Now began the marvelous transformation scene. What had been rocky walls crimson as blood became purple, then lilac, then scarcely-tinted lavender ghosts of cliffs. Then the sharp points of all the rocks and monuments in sight became veiled as with a pale gossamer web so frail that a breath might waft it away. Finally the night-shadows crept up from the Cañon to meet the purple curtain from the heavens which now fell slowly but surely as if drawn by an invisible hand from behind the scenes.
“Oh!” sighed Julie, as the last flicker of the sunset died away from the farthest battlement.
“Verny, my knees shake so from all this greatness that I don’t see how I shall be able to walk back to the hotel,” sighed Amy.
“Then you’ll be glad to hear that you won’t have to walk back, eh, Amy?” asked Mr. Vernon, catching a glimpse of Tally and a strange guide with a group of saddle horses waiting at a distance near the bridle path.
“Are you going to make a chair for me of your crossed hands, you and Gilly?” laughed Amy, following the others as they walked away from the crag.
“Better than that,” returned Mr. Gilroy; “we all shall ride to camp. I had Tally go and arrange with the Bass manager for camping accommodations during our stay in the Grand Cañon.”
It was with relieved minds then, that the scouts climbed into comfortable saddles and started to ride to the most up-to-date camp they had ever seen. The question of suitable apparel for the dinner and evening in such a luxurious hotel as El Tovar had been the only fly in the ointment while gazing on the Cañon at sunset. Now Gilly had helped them out of that difficulty by his quick perceptions and realization of the fitness of things.
The camp-site for that night had been chosen with a view to giving the scouts the first glimpse of sunrise. Bearing that in mind, Mr. Gilroy said: “Every one has to be up and ready to come with me before sun-up in the morning. Therefore, we’d better go to bed early.”
“That’s no punishment for me,” laughed Joan, and the other girls seconded her declaration.
“We will add,” supplemented Julie, “We’ll go to bed now, provided you’ll send our dinners to us.”