OLD FAITHFUL 117 



deposit about its crater, a silicious formation of 

 very slow growth. As the water flows, a trifle of 

 this silicate is left each time. By calculating the 

 growth, within known times, we arrive at the con- 

 clusion that this particular geyser has been burst- 

 ing forth, at the same interval of sixty-five min- 

 utes, for something like a million years. Think 

 of that! Never failing, always on time, so that 

 you may set your watch by it. Through all that 

 incalculable, inconceivable period, it has thus 

 thrust itself up and fallen back. Now, why, why, 

 does it do it just once in so often? All about it 

 are other geysers, some larger, some smaller, but 

 all more or less irregular save one. Old Faithful, 

 therefore, sets itself apart — distinguishes itself — 

 from all others. 



Hour after hour, and time after time, you go to 

 see it without wearying. It is a new miracle each 

 time — stupendous, awesome. 



You stand above the cleft from which it 

 emerges and hear, far down, tiny whisperings, little 

 sighs as though some animal turned in its sleep. 

 Then a boiling caldron forces itself almost to the 



