"I will not say that I could not lie down and go to sleep at once," replied Ulna, "but if you are going to search I shall go with you. I know how you feel about your father, and that thought is always in my heart; so if you stay awake to work, I must do the same."
Sam succeeded in guiding the raft to a ledge of sloping rocks.
The two youths shook hands, and after seeing that their rifles were in order and loaded they slung them over their shoulders and started off.
They clambered over huge masses of white sandstone rock that had fallen in from the sides of the cañon, like the ruin of a giant's stronghold, and at every step they could see by the drift-wood that the present flood had been preceded by others much higher.
Compared with the great pillars of stone scattered about them each was impressed with the idea that his companion must have shrunk, he looked in contrast with his surroundings so much smaller than usual.
After much searching and climbing they came to a great rift in the cañon wall that led up to the blue sky, and seemed to promise an outlet from these awful depths.
At the discovery Sam could not restrain a cry of joy, and even Ulna's usually impassive face was illuminated with the light of hope.
"I can see nothing to stop us!" said Sam, as with the activity of a mountain lion he sprang up the defile.
But it was three thousand feet to the top of the rift, and from their position they could not see all the obstacles that lay in their way.