Occasionally we swept past a narrow side, or lateral canyon. Our one quick impression was of narrow gloom between overwhelming walls.
"I wish we could stop long enough to investigate some of these side canyons," said Jim, "they look mighty interesting."
"There are no way stations on this line," I responded, "this is a through train."
It was with a feeling of tremendous relief that we finally emerged from this canyon safely. Battered and strained, but still alive. "The Captain" was still seaworthy and stanch but she showed many marks and wounds of the terrible descent.
CHAPTER XXV
A VISITOR
Our next canyon of importance was just the opposite of the one we had just passed through. It was as the change from bitter winter to smiling, sunny summer.
What a relief and pleasure it was to get into the canyon on below the terrible gorge from which we had just emerged.
The walls were not so high by half as the upper canyon, but were of the smooth red homogeneous sandstone, in which were formed caves, grottoes and curious formations by the action of the water.