My First Summer 



behavior of the fall all the way down to the 

 bottom. But I found that there was yet an- 

 other small brow over which I could not 

 see, and which appeared to be too steep for 

 mortal feet. Scanning it keenly, I discovered 

 a narrow shelf about three inches wide on 

 the very brink, just wide enough for a rest 

 for one's heels. But there seemed to be no 

 way of reaching it over so steep a brow. At 

 length, after careful scrutiny of the surface, 

 I found an irregular edge of a flake of the 

 rock some distance back from the margin 

 of the torrent. If I was to get down to the 

 brink at all that rough edge, which might 

 offer slight finger holds, was the only way. 

 But the slope beside it looked dangerously 

 smooth and steep, and the swift roaring flood 

 beneath, overhead, and beside me was very 

 nerve-trying. I therefore concluded not to 

 venture farther, but did nevertheless. Tufts 

 of artemisia were growing in clefts of the 

 rock near by, and I filled my mouth with 

 the bitter leaves, hoping they might help to 



