DIGGING INTO A MOUND. 255 



this side of the mound, and from its position, and 

 the character of the ornament, I was immediately 

 impressed with the idea that it was over a doorway, 

 and that underneath was an entrance to an apart- 

 ment in the mound. The Indians had cleared be- 

 yond it, and passed on, but I called them back, and 

 set them to excavating the earth and rubbish that 

 buried the lower part of the ornament. It was an 

 awkward place to work in : the side of the mound 

 was steep, and the stones composing the ornament 

 were insecure and tottering. The Indians, as usual, 

 worked as if they had their lifetime for the job. 

 They were at all times tedious and trying, but now, 

 to my impatient eagerness, more painfully so than 

 ever. Urging them, as well as I could, and actu- 

 ally making them comprehend my idea, I got them 

 to work four long hours without any intermis- 

 sion, until they reached the cornice. The ornament 

 proved to be the same hideous face, with the teeth 

 standing out, before presented, varying somewhat in 

 detail, and upon a grander scale. Throwing up the 

 dirt upon the other side of them, the Indians had 

 made a great pile outside, and stood in a deep hole 

 against the face of the ornament. At this depth 

 the stones seemed hanging loosely over their heads, 

 and the Indians intimated that it was dangerous to 

 continue digging, but by this time my impatience 

 was beyond control. I had from time to time as- 

 sisted in the work, and, urging them to continue, I 

 threw myself into the hole, and commenced digging 



