ear. Mr. Kasson begged us to pretend not to notice it, because the man
was very sensitive on the subject. He told us his story. The man had
been fishing with some friends, near an Indian settlement, when the
Indians attacked them and killed the others outright. The
baggage-master saved his life by "playing 'possum" (as Mr. K. called
pretending to be dead), and the Indians scalped him with a broken tin
can. If he had made the slightest movement they would have despatched
him. How horrible! We wondered if it could be true!

To-morrow "the distinguished party" mentioned in the paper are going to
arrive at Salt Lake City. I will write from there unless I am snatched
up by some craving widower, if there exists such a thing as a
widower--or by some husband with too few wives.

* * * * *

A wild desire possessed us to sit on the cow-catcher in order to get a
better view of the cañon. The engineer refused at first, but gave in at
last. He said it was most dangerous.

"You might," he added, "scoop up a Chinaman, or some animal straying on
the rails."

"How exciting!" we cried. "Who but a chosen few have the luck to scoop
up a live Chinaman?"

Johan had the worst place, and therefore the least chance of getting
the Chinaman. He sat up on a little iron seat attached to the boiler,
holding on to the piston for dear life, and every time the whistle went
off--and it went off very often--he nearly did the same. The fireman