The Colorado River starting in Southern Utah is formed by the junction of the Green and the Grand Rivers.  The former rising in Northern Utah, traverses also a part of Wyoming, while the latter river traces the western Rockies in Colorado.

Of this wonderful stream Major Powell, the first to descend the river, wrote, “Ten million cascade brooks unite to form a hundred rivers.  Beside that, cataracts and a hundred roaring rivers unite to form the Colorado, a mad turbid stream.”

One distinguished writer, describing the mighty canyon, said it is “most mysterious in its depth than the Himalayas in their height.  It is true that the Grand Canyon remains not the eighth but the first wonder of the world.  There is nothing like it.”

Our special interest, however, is in the four boys and their two guides, who now were assembled in the camp.  Every boy was bronzed and toughened by his exposure and labors.  Packs were to be seen which had been brought into camp on the backs of the various members of the party.  Each pack contained about sixty pounds of food and materials necessary for the expedition.  In addition, guns had been brought, fishing rods were visible and other implements, which were a part of the camp life were on every side.

Burros had been used to carry some of the burdens until the boys had entered within the canyon itself.  Then the burros with the Indian boy who had accompanied them as far as the border, turned back to the place from which they had come.  It was not believed that sufficient material would be left after the expedition was completed to require again the services of the donkeys.

After supper the boys stretched themselves on the ground near the fire which was still burning.

“We have kept together all the way as far as this,” suggested Fred, “but I’m wondering now if we wouldn’t do better if we divided into two parties.”

“What for?” demanded Grant, sitting quickly erect.

“I’ve just been talking to Zeke and asking him whether he didn’t think we would need more supplies than we have before we came back.”

“Nonsense,” said John.  “We have all we want.  It isn’t going to take us more than a year to find that place Simon Moultrie told about.  If we don’t get some trace of it within a few days I’m not in favor of keeping up the search and for that reason I don’t believe we’ll want any more supplies.”

“Nobly spoken!” laughed George.  “It sounds like the supreme wisdom of Soc.  What do you say about it?” he added, turning to Grant as he spoke.

“I know just enough to know that I don’t know anything about it,” answered Grant.

“But what do you think?” protested Fred.

“I think we may need more than we have.  What does Zeke say about it?” replied Grant.

“Zeke doesn’t think we had better divide again.  He says that if we need supplies we can go in for them, but the probabilities are that we shall be back long before any such lack comes.  He thinks we had better all keep together.  There’s safety in numbers sometimes, you know.”