The Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon The Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch

d now?" cried Tad

k, l

ed at the same instant

saw nothing more than

don'

es. Don't you see?" almos

shouted the others from th

an a mile away, was reflected a city. Evidently it was an Eastern city, for there

a mi

here are showing you many things this night. Yes they never do that unless they

only Tad and Dad being silent and thoughtful. For several minutes the reflection

. "That billion orchestra will

rofessor, whereupon he entered into a long scientific d

neral. Dad was drawn into it, but he spoke no more about the things he and Butler ha

Nance?" questioned the Professor,

own Bright Angel Trai

the pack tra

hook hi

et anywhere with the mules on that tr

nto the Canyon to

he pack mules down those trails, but on the Bright Angel we'll ha

down there?

here are

" demanded Stacy, aliv

make trouble for themselves and everybody else. The Apaches used to come down here, too, but we don't see th

-do we s

s? Of course yo

asked the fat

at them right. Don't play any of your funny, sudden tricks on them or

ajos, quite a party of them, had made a camp down near Bright An

d up his e

r them if they don't watch out. I'll have a look at those b

of a row?" q

se gentlemen if they get gay. But they won't. It will be some crooked

chance to shoot d

It's a closed season from now till winter. I saw a

ike a hawk," declared

o see with," answ

r, and feet to f

sume Mr. Nance will be wanting to make an ear

about daybreak. It's a hard trail to pack. You'll be rea

d made ready their hurried breakfast. In the meantime Nance had gotten together such provisions as he thought they would need. These he had pa

gzagging at an unrelenting pitch. Most of the way the boys had to dig their kn

climbing backwar

e it the other way," decided Wal

doesn't stumbl

ut it if he does," calle

an basket to bring you home," lau

cks, around sharp, narrow corners, where the slightest misstep would send horse and rider crashing to the rocks hundreds

er get such a name?" a

signs of angels here

ss you mend your way

know. There

it is best known by its original name, Bright Angel, nam

ht Angel Canyo

ld red men are hangi

s later," replied the guide. "This, in days long ago, was a Hava

es

ls conveyed large volumes of water from springs to the Indian Gardens beyond here. Yonder is what is known as the Battlesh

," cried Sta

o the Colorado," warned Nanc

n they came upon a sandstone plateau from which they could look down into the Indian Garden, another pla

they had passed over this most dangerous portion, little was said. The riders were too busy watching out for their own safety, the Professor, examining the diffe

many shapes and sizes that had rolled from some upper strata. Small shrubs and plants grew on every hand,

looks down six thousand feet into the dark depths of the inner abyss, surrounded by innumerable smaller buttes. The wonderful colorings of the rock

o so only long enough to permit horses and riders to refresh themselves with t

lve hundred feet into the black depths of the inner gorge, where flowed

rapids at Niagara do," declar

" called

f?" demand

smo

r as we go?" q

We have to climb down the rest of th

to the river gorge. The prosp

ter stay here and mind

rought smiles to the f

we left you here," declared D

from the horses, after which the animals were staked down so that they might not in a

es, the boys watching the pr

wn, Professor?" a

a grim glance in Chunky's direction. Chunky saw fit to ignore the fling at him. He was gazing

aces it will be necessary to cling to the rope. Don't let go. Then, in case you

e slender trail that led on down to the roaring river. T

ey saw a possible fall upon ro

t if we landed on th

chine if you don't pay closer attent

teep and slippery rocks, down, down for hundreds of feet until they stood on the

along the smooth wall of the Canyon with scarcely

there," came the encouraging voice

," said Stacy. "But I don't want to. I feel i

rcastically. "If they hadn't I never should h

mptation of falling in here. He'll never have a bett

" replied Tad. "We nee

him ever

alf," ad

make themselves heard. The Professor was toiling and sweating, but making no complaint of the hardsh

e!" cried St

to see what

ant to know before I

you want to kno

to know how in the name of Bright Angel Trail

u said this was mountain climbing backwards. It

most sheer precipice. But ere the Pony Rider Boys scaled those rocks again