enly came upon an immense rent or chasm in the earth, far
exceeding in depth the one we had so much difficulty in crossing the day
before. We were not aware of its existence until we were immediately
upon its brink, when a spectacle exceeding in grandeur any thing we had
previously witnessed burst upon our sight. Not a tree or bush, no
outline whatever, marked its position or course, and we were lost in
amazement and wonder as we rode up and peered into the yawning abyss.

In depth it could not have been less than one thousand feet, in width
from three to five hundred yards, and at the point where we first struck
it, its sides were nearly perpendicular. A sickly sensation of
dizziness was felt by all three of us, as we looked down, as it were,
into the very bowels of the earth. Below, an occasional spot of green
relieved the eye, and a stream of water, now visible, now concealed
behind some huge rock, was bubbling and foaming along. Immense walls,
columns, and, in some places, what appeared to be arches, filled the
ravine, worn by the water undoubtedly, but so perfect in form, that we
could with difficulty be brought to believe that the hand of men or
genii had not been employed in raising them. The rains of centuries, a
falling upon the extended prairie, had here found a reservoir and vent,
and their sapping and undermining of the different veins of earth and
stone had formed these strange and fanciful shapes.

Before reaching the chasm, we had crossed numerous large trails leading
a little more to the westward than we had been travelling, and we were
at once convinced that they all centred in a common crossing close at
hand. In this conjecture we were not disappointed, half-an-hour's
trotting brought us into a large road, the thoroughfare for years of
millions of Indians, buffaloes and mustangs. Perilous as the descent
appeared, we well knew there was no other near. My horse was again
started ahead while the two others followed. Once in the narrow path,
which led circuitously down the deep descent, there was no possibility
of turning back, and our maddened animals finally reached the bottom in
safety.

Several large stones were loosened from under our feet during this
frightful descent. They would leap, dash, and thunder down the
precipitous sides, and strike against the bottom far below us with a
terrific crash.

We found a running stream at the bottom, and on the opposite side of it
a romantic dell co