of 4* 



would be easy, for the loose rocks lay insecure 

 on a slope of perilous steepness. From time to 

 time in resting I heard the entire mass settling, 

 snarling, and grinding its way with glacier slow- 

 ness down the steep. 



Just beneath the shoulder the tilting steep- 

 ness of this rocky debris showed all too well that 

 the slightest provocation would set a grinding 

 whirlpool of a stone river madly flowing. The 

 expected at last happened when a boulder upon 

 which I lightly leaped settled and then gave 

 way. The rocks before made haste to get out 

 of the way, while those behind began readjust- 

 ing themselves. The liveliest of foot-work kept 

 me on top of the now settling, hesitating, and 

 inclined-to-roll boulder. There was nothing sub- 

 stantial upon which to leap. 



Slowly the heavy boulder settled forward 

 with a roll, now right, now left, with me on top 

 trying to avoid being tumbled into the grinding 

 mill hopper below. At last, on the left, a sliding 

 mass of crushed, macadamized rock offered a 

 possible means of escape. Not daring to risk 

 thrusting a leg into this uncertain mass, I al- 



114 



