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e forest。 My companions having disappeared； I pushed on； and while working out of a wide； deep hollow； I noticed the sunny patches fade from the bright slopes； and the golden streaks vanish among the pines。 The sky had become overcast； and the forest was darkening。 The 〃Waa…hoo；〃 I cried out returned in echo only。 The wind blew hard in my face； and the pines began to bend and roar。 An immense black cloud enveloped Buckskin。
Satan had carried me no farther than the next ridge； when the forest frowned dark as twilight； and on the wind whirled flakes of snow。 Over the next hollow； a white pall roared through the trees toward me。 Hardly had I time to get the direction of the trail； and its relation to the trees nearby； when the storm enfolded me。 Of his own accord Satan stopped in the lee of a bushy spruce。 The roar in the pines equaled that of the cave under Niagara； and the bewildering； whirling mass of snow was as difficult to see through as the tumbling； seething waterfall。
I was confronted by the possibility of passing the night there； and calming my fears as best I could； hastily felt for my matches and knife。 The prospect of being lost the next day in a white forest was also appalling； but I soon reassured myself that the storm was only a snow squall； and would not last long。 Then I gave myself up to the pleasure and beauty of it。 I could only faintly discern the dim trees； the limbs of the spruce； which partially protected me； sagged down to my head with their burden； I had but to reach out my hand for a snowball。 Both the wind and snow seemed warm。 The great flakes were like swan feathers on a summer breeze。 There was something joyous in the whirl of snow and roar of wind。 While I bent over to shake my holster； the storm passed as suddenly as it had come。 When I looked up； there were the pines； like pillars of Parian marble； and a white shadow； a vanishing cloud fled； with receding roar； on the wings of the wind。 Fast on this retreat burst the warm； bright sun。
I faced my course； and was delighted to see； through an opening where the ravine cut out of the forest； the red…tipped peaks of the canyon； and the vaulted dome I had named St。 Marks。 As I started； a new and unexpected after…feature of the storm began to manifest itself。 The sun being warm； even to melt the snow； and under the trees a heavy rain fell； and in the glades and hollows a fine mist blew。 Exquisite rainbows hung from white…tipped branches and curved over the hollows。 Glistening patches of snow fell from the pines； and broke the showers。
In a quarter of an hour； I rode out of the forest to the rim wall on dry ground。 Against the green pinyons Frank's white horse stood out conspicuously； and near him browsed the mounts of Jim and Wallace。 The boys were not in evidence。 Concluding they had gone down over the rim； I dismounted and kicked off my chaps； and taking my rifle and camera； hurried to look the place over。
To my surprise and interest； I found a long section of rim wall in ruins。 It lay in a great curve between the two giant capes； and many short； sharp； projecting promontories； like the teeth of a saw； overhung the canyon。 The slopes between these points of cliff were covered with a deep growth of pinyon； and in these places descent would be easy。 Everywhere in the corrugated wall were rents and rifts； cliffs stood detached like islands near a shore； yellow crags rose out of green clefts； jumble of rocks； and slides of rim wall； broken into blocks； massed under the promontories。
The singular raggedness and wildness of the scene took hold of me； and was not dispelled until the baying of Sounder and Don roused action in me。 Apparently the hounds were widely separated。 Then I heard Jim's yell。 But it ceased when the wind lulled； and I heard it no more。 Running back from the point； I began to go down。 The way was steep； almost perpendicular； but because of the great stones and the absence of slides； was easy。 I took long strides and jumps； and slid over rocks； and swung on pinyon branches； and covered distance like a rolling stone。 At the foot of the rim wall； or at a line where it would have reached had it extended regularly； the slope became less pronounced。 I could stand up without holding on to a support。 The largest pinyons I had seen made a forest that almost stood on end。 These trees grew up； down； and out； and twisted in curves； and many were two feet in thickness。 During my descent； I halted at intervals to listen； and always heard one of the hounds； sometimes several。 But as I descended for a long time； and did not get anywhere or approach the dogs； I began to grow impatient。
A large pinyon； with a dead top； suggested a good outlook； so I climbed it； and saw I could sweep a large section of the slope。 It was a strange thing to look down hill； over the tips of green trees。 Below； perhaps four hundred yards； was a slide open for a long way； all the rest was green incline； with many dead branches sticking up like spars； and an occasional crag。 From this perch I heard the hounds； then followed a yell I thought was Jim's； and after it the bellowing of Wallace's rifle。 Then all was silent。 The shots had effectually checked the yelping of the hounds。 I let out a yell。 Another cougar that Jones would not lasso！ All at once I heard a familiar sliding of small rocks below me； and I watched the open slope with greedy eyes。
Not a bit surprised was I to see a cougar break out of the green； and go tearing down the slide。 In less than six seconds； I had sent six steel…jacketed bullets after him。 Puffs of dust rose closer and closer to him as each bullet went nearer the mark and the last showered him with gravel and turned him straight down the canyon slope。
I slid down the dead pinyon and jumped nearly twenty feet to the soft sand below； and after putting a loaded clip in my rifle； began kangaroo leaps down the slope。 When I reached the point where the cougar had entered the slide； I called the hounds； but they did not come nor answer me。 Notwithstanding my excitement； I appreciated the distance to the bottom of the slope before I reached it。 In my haste； I ran upon the verge of a precipice twice as deep as the first rim wall； but one glance down sent me shatteringly backward。
With all the breath I had left I yelled： 〃Waa…hoo！ Waa…hoo！〃 From the echoes flung at me； I imagined at first that my friends were right on my ears。 But no real answer came。 The cougar had probably passed along this second rim wall to a break； and had gone down。 His trail could easily be taken by any of the hounds。 Vexed and anxious； I signaled again and again。 Once； long after the echo had gone to sleep in some hollow canyon； I caught a faint 〃Wa…a…ho…o…o！〃 But it might have come from the clouds。 I did not hear a hound barking above me on the slope； but suddenly； to my amazement； Sounder's deep bay rose from the abyss below。 I ran along the rim； called till I was hoarse； leaned over so far that the blood rushed to my head； and then sat down。 I concluded this canyon hunting could bear some sustained attention and thought； as well as frenzied action。
Examination of my position showed how impossible it was to arrive at any clear idea of the depth or size； or co