8 THE NAUTILUS. 
The trader at Red Lake opened house for us and between the 
stores of the trader and our camp chest it was something like a 
return to civilization. The living room above the store was 
well equipped and the ladies took possession, the gentlemen 
making their nests in the sand-dunes. 
These trading posts are constructed much on the plan of the 
old frontier forts. The buildings are strong, the counters high 
and sometimes screened, for in their trade discussions the 
Navajos may resort to direct action. A few traders have lost 
their lives in these disputes and some of their goods. One of 
these was an elder brother of Wetherill. We look back with 
much pleasure to the over night at Red Lake. 
The road to Marsh Pass led through the Klethia valley. Lake 
reservoirs, fields and corrals by the road side, luxuriant sun- 
flowers and fire-weeds promising greater agricultural develop- 
ment, is our recollection of the ride. Marsh Pass is a rocky cut 
between the Black and Skeleton Mesas. An abundance of fire- 
wood and water stored in natural cisterns make this a conveni- 
ent camping place, and Leslie kept camp while the entire class 
on foot explored the ruins for a couple of days in Laguna 
Canyon. 
It was a pleasing journey of six miles along the floor of the 
canyon with high cliffs and palisades to the noted Betatakin 
ruins of 148 rooms. A rain storm overtook the lagging snail 
party, and while they were crouching under overhanging cliffs 
they were given an exhibition of many bridal-veil falls break- 
ing over the precipices. The forest dooryard at Betatakin was 
somewhat damp the remainder of the day, but the quaking 
asps and spruce were swarming with Pupillide, and here was 
found something new, Pupilla hebes mut. albescens. The damp 
collectors by a fire and protected by the city arch slept the 
sleep of the honest toiler and dried their clothing. The ladies 
descended ladders from the roofs and spread their blankets on 
the smooth sandstone flooring. The gentlemen slept on rocky 
shelving above the houses and the Dean, Casabianca to the 
core, stayed by the cooking beans and got wet. 
‘‘Betatakin is a homelike spot,’’ is the first thought of the 
visitor. The arched cavern in the cliff is 400 feet in width, 
