He crossed a number of tiny brooklets, and at length came to a place where the trail ended or merged in a rough road that showed evidence of considerable travel.

Horses, sheep, and cattle had passed along there that day.

This road turned southward, and Jean began to have pleasurable expectations.
The road, like the trail, led down grade, but no longer at such steep angles, and was bordered by cedar and pinyon, jack-pine and juniper, mescal and manzanita.

Quite sharply, going around a ridge, the road led Jean's eye down to a small open flat of marshy, or at least grassy, ground.

This green oasis in the wilderness of red and timbered ridges marked another change in the character of the Basin.