Presently low cliffs, 100 to 150 feet began to show themselves, on one side or the other, and the wide valley vanished.

The great canyon below was reaching out for us.

There were numerous islands covered with immense accumulations of driftwood or with growing cottonwoods where high enough.

Hundreds of beaver swam about.

Occasionally a shot from the boats would kill or wound one, but it was next to impossible to secure any as they seemed to sink immediately to the bottom and we gave up trying as long as they were in deep water.