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, 
tell to his knees, the heavy pack over- 
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, 
SS 
sooriIORIOZEEO 
