

 Tower Falls to Mammoth Hot Springs, 

 leaving our guides to take the wagon by 

 the alleged road to this latter point, through 

 the geyser district. We had not been two 

 hours on the march before the sound of 

 horses was heard behind us, and we stood 

 aside to let them pass. A herd of Indian 

 ponies emerged from the shrubbery, and 

 behind them rode the rustler. A noble 

 forest lifting around us, the canon of the 

 Yellowstone yawning at our right, its terrors 

 half veiled in wondrous color, sweet air, 

 pure sky, and cheery sun made a joyous 

 harmony, and with it the glum, suspicious 

 figure of the rider was out of key. At 

 sight of us he pulled up sharply. " I want 

 to go to Gardiner," he said. 



"That's where we are going," one of us 

 replied. 



"Will this trail take me there?" 



"Yes ; but if you will turn back and go 

 the other way, taking the first turn to the 

 right, you'll find a road. This is nothing 

 but a trail." 



He was silent for a moment, then said, 



