AMONG THE MOUNTAINS. 93 



cans who had come in with our companion train. These all 

 mingled in a sulphurous, polyglot whirlwind and ascended 

 skyward through the deep caiion. Let us hope that when the 

 recording angel charged these things up to the poor ox-drivers, 

 he found something to put to their credit in their after-lives ; 

 but, I fear, the chances were small of his doing so. I know 

 that his tears, plenteous as they would be, could not efface the 

 debit entries. 



Taking into account the nature of our road, and that there 

 were fifty teamsters, each with twelve oxen to manage, and that 

 our train, when in close order, reached about a mile, it need 

 not be wondered at that there was confusion, with some result- 

 ant naughtiness of language. 



We had expected to go through the canon by night, but 

 the continued misfortunes that befell us made it impossible, 

 and we halted as darkness began to arch over the sky-light 

 above us. In our contracted space we could only leave the 

 wagons strung along the gorge, and turn loose the hungry, 

 foot-sore cattle. Here I stood my last guard for "Old Russel," 

 as we called the firm who employed us. The night was bit- 

 terl}^ cold, and a fierce wind was blowing down the canon 

 from the distant valley of Provo. Walking back and forth, 

 over thorny plants and sharp stones, and shivering with cold, 

 I passed a night to be remembered ; and I was glad when I saw 

 the morning sun gilding the frost-tipped crests of the canon 

 walls. Gathering our still hungry and benumbed oxen, w^e 

 continued down the valley, the scenery of which grew more 

 grand as we proceeded. On the left bank the walls arose 

 almost perpendicularly to the height of a thousand feet, having 

 off'sets in places on which were growing tall pines, while at 

 the foot of the gray wall the river leaped and foamed. We 

 passed at one place a frozen cascade which must have been 

 eight hundred feet high. This distorted column of ice was a 

 fine sight, and was an evidence of the coldness of the night 

 we had just passed. 



