e not hunting for gold," said Brady, "I'd try to climb to the
top of this mountain. I take it to be close on to fourteen thousand feet
in height and I often feel the ambition of the explorer. Perhaps that's
why I've been willing to search so long and in vain for the great beaver
horde. I find so many interesting things by the way, lakes, rivers,
mountains, valleys, game, hot springs, noble forests and many other
things that help to make up a splendid world. It's worth while for a man
like me, without any ties, just to wander up and down the face of the
earth."

"Do you know anything about the country beyond the White Dome?" asked
Will.

"Very little, except that it slopes down rapidly to a much lower range
of mountains, mostly forested, then to hills, forested also, and after
that we have the great plains again."

"Now you've talked enough, young William," said the Little Giant. "It's
time for you to sleep, but ez this is goin' to be a mighty cold night up
here, fifteen or twenty miles 'bove the clouds, I reckon we'd better git
blankets, an' wrap up the hosses an' mules too."

Having enough to go around they tied one blanket around the body of
every animal, and Will was the most proficient in the task.

"It's 'cause they help him an' they don't help us," said the Little
Giant. "Seein' that you've got such a touch with animals we're goin' to
use you the next time we meet a grizzly bear. 'Stead o' wastin' bullets
on him an' runnin' the chance o' some o' us gittin' hurt, we'll jest
send you forrard to talk to him an' say, 'Ephraim! Old Eph, kindly move
out o' the path. You're obstructin' some good men an' scarin' some good
hosses an' mules.' Then he'll go right away."

Despite their jesting they pitched the camp for that critical night with
the greatest care, making sure that they had the most sheltered place in
the canyon, and ranging the horses and mules almost by the side of
them. More clothing was brought from the packs and every man was
wrapped up like a mummy, the fur coats they had made for themselves
proving the best protection. Although the manifold wrappings kept Will's
blood warm in his veins, the night itself and their situation created
upon his mind the effect of intense cold.

The wind rose all the time, as if it were determined to blow away the
side of the mountain, and it howled and shrieked over their heads in all
the keys of terror. None of them could sleep for a long time.

"It's real skeery," s