Cainpijig and Hunting in the Shoshone 



No rock is so treacherous ; its less com- 

 pact formation admits of the loosening 

 caused both by heat and ice. On lime- 

 stone or on granite, or even on basalt, you 

 can safely trust your weight to a very nar- 

 row^ foothold ; not so w^ith conglomerate. 

 Any tyro in mountain-climbing knows 

 enough to make perfectly sure of his 

 handgrip before seeking a new rest for 

 his foot ; and then, again, make sure of the 

 footing before reaching up or out with a 

 disengaged hand. On the rocky forma- 

 tions I have mentioned, there can be little 

 danger if caution is not neglected ; but on 

 conglomerate, extra care is necessary ; hand 

 and foot will sometimes give way suddenly 

 and simultaneously. I had a fall in this 

 way, two years ago, that came very near 

 being serious ; providentially, a heavy snow- 

 field lay directly below me, and I plumped 

 safely into its most charitable bosom. 

 Charity was cold on that occasion, but 

 more than comforting. It was entirely 

 my own fault ; I had broken the first rule 

 of prudence, and had gone up a " chim- 

 ney " where I could not possibly go down, 

 and so was obliged to make a descent over 

 a very dangerous and icy piece of con- 

 glomerate. I trust and believe I learned 

 a lesson. 



72 



