“Agnew,” said Enoch, “I think we were fools not to have broken a rough trail before we attempted this.  It’s obviously impossible to carry Milton over that wall as it is.”

“I thought the three of us might make it, taking turns carrying Milt on our backs.  It wastes a lot of time making trail and time is a worse enemy to us now than the Colorado.”

“That’s true,” agreed Enoch, “but I’m not willing to risk Milton’s vertigo on our backs.”

He took a pick-ax out of the rear compartment of the boat, as he spoke and began to break trail.  The others followed suit.  The rock proved unexpectedly easy to work and in another hour, Enoch announced himself willing to risk Milton and the stretcher on the rude path they had hacked out.

Milton did not speak during his passage.  His fortitude and endurance were very touching to Enoch whose admiration for the young leader increased from hour to hour.  Jonas boiled the coffee and heated the noon portions of beans and goat.  It was entirely inadequate for the appetites of the hard working crew.  Enoch wondered if the others felt as hollow and uncertain-kneed, as he did, but he said nothing nor did they.

There was considerable drift wood lodged against the spit of sand and from it, Jonas, with a shout that was half a sob, dragged a broken board on which appeared in red letters, “-a-che.”

“All that’s left of the prettiest, spunkiest little boat that ever fought a dirty river!” he mourned.  “I’m going to put this in my dunnage bag and if we ever do get home, I’ll have it framed.”

The others smiled in sympathy.  “I wonder if Hard has found Forr, yet?” said Milton, uneasily.  “I can’t keep them off my mind.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they both had run on Curly and Mack’s outfit by this time,” Agnew answered cheerfully.  “It’s funny we didn’t think of them instead of Diana Allen, last night.”

“Not so very funny, either,” returned Milton with an attempt at a smile.  “I’ll bet most of us have thought of Miss Allen forty times to once of the men, ever since we met her.”

“She’s the most beautiful woman I ever saw,” said Agnew, dreamily.

“Lawdy!” groaned Jonas, suddenly, “if I only had something to fish with!  When we make camp to-night, I’m a-going to try to rig up some kind of a line.”

“I’m glad the tobacco supply was in the Ida.”  Enoch rose with a yawn and knocked the ashes from his pipe.  “Well, boys, shall we move?”

Again they embarked.  The river behaved in a most friendly manner until afternoon, when she offered by way of variety a series of sand bars, across which they were obliged to drag the Ida by main strength.  These continued at intervals for several miles.  In the midst of them, the rain that had been threatening all day began to fall while the wind that never left the Canyon, rose to drive the icy waters more vehemently through their sodden clothing.  Milton, snugly covered with blankets, begged them feverishly to go into camp.  “I’ll have you all sick, to-night!” he insisted.  “You can’t take the risk of pneumonia on starvation rations that you did on plenty of grub.”