In the Sierra 



quire if he knew where Professor Butler 

 was, he seemed yet more curious to know 

 what could possibly have happened that re- 

 quired a messenger for the Professor, and 

 instead of answering my question he asked 

 with military sharpness, " Who wants him ? " 

 I want him," I replied with equal sharp- 

 ness. "Why? Do you know him?" "Yes," 

 I said. "Do you know him?" Astonished 

 t any one in the mountains could pos- 

 sibly know Professor Butler and find him 

 as soon as he had reached the valley, he 

 came down to meet the strange moun- 

 taineer on equal terms, and courteously re- 

 plied, " Yes, I know Professor Butler very 

 well. I am General Alvord, and we were 

 fellow students in Rutland, Vermont, long 

 ago, when we were both young." " But 

 where is he now?" I persisted, cutting short 

 lis story. " He has gone beyond the falls 

 with a companion, to try to climb that 

 big rock, the top of which you see from 

 here." His guide now volunteered the in- 

 [ 245 ] 



