The JVild Sheep of the Sierra. 



295 



CROSSING A CANON STREAM. 



other. The main band, headed by an experienced chief, now began 

 to cross the rapids. This was another exciting feat ; for, among all 

 the varied experiences of mountaineers, the crossing of boisterous, 

 rock -dashed torrents is found to be the most trying to the nerves. 

 Yet these fine, brave fellows walked fearlessly to the brink, and 

 jumped from bowlder to bowlder, holding themselves in perfect 

 poise above the whirling, confusing current, as if they were doing 

 nothing extraordinary. 



The immediate foreground of this rare picture was glossy, ice- 

 burnished granite, traversed by a few bold lines in which grew rock- 

 ferns and tufts of healthy bryanthus, with the gray canon walls on 

 the sides nobly sculptured and adorned with brown cedars and 



