“Then that is the explanation of the cause of those up-waves?” asked the Professor.

“That’s the way we figure it out.  But we may be wrong.  Take an old man’s advice and don’t monkey with the river.”

“I thought you said Dad’s beloved Canyon would not hurt him,” said Tad teasingly.

“Dad’s Canyon won’t.  The river isn’t Dad’s The river is a demon.  The river would scream with delight were it to get Dad in its cruel clutches,” answered the old man thoughtfully, his bristling whiskers drooping to his chest.  “Are you boys hungry?”

The boys were.  So Dad sought out a comfortable place where they might sit down, a shelf some twenty feet above the edge of the river, whence they could see the turbulent stream for a short distance both ways.  It was a wonder to them where all the water came from.  The Professor called attention to his former statement that the river drained some three hundred thousand miles of territory.  This explanation made the matter clearer to them.

Coffee was made, the ever-ready bacon quickly fried and there in the very heart of the Grand Canyon they ate their midday meal.  Never before had they sat down to a meal amid such tremendous forces.

The meal having been finished and Dad having stretched himself out on a rock after his dinner, the boys strolled off along the river, exploring the various crevices.

“Isn’t there gold down here?” asked Tad, returning to the shelf.

Dad sat up, stroking his whiskers thoughtfully.

“I reckon you would find tons of it in the pockets of the river if she were to run dry,” was the amazing reply.

“But,” protested Tad, “is there no way to get it?”

“Not that man knows of.  The Almighty, who made the whole business here, is the only one who is engineer enough to get that gold.  No, sir, don’t have any dreams about getting that gold.  It isn’t for man, at least not yet.  Maybe He to whom it belongs is saving it for some other age, for folks who need it more than we do.”

“Nobody ever will need it more than we do,” interposed Stacy.  “Why, just think, I could buy a whole stable full of horses with what I could get out of one of those pockets.”

“Maybe I’ll show you where you can pan a little of the yellow out, before you finish your trip.”

Later in the day the guide decided that it was time to start for the surface again.  But the boys begged to be allowed to remain in the Canyon over night.  It was an experience that they felt sure would be worth while.  For a wonder, Professor Zepplin sided with them in this request.

“Well, I’ll go up and water the stock, then if you want to stay here, why, all right,” decided Dad.

“I will go with you,” said Tad.

“Professor, I’ll leave the rest of the boys in your charge.  Don’t let them monkey with the river.  I don’t want to lose anybody this trip.  Fall in there, and you’ll bring up in the Pacific Ocean—–­what’s left of you will.  Nothing ever’ll stop you till you’ve hit the Sandwich Islands or some other heathen country.”