he Green. We galloped rapidly to see who would be the
first to reach the river. Jim and I reached the edge simultaneously.

We threw ourselves from our ponies, but Jim was a little the quickest
and he plunged down the bank and into the river.

But our first experience showed us that it was not to be trifled with,
for a swift current in shore carried Jim down and if he had not caught
an overhanging bush, he would have been taken out into the river and
drowned.

"It certainly is a river," exclaimed Tom, "but why do they call it Green
when it is brown?"

"Probably it is green further north," answered Jim. "It depends on the
color of the strata it flows through."

"Get out," I said, "this river was called Green after the man who
discovered it. I read it in a book in the captain's cabin on the
plateau."

"I don't care," said Jim, who was apt to be dogmatic when cornered. "My
idea is the most reasonable and I bet everybody in the U. S. thinks it's
green because of its color. It must be inconvenient to know so much."

"It is," I replied hotly, "when you have to associate with an ignoramous
all the time."

"Come on, boys, let's have a swim and cool off," suggested Tom.

"Better make camp first," said Jim.

We found a good place back a ways from the river in a grove of old
cottonwoods. Having made everything snug and shipshape we ran down to
the river, but further up from the point where Jim plunged in.

Here the stream came in gently in a wide curve and there was quite a
stretch of sandy beach.

"I tell you, this is fine," cried Jim, as he began to peel off his
clothes. "I'm in first. Haven't had a bath for a month."

"You look it," I commented.

Tom and I got out of our few garments in short order. I was the quickest
and beat Jim to the water by about five feet as I splashed in. It made
me yell.

"Gosh, but she's cold," I cried, making the water fly as I plunged
under.

"Gee whiz," yelled Tom, as he stepped gingerly in. "I should say it was
cold. Talk about ice water!"

"Don't talk! get under!" cried Jim.

And he gave Tom a tremendous shove in the back that sent him with a
sprawling splash into the water. Tom sputtered angrily and Jim soused
him under.

There was a big rock out a ways on the edge of the current. It was a
great wedge rock of granite, ten feet broad and twenty-five feet in
length.

"I dare you to swim out there," challenged Jim.

"All right," I assented.

I was really a fine swimme