At Si. Mary's 



peered forth. We sought long and ear- 

 nestly among the rocks for any indications 

 of game, but with no result. To secure a 

 better view we gradually crept forward, un- 

 til at last we stood where we commanded 

 the whole basin. 



Nothing — absolutely nothing. 



We could scarcely believe it. We had 

 counted so much on this effort. But we 

 soon realized that our guide's prognostica- 

 tions had proven incorrect, and we were 

 angry. 



For a time nothing was said ; then the 

 guide, seeing the gloom on our faces, evi- 

 dently thought it best to say something in 

 explanation. What he did say did not put 

 us in a better humor. He simply could 

 not understand it, that was all. He had 

 always found them there before, and he 

 did not see why they were not there now. 



We said nothing, but sat down to rest 

 from that remarkable fatigue which always 

 attacked us immediately on the heels of a 

 disappointment. 



I fell a-thinking. It really did appear 

 to be a favorable place for game. By ly- 

 ing under cover and waiting, we might yet 

 get a shot. But we were some distance 

 from camp, and the afternoon was fast 

 passing ; we would have but little time 

 283 



