ook around even after she recovered her
breath--which she thought would never come back. On the sudden spurt,
her companion had been a little behind her. She presumed that the dun
with commendable sense had refused the jump for when she glanced half way
around--she was afraid her white face would betray her little panic--his
rider was galloping him back in an easy circle and heading him the second
time for the formidable break. This time, too, the rider was letting his
reluctant beast understand who was master; and with enough of authority
to force him and enough consideration to give him confidence, he jumped
him over the gap as Kate should have jumped Dick--with room and to spare.

Her cheeks were burning again: "You did it much better," she said coolly,
as he joined her. "Dick is getting slow."

"That wasn't Dick's fault," he remarked, for he appeared a trifle upset
himself by the misadventure. "It was yours," he added bluntly.

Her only answer was to push ahead. She could at least keep the man
busy--though she felt somewhat diffident about offering him further
lessons in horsemanship.

The trail led up a commanding ridge and her companion scanned the valley
lying to the north beyond. Through it they could trace a slender water
course. "This should be not far from Falling Wall Canyon," he suggested.
"And that creek must be a branch of the Sinking Water."

"Oh, I've heard about that wonderful canyon," she exclaimed. "Tell me
about it."

"It breaks through that near range," he said, pointing. "There are elk
in the park across the next divide. There isn't a great deal to tell
about the canyon--it's just there, that's about all."

"How deep is it?"

"Three to six hundred feet."

"Straight up and down, they say."

"As near as the Lord could make it."

"Is there any way of getting to the bottom of it?"

"The easiest way would be to jump from the rim."

"Oh, could we see it?"

"Not tonight unless you want to camp out; and we're not exactly fixed for
that. Up close to the old mine bridge there's a trail into the canyon.
It's pretty stiff. A sailor would warp his way down with a rope."

The horses had halted by consent and their riders were contemplating the
mountains and valleys surrounding them. Her companion took advantage of
the pause to dismount and inspect the legs of the ponies--and while he
examined those of his own horse for politeness' sake--he looked more
closely at Dick's.

"He mu