STEEP TRAILS 



base of the mountain the channel was dry, and 

 the chaparral closed over from bank to bank, 

 so that I was compelled to creep more than a 

 mile on hands and knees. 



In one spot I fomid an opening in the thorny 

 sky where I could stand erect, and on the 

 further side of the opening discovered a small 

 pool. "Now, here," I said, "I must be careful 

 in creeping, for the birds of the neighborhood 

 come here to drink, and the rattlesnakes come 

 here to catch them." I then began to cast my 

 eye along the channel, perhaps instinctively 

 feehng a snaky atmosphere, and finally dis- 

 covered one rattler between my feet. But there 

 was a bashful look in his eye, and a withdraw- 

 ing, deprecating kink in his neck that showed 

 plainly as words could tell that he would not 

 strike, and only wished to be let alone. I there- 

 fore passed on, lifting my foot a little higher 

 than usual, and left him to enjoy his life in this 

 his own home. 



My next camp was near the heart of the basin, 

 at the head of a grand system of cascades from 

 ten to two hundred feet high, one following 

 the other in close succession and making a total 

 descent of nearly seventeen hundred feet. The 

 rocks above me leaned over in a threatening 

 way and were full of seams, making the camp 

 a very unsafe one during an earthquake. 



152 



