He walked from one end of the pocket to the other twice, examining the incline from every possible point of view. Presently he discovered one place where there were numerous cracks in the rocks, and he started to crawl up, slowly and cautiously, digging his fingers into the cracks as firmly as possible. Si was half-way to the top of the opening when something happened that scared him not a little. From one of the cracks just over his head there darted some small animal--what he could not tell. It made for the top of the incline, but in its haste lost its footing and rolled up against the boy's head. Then, as Si tried to knock it away, it went leaping on, while the poor boy, having lost his hold, rolled and slid once more to the bottom of the pocket. "Wonder what it was," thought the boy, as he picked himself up ruefully. "Glad it didn't bite me." He wished he knew if there were more of the animals at hand, but as none appeared, he started up the incline as before, resolved to keep his grip no matter what happened. "Hullo, Si!" came suddenly in a hearty voice from above. "Mark, is that you?" he answered, joyfully. "Yes. Where are you?" "Tumbled down this hole." "Are you hurt?" "I reckon not. But I am pretty well shook up." "Can you crawl up?" "I am trying to do it, but it is a tough job." "Wait, I'll get a rope," answered Mark, and ran off. The others were all on the hunt, but Mark soon called them together. A long rope was taken from one of the mule packs and one end was allowed to slide down the incline. It came close to the spot where Si was clinging to the rocks. "Got it?" sang out Bob. "Not yet. Can't you let it down a few feet more?" "Not very well." "Then leave it as it is and I'll climb for it." It was no easy task to reach the end of the rope, and twice poor Si thought that he would roll down into the pocket once more. But at last he had a firm hold of the lower end and he shouted for his friends to haul away, which they did, soon bringing him to the surface. "I am glad to be on top again," said he, as he came out into the daylight. "Be thankful you didn't break your neck," was Josiah Socket's comment. "I am thankful." "After this we'll have to be more than careful of where we walk," observed Mark, with a serious shake of his head. "There are some fearful pitfalls along this route." "Well, I just guess!" cried Maybe Dixon. "Why, I've heard o' some gulches four an' five hundred feet deep! Reckon nobuddy wants to fall into sech a hole as that, eh?" With the promise of another fall of snow in the air, the pioneers did not delay long, and soon the journey through the mighty mountain pass was resumed. They had to go upward for several hours, but before nightfall found themselves on the downward trail. "Hurrah! we have passed the highest point!" cried Mark. "And now downward we go to the Land of Gold!" exclaimed Bob with equal enthusiasm.