art I think I'd fancy living in one
of those three story adobe houses of the Hopi Indians, we saw pictures
of at the hotel; or even a Navajo hogan. But one thing sure, these
people never had to worry about leaking roofs."

"No," added Frank, laughing; "and floods couldn't bother them, because
the Colorado never rose three hundred feet since it began cutting out
this canyon."

"And think of the grand view they had before their doors, with the
canyon in places as much as thirteen miles across, and mountains in
their dooryard, looking like anthills," Bob went on impressively.

"Makes a fellow feel mighty small; doesn't it?" Frank remarked, as he
stepped to a window to look out again.

"Makes me feel that I want to get down again to the trail," admitted
Bob. "I'm wondering whether it's going to be much harder getting back
than it was coming up."

"That's always the case," Frank declared, "as I've found out myself when
climbing up a steep cliff. But the guide is ready for you, Bob, if you
show signs of getting dizzy. You have seen that he carries a rope along,
just like the Swiss guides do."

"Oh! come, Frank! Go easy with me; can't you?" the other exclaimed. "I
hope I'm not quite so bad as that."

"All the same, Bob, don't take any chances; and if you feel the least
bit giddy, let me know. This is a case where an ounce of prevention is
better than a pound of cure. And a stout rope is a mighty good thing to
feel when your foot slips."

It turned out, however, that the Kentucky lad was as sure-footed as a
mountain goat. He descended the trail, with its several ladders, placed
there of course by modern investigators, without the least show of
timidity.

They continued along the bed of the wide canyon. At times they followed
the ordinary trail. Then again Frank would express a desire to have a
closer look at some high granite wall that hovered, for possibly a
thousand feet, above the very river itself; and this meant that they
must negotiate a passage for themselves.

No doubt John Henry, the guide, must have thought them the queerest pair
of tourists he had ever led through the mysteries of the Grand Canyon.
But as yet Frank had not thought fit to enlighten him. He was not
altogether pleased with the appearance of the guide, and wished to wait
until he knew a little more about his ways, before entrusting him with
their secret.

More than a few times during that day Frank believed he had positive
evidence that th