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 106 THE CONDOR VoL XX which bounded and smashed down the slope. Then, standing on Burns's shoul- ders, who in turn was braced by Oslar and myself, Neidrach commenced oper- ation with hammer and chisel; but the material was hard and progress slow, and as the crevice made a bend beyond which he coLld neither see, feel nor lo- cate with feelers, we abandoned it for the day. Next day we packed in a six-foot ladder from which Neidrach resinned $ ork, the bird being seen to enter the nest and to leave again. The ladder was steadied by Burns and Oslar, and after much work in cutting with pick, han- ruer and chisels, and bar, a falling rock suddenly struck Burns on the head, knocldng him to the ground senseless for several minutes. Only quick action on the part of Oslar and myself saved Neidrach from taking a header from the Fig. 16. MAKING THE SECOND LIFT TO REACH I[E SITE OF NEST NUMBEll TWO; W. C. BRAG- BURY IN FOREGROUND. sliding ladder, and the work on that prospect was abandoned. Several other crevices were located that were inaccessible from above, though among them there were two about forty feet up and ten feet apart that it seemed might pos- sibly be reached by ladders' from below. The next day I had hauled from the village and carried up the slope a six- teen-foot painter's ladder, and proceeded to work at the last-named prospects. The ladder was held by two men, while the third mounted to the first bench, where he supported the upper end of the ladder until the two others joined him. Then the ladder was drawn up, placed, and held almost by main strength cn the uneven, crumbling footing, while the first available site was carefully explored. This proved tb contain an unfinished nest only. The other prospect