ts midst was a turret of still greater
dimensions. A succession of steps, formed by the substances in the
water which had become hardened, led up to it, ornamented with bead and
shell work; while large masses, shaped like cauliflowers or
spongy-formed corals, projected from the walls. Out of this curious
structure, as I was passing it, shot a column of water sixty feet or
more in height, vast volumes of steam escaping at the same time.

It seems curious that I should have been able to remark these objects at
a time when my mind was occupied by a matter of so much importance.
Still I could not avoid seeing the objects; and although I did not at
the time think much about them, they stamped their impression on my mind
as I went along. Suddenly two figures appeared, which put every other
object out of my sight. My eyes were fixed upon them; I had no doubt
that they were Manley and Sergeant Custis. I shouted. They saw and
heard me, and came hurrying forward, and we were soon warmly shaking
hands.

"Ralph, my dear fellow! we feared that you were lost," exclaimed Manley,
"and we have been hunting for you day after day. How haggard you look!
How did you manage to lose us? and what has become of your rifle?"

These and numerous other questions I had briefly to answer. How they
had missed me, they could not very clearly tell. Instead, however, of
coming westward, they had for some time hunted about in the very
neighbourhood where they had at first lost sight of me. At length they
reached one of my camps, and from thence they had followed me up,
although they had been compelled, as I had, to take shelter during the
storm.

Of course, they were as much delighted as I was with the extraordinary
region in which we found ourselves; and I could now enjoy an examination
of its wonders far more than I did at first.

We were very anxious to push on, in order to carry relief to our
friends, and to punish the Arrapahas for their audacious raid on our
territory, but that evening we could proceed no farther. We therefore
cut up the deer, and carried as much of its flesh as we required to
camp, where we built a hut, and employed the evening in preparing the
venison for the remainder of our journey--for we had snowy heights to
surmount, where we might be unable to meet with game. An abundant meal
and a night's rest completely set me up; and my friends insisting on
alternately keeping watch, I was allowed to sleep on without
in