rees
rich with foliage grew luxuriantly, showing that there was no danger in
venturing among them.

Another beautiful geyser, which burst up when I was not more than a
hundred yards from it, had the exact appearance of a fan. On examining
it, I found that it possessed a double orifice, which discharged five
radiating jets to the height of sixty feet; the drops of spray as they
fell perfectly representing the feathers of a fan. Nothing could be more
beautiful than the effect. The eruption lasted nearly thirty minutes,
the water preserving its elegant form during the whole time. About forty
feet from it dense masses of vapour ascended from a hole, emitting at
the same time loud sharp reports. As I looked along the river I saw
small craters of every conceivable form; some were quiescent, while
others poured out cascades forming small rivulets which ran into the
river.

So beautiful and curious was the scene, that for a time I forgot my
perilous position.

[Illustration: A FAN-LIKE GEYSER.]

I had no fear of starving, as long as I had my fishing-line and traps,
and was able to light a fire; but I knew that I had a wild and rugged
road to pursue, and probably snow-capped mountains to climb, before I
could reach the western plains. It was important, therefore, to obtain
substantial fare, that I might regain my full strength for the
undertaking. I had not, of course, given up all hope of falling in with
my friends, but still I was forced to contemplate the possibility of
missing them. I wondered that we had not yet met, as I certainly thought
they would have taken the same direction that I had followed.

I must, at all events, spend another night in the valley; and I was
looking about for some place which would afford me shelter, when I saw,
a short distance off, what appeared to be a beautiful grotto--consisting
of fantastic arches, pillars, and turrets, with hollows beneath them, in
one of which I might find a comfortable sleeping-place. I determined to
explore it, and, after collecting wood for a fire, to take my rod and
line and endeavour to catch some fish in the river. I should, at all
events, have no difficulty in cooking them in one of the numerous
boiling caldrons in the neighbourhood. Directly behind the grotto was a
forest of firs, from which I could collect an ample supply of wood for
my fire, as also small branches to form my couch, should the ground
prove damp.

I was making my way towards the grotto, whe