In 1849, American pioneers William Manly and John Rogers brought aid to their starving companions in Death Valley. Their assistance was priceless: upon arrival Rogers was the first to point out to an emaciated comrade, "Your shoe's untied, mate." One of the most serious obstacles they encountered was a precipitous waterfall—the worst kind. Faced with insurmountable peril, Manly lamented, "That wasn't there when we last visited." Rogers replied, "Let's ask for directions." At this Manly wept. Later, thanks to the sure-footedness of a packmule, the duo overcame the deadly terrain and saved the lives of their companions. In his autobiographical notes, Manly stated that the waterfall was a natural metaphor for getting his feet wet. Literary historians mostly agree that Manly did not know what a metaphor was.
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