Reaching town the party found that the entire equipment for the pack train had been gotten in readiness. There remained but to pack the mules and they would be ready for their start. This was done with a will, and about two o'clock in the afternoon the outfit set off over the stage road, headed for the Grand Canyon.
It was a happy party, full of song and jest and joy for that which was before them. The way led through the Coconino Park. Some three miles out they halted at the edge of a dry lake basin, in the centre of which was a great gaping hole. The Professor pointed to it inquiringly.
"There was a lake here up to a few years ago," explained Jim. "Bottom fell out and the water fell in. Ain't no bottom to it now at all"
"Then—-then the water must have leaked out on the other side of the world," stammered Chunky, his eyes big with wonder.
"I reckon it must have soused a heathen Chinee," answered Nance, with a grin.
"Pity it didn't fall out the other way and souse a few guides, eh?" questioned the fat boy, with a good-natured grimace at which Nance laughed inwardly, his shaking whiskers being the only evidence of any emotion whatever.
"Up there is Walnut Canyon," explained Jim. "Cliff dwellers lived up there some time ago."
"Yes, we met some of them down south," nodded Chunky.
"You mean we saw where they once lived long, long ago," corrected
Professor Zepplin.
"Yes, we saw where they lived," agreed Stacy.