uld have given us trouble had we not brought
along the ropes wherewith our packs had been bound. Shifting El Sabio
down these places was our hardest task; but with the ropes, and the
intelligent part that he took in the performance, we managed it
successfully.

So we went on for half a dozen miles or more through the windings of the
canon, but keeping all the while a sharp lookout ahead--for in the mouth
of this end of the canon, supposing it to open as at the other end upon
a grassy valley, we well enough might come upon an Indian camp. And that
we had come upon such a camp we felt quite sure when, late in the
afternoon, Rayburn signalled us from his advanced position--he having
gone to the head of the line in Young's place--to stand still until he
should reconnoitre a little. Being thus halted, we unslung our rifles
and loosed our pistols in their holsters, so that we might be ready in
case fighting suddenly should begin; and Rayburn went on around a turn
in the canon, and for a while we lost sight of him.

Presently he returned and signalled us to join him, but to move
cautiously. When we came up with him he led us to the bend in the canon,
and there a broad view opened to us; for the canon suddenly widened
into a great valley, that was everywhere, so far as we could see,
surrounded by walls of rock almost perpendicular and vastly high. In the
bottom of the valley was a broad expanse of delectably green
meadow-land, broken here and there by groves of trees; and in the
valley's middle part, reaching from side to side of it, was a lovely
lake, whereof the blue was flecked by white reflections of certain
little idly drifting clouds: the sight of all which greenness and fair
water and broad range of sky--after being for so long a season pent up
in rocky fastnesses and wandering over brown, sun-baked plains--fairly
brought tears into my eyes because of its fresh and open loveliness. And
in the tender feeling that thus stirred my heart, as I could see in the
quick glance that he gave me, Fray Antonio also keenly sympathized; for
his nature was very open at all times to such gentle influences.

But Rayburn and Young, as was evident from their anxious looks, were
thinking only of the dangers which this lovely valley might hold in
store for us; for the shore of the lake nearest to us had many houses
built upon it, and we could see faintly, for the width of the lake was
nearly two miles, that there were other houses upon its