Semi-weekly herald., 1910-10-13


out from under a projecting ledge Of
rock which overhangs a corresponding
bench. forming a protected cave over
two hundred feet long by sixty In
width 1t Is thought that the van
ished race built up the front OF this
tpierced only by their tiny doors and
windows) fifty feet In height. Be-
hind this we're several stories and hun.
dreds of rooms Some two hundreds
roms or parts of rooms are still to
be seen, although very much OF the
greater part of the original building
has been destroyed by the action OF
the elements and the dynamite Of van
dal treasure seekers. A parapet of
stone extends along the front, enclos.
ing promenade which over,o ooks the
glomy depths OF the canon The fall
ing of the walls has left broad open
space at one point. and at the rear OF
this, at the foot OF one-time partition
walsh YOU have had your pallet
placed Lying with head to the south
you look out over the canon. The
tops of tall spruce and pinon trees
loom mp backly from below. The as
peot OF the cliff house by moonlight
is altogether different from its appear
ance in the day. It looks brighter,
cleaner and strangest OF all, quite
nleaslble--not so like a ruin as like an
incomplete structure. You fancy that
you hear the fatigued breathing OF the
sleeping laborers. and would not be
in the least surprised to see small
yawning men come out OF the dark
doorways almost at your hand to In
speet precarious portions of their un-
finished work. AS you lie with head
to the south you see high on the
wall beyond your feet a T-shaped fig.
ure which you cannot quite determine
to be painted or cast there by the
light of the moon. AS 1t does not
| move you decide that II Is some sym
bollc or ornamental figure printed on
the wall Up from beyond the parapet
| comes diversity of sounds. The
| canon seems as busy as city; the
entire wild population. to judge from
| the noises, Is taking the air and forag.
ing for food Birds twltter and
mournful cat-like yowl, unfamiliar to
yonr ears, ends with a screech; u sud
den distant crash OF underbrush indt
Gates the passing OF larger creature.
It Is really comforting to catch occa-
| sionally the faint, far tinkle-tankle of
the Gig COW bells with which the camp
houses are furnished, echoing down
from the level ground above the
cliffs. You are glad to feel the stout
mountain stick at your side, and per.
haps experience an instant OF repent
ance for the foolhardiness which
prompted you to leave behind more
efficient weapon. For moment you
shut out from your eyes the mellow
brightness with your broad-brimmed
hat, and before you know or wish It,
sleep claims your consciousness
through the wearied body.
You know that you have slept be-
II | Athot miith you optD yOut tytb anu
look about, the world is changed again.
The silence is almost perfect, not a
creature seems stirring, not the ghost
of a breeze sways the tall, conical
| spruces, the earth seems holding Its
breath. The great silver globe OF the
moon is just about to drop below the
opposite horizon, the high rim of the
canon. You can mark its slow descent
as II climbs down from bough to bough
of the great pinon tree Just beyond
| the parapet. The ruin Is as different
now from its former self as spirit liz
fres fleah--it seems phantasm. a
ghostly naturalization out of the mys-
tic, unknown past, as the fainter light,
| shadow, half reveals and half conceals
| its whiteness and It's serried outlines.
This, you tell yourself, Is solitude, ST.
lence, OF the primitive, the primeval
| type. You watch regretfuIly the de-
creasing disk OF radiance, now half
eclipsed, now three-fourths, now all
but the merest cleaning blade and
then the sitting gloom surges up from
the deep canon and overflows trees,
cliffs, ruins and all-all save little
flock OF cotton clouds that hang with
silvered edges above the ambient west.
Soon. starlight. only. cheers your WIS.,
ion. being. however. bright enough to
set out in black the ends OF the walls
that project beyond your resting place
Through a window )or was 1t door
In that forgotten timeD well up In
the wall opposite your feet, and
crack in another farther wall, you see
a big, brilliant start A bat beats the
air across your face. an owl flaps
clumsily into the remote inner cham
bers. You gaze at the star, which
seems to return your regard with a
kindly twinkle. and you listen to the
stiffness, and presently
Yon waken. surprised. somewhat dis
gusted at having yielded SO easily
again to prosaic sleep. and the world
| again Ia changed The sky IL wan the