When they had climbed the steep southern wall of the cañon in which they were encamped they would find themselves on a wooded plateau, none too level. For several miles they would travel across timberland, then the trees would become scarcer and patches of chaparral would make their appearance. Gradually the chaparral would claim the land, and would extend for miles--how many he did not know--to the country immediately surrounding the valley of their quest. Halfway through this immense stretch of prickly brush Reed, the ranger, and his companions had been obliged to discontinue the trip. “But they always tried it in summer,” said Andy. “In summer or spring, when the air is hot and a fellow needs a lot of water. It’s cool now--cold--and we won’t suffer much along that line. We’ll pack every drop of water we can and nurse it religiously. We won’t need much. Strikes me a fellow could catch enough dew over night to last him all next day. Stretch out a closely woven piece of canvas, maybe. And if it should rain or snow, we’d perhaps be mighty uncomfortable, but we’d be assured of plenty of water.” “Let’s not pray for either,” the girl suggested. “I’d rather chance a drought.” “For my part,” said Shonto, “I almost wish we could go back and give it up entirely. It’s going to be serious if winter overtakes us; and, because of the many delays we’ve been up against, it strikes me that that’s almost sure to happen.” “Can’t give up and go back now, with Mary unable to travel,” Andy reminded him. “Yes, that’s so,” sighed the older man. “We’re in for it now, and we may as well forge on as to twiddle our thumbs in the cañon while Mary’s--er--sprain gets better. But I’ll tell you one thing: I’m never going to consent to leave that woman alone in the gorge, crippled as she is. Either you or I, Andy, must stay with her. Of course Charmian must go on, if anybody does; this is her circus. And as you are the expert mountaineer of the party, I have decided to stay with Mary. But it’s going to give me grey hairs whether I go or stay. If I go, Mary will be constantly on my guilty mind. If I stay with her, I won’t be able to sleep for worrying about you two.” “Shucks, Doctor! You’re not like yourself at all here lately,” was Andy’s complaint. “You used to be a sport--nothing was too rough for you.” “I never had a couple of women along with me before,” Shonto defended himself. “And I don’t know that I’ve ever before been in quite so precarious a situation, Andy. It’s no difficult matter to become food for the coyotes in a country like we’re in.” All three were a trifle serious now and talked but little. Charmian and Andy agreed with Dr. Shonto, however, that it would be ungenerous to leave Mary Temple alone in this dismal gorge while they continued the adventure. Andy had made no offer to stay and allow his friend to go with Charmian. His heart was leaping madly at thought of braving the trail into an unknown land with her alone.