THE CANON AND ITS GRIZZLIES 153 



most repulsive, yet one of the most interesting. 

 Once more I pause to inquire. Tell me, you scien- 

 tific sharps, where does the mud come from, and 

 why does it not exhaust in time? You give it up? 

 I don't blame you. You can explain most 

 things, but the Yellowstone keeps you guessing. 

 Just beside the mud volcano is a little gem of a 

 cave, all glowing with gold and azure from 

 mineral deposits. From its side, rhythmically 

 pulsating, a little jet of sulphur water is cast 

 against the opposite side. 



All about, the ground reeks with sulphur. 

 Little vapors issue from cracks in the ground. 

 Hades is close. It is interesting, but uncom- 

 fortable. From Sulphur Mountain, five miles 

 away on the other side of the river, and clear 

 underneath it to this spring, there is some sub- 

 terranean connection, for the ground all smells 

 alike. 



It is all sulphur. The mud smells of sulphur; 

 the rocks and the very foliage emit the odor. 



Half way to the cafion we enter Crane Valley, 

 the largest of the great valleys and famous for 



