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only a harmless snake that had caused the trouble； we hushed to repose once morenot； however； without hearing some trenchant remarks from the boiling Colonel anent fun and fools； and the indubitable fact that there was not a rattlesnake on Buckskin Mountain。
Long after this explosion had died away； I heard； or rather felt； a mysterious shudder or tremor of the cabin； and I knew that Frank and Jim were shaking with silent laughter。 On my own score； I determined to find if Jones； in his strange make…up； had any sense of humor； or interest in life； or feeling； or love that did not center and hinge on four…footed beasts。 In view of the rude awakening from what； no doubt； were pleasant dreams of wonderful white and green animals； combining the intelligence of man and strength of brutesa new species creditable to his geniusI was perhaps unjust in my conviction as to his lack of humor。 And as to the other question； whether or not he had any real human feeling for the creatures built in his own image； that was decided very soon and unexpectedly。
The following morning； as soon as Lawson got in with the horses； we packed and started。 Rather sorry was I to bid good…by to Oak Spring。 Taking the back trail of the Stewarts； we walked the horses all day up a slowly narrowing； ascending canyon。 The hounds crossed coyote and deer trails continually； but made no break。 Sounder looked up as if to say he associated painful reminiscences with certain kinds of tracks。 At the head of the canyon we reached timber at about the time dusk gathered； and we located for the night。 Being once again nearly nine thousand feet high； we found the air bitterly cold； making a blazing fire most acceptable。
In the haste to get supper we all took a hand； and some one threw upon our tarpaulin tablecloth a tin cup of butter mixed with carbolic acida concoction Jones had used to bathe the sore feet of the dogs。 Of course I got hold of this； spread a generous portion on my hot biscuit； placed some red…hot beans on that； and began to eat like a hungry hunter。 At first I thought I was only burned。 Then I recognized the taste and burn of the acid and knew something was wrong。 Picking up the tin； I examined it； smelled the pungent odor and felt a queer numb sense of fear。 This lasted only for a moment； as I well knew the use and power of the acid； and had not swallowed enough to hurt me。 I was about to make known my mistake in a matter…of…fact way； when it flashed over me the accident could be made to serve a turn。
〃Jones！〃 I cried hoarsely。 〃What's in this butter？〃
〃Lord！ you haven't eaten any of that。 Why； I put carbolic acid in it。〃
〃OhohohI'm poisoned！ I ate nearly all of it！ OhI'm burning up！ I'm dying！〃 With that I began to moan and rock to and fro and hold my stomach。
Consternation preceded shock。 But in the excitement of the moment； Wallacewho； though badly scared； retained his wits made for me with a can of condensed milk。 He threw me back with no gentle hand； and was squeezing the life out of me to make me open my mouth； when I gave him a jab in his side。 I imagined his surprise； as this peculiar reception of his first…aid…to…the…injured made him hold off to take a look at me； and in this interval I contrived to whisper to him： 〃Joke！ Joke！ you idiot！ I'm only shamming。 I want to see if I can scare Jones and get even with Frank。 Help me out！ Cry！ Get tragic！〃
From that moment I shall always believe that the stage lost a great tragedian in Wallace。 With a magnificent gesture he threw the can of condensed milk at Jones； who was so stunned he did not try to dodge。 〃Thoughtless man！ Murderer！ it's too late！〃 cried Wallace； laying me back across his knees。 〃It's too late。 His teeth are locked。 He's far gone。 Poor boy！ poor boy！ Who's to tell his mother？〃
I could see from under my hat…brim that the solemn； hollow voice had penetrated the cold exterior of the plainsman。 He could not speak； he clasped and unclasped his big hands in helpless fashion。 Frank was as white as a sheet。 This was simply delightful to me。 But the expression of miserable； impotent distress on old Jim's sun…browned face was more than I could stand； and I could no longer keep up the deception。 Just as Wallace cried out to Jones to prayI wished then I had not weakened so soonI got up and walked to the fire。
〃Jim； I'll have another biscuit； please。〃
His under jaw dropped； then he nervously shoveled biscuits at me。 Jones grabbed my hand and cried out with a voice that was new to me： 〃You can eat？ You're better？ You'll get over it？〃
〃Sure。 Why； carbolic acid never phases me。 I've often used it for rattlesnake bites。 I did not tell you； but that rattler at the cabin last night actually bit me； and I used carbolic to cure the poison。〃
Frank mumbled something about horses； and faded into the gloom。 As for Jones； he looked at me rather incredulously； and the absolute； almost childish gladness he manifested because I had been snatched from the grave； made me regret my deceit； and satisfied me forever on one score。
On awakening in the morning I found frost half an inch thick covered my sleeping…bag； whitened the ground； and made the beautiful silver spruce trees silver in hue as well as in name。
We were getting ready for an early start； when two riders； with pack…horses jogging after them； came down the trail from the direction of Oak Spring。 They proved to be Jeff Clarke； the wild…horse wrangler mentioned by the Stewarts； and his helper。 They were on the way into the breaks for a string of pintos。 Clarke was a short； heavily bearded man； of jovial aspect。 He said he had met the Stewarts going into Fredonia； and being advised of our destination； had hurried to come up with us。 As we did not know； except in a general way； where we were making for； the meeting was a fortunate event。
Our camping site had been close to the divide made by one of the long； wooded ridges sent off by Buckskin Mountain； and soon we were descending again。 We rode half a mile down a timbered slope； and then out into a beautiful； flat forest of gigantic pines。 Clarke informed us it was a level bench some ten miles long； running out from the slopes of Buckskin to face the Grand Canyon on the south； and the 'breaks of the Siwash on the west。 For two hours we rode between the stately lines of trees； and the hoofs of the horses gave forth no sound。 A long； silvery grass； sprinkled with smiling bluebells； covered the ground； except close under the pines； where soft red mats invited lounging and rest。 We saw numerous deer； great gray mule deer； almost as large as elk。 Jones said they had been crossed with elk once； which accounted for their size。 I did not see a stump； or a burned tree； or a windfall during the ride。
Clarke led us to the rim of the canyon。 Without any preparationfor the giant trees hid the open skywe rode right out to the edge of the tremendous chasm。 At first I did not seem to think； my faculties were benumbed； only the pure sensorial instinct of the savage who sees； but does not feel； made me take note of the abyss。 Not one of our party had ever seen the canyon from this side； and not one of us said a word。 But Clarke kept talking。
〃Wild place this is hyar；〃 he said。 〃Seldom