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Show WHICH IVES ALSO TOOK. 339 before in other rancherias, whence did they procure these horses and cows; and they replied, from Moqui, where there are many ill- gotten cattle and horses. I time there was no trail along the side bluffs, for these were smooth and perpendicular. A spring of water rose from the bed of the canon not far above, and trickled over the ledge, forming a pretty cascade. It was supposed that the Indians must have come to this point merely to procure water, but this theory was not altogether satisfactory, and we sat down upon the rocks to discuss the matter. Mr. Egloffstein lay down by the side of the creek, and projecting his head over the ledge to watch the cascade, discovered a solution of the mystery. Below the shelving rock, and hidden by it and the face, stood a crazy- looking ladder, made of rough sticks bound together with thongs of bark. It was almost perpendicular, and rested upon a bed of angular stones. The rounds had become rotten from the incessant flow of water. Mr. Egloffstein, anxious to have the first view of what was below, scrambled over the ledge and got his feet upon the upper round. Being a solid weight, he was too much for the insecure fabric, which commenced giving way. One side fortunately stood firm, and holding on to this with a tight grip, he made a precipitate descent. The other side and all the rounds broke loose and accompanied him to the bottom in a general crash, effectually cutting off the communication. Leaving us to devise means of getting him back he ran to the bend to explore. The- bottom of the cafion had been reached. He found he was at the edge of a stream, ten or fifteen yards wide, fringed with cottonwoods and willows. The walls of the cafion spread out for a short distance, leaving room for a narrow belt of bottom land, on which were fields of corn and a few scattered huts." Such was GarceY plunge into Cataract cafion- certainly no facilis descensus Averni- but the most direct access to the |
