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brink of nothing to tighten cinches； while the cold wind swept by us； the
snow glittered in a sunlight become silvery like that of early April； and the
giant peaks of the High Sierras lifted into a distance inconceivably remote；
as though the horizon had been set back for their accommodation。
To our left lay a windrow of snow such as you will see drifted into a
sharp crest across a corner of your yard； only this windrow was twenty
feet high and packed solid by the sun； the wind； and the weight of its age。
We climbed it and looked over directly into the eye of a round Alpine lake
seven or eight hundred feet below。 It was of an intense cobalt blue； a
color to be seen only in these glacial bodies of water； deep and rich as the
mantle of a merchant of Tyre。 White ice floated in it。 The savage fierce
granite needles and knife…edges of the mountain crest hemmed it about。
But this was temporizing； and we knew it。 The first drop of the trail
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was so steep that we could flip a pebble to the first level of it； and so rough
in its water…and…snow…gouged knuckles of rocks that it seemed that at the
first step a horse must necessarily fall end over end。 We made it
successfully； however； and breathed deep。 Even Lily； by a miracle of
lucky scrambling； did not even stumble。
〃Now she's easy for a little ways；〃 said Wes； 〃then we'll get busy。〃
When we 〃got busy〃 we took our guns in our hands to preserve them
from a fall； and started in。 Two more miracles saved Dinkey at two more
places。 We spent an hour at one spot； and finally built a new trail around
it。 Six times a minute we held our breaths and stood on tiptoe with
anxiety； powerless to help； while the horse did his best。 At the especially
bad places we checked them off one after another； congratulating
ourselves on so much saved as each came across without accident。 When
there were no bad places； the trail was so extraordinarily steep that we
ahead were in constant dread of a horse's falling on us from behind； and
our legs did become wearied to incipient paralysis by the constant stiff
checking of the descent。 Moreover every second or so one of the big
loose stones with which the trail was cumbered would be dislodged and
come bouncing down among us。 We dodged and swore； the horses
kicked； we all feared for the integrity of our legs。 The day was full of an
intense nervous strain； an entire absorption in the precise present。 We
promptly forgot a difficulty as soon as we were by it： we had not time to
think of those still ahead。 All outside the insistence of the moment was
blurred and unimportant； like a specialized focus； so I cannot tell you
much about the scenery。 The only outside impression we received was
that the canon floor was slowly rising to meet us。
Then strangely enough； as it seemed； we stepped off to level ground。
Our watches said half…past three。 We had made five miles in a little
under seven hours。
Remained only the crossing of the river。 This was no mean task； but
we accomplished it lightly； searching out a ford。 There were high grasses；
and on the other side of them a grove of very tall cottonwoods； clean as a
park。 First of all we cooked things； then we spread things； then we lay
on our backs and smoked things； our hands clasped back of our heads。
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We cocked ironical eyes at the sheer cliff of old Mount Tunemah； very
much as a man would cock his eye at a tiger in a cage。
Already the meat…hawks； the fluffy Canada jays； had found us out； and
were prepared to swoop down boldly on whatever offered to their
predatory skill。 We had nothing for them yet；there were no remains of
the lunch；but the fire…irons were out； and ribs of venison were roasting
slowly over the coals in preparation for the evening meal。 Directly
opposite； visible through the lattice of the trees； were two huge mountain
peaks； part of the wall that shut us in； over against us in a height we had
not dared ascribe to the sky itself。 By and by the shadow of these
mountains rose on the westerly wall。 It crept up at first slowly；
extinguishing color； afterwards more rapidly as the sun approached the
horizon。 The sunlight disappeared。 A moment's gray intervened； and
then the wonderful golden afterglow laid on the peaks its enchantment。
Little by little that too faded； until at last； far away； through a rift in the
ranks of the giants； but one remained gilded by the glory of a dream that
continued with it after the others。 Heretofore it had seemed to us an
insignificant peak； apparently overtopped by many； but by this token we
knew it to be the highest of them all。
Then ensued another pause； as though to give the invisible scene…
shifter time to accomplish his work； followed by a shower of evening
coolness； that seemed to sift through the trees like a soft and gentle rain。
We ate again by the flicker of the fire； dabbing a trifle uncertainly at the
food； wondering at the distant mountain on which the Day had made its
final stand； shrinking a little before the stealthy dark that flowed down the
canon in the manner of a heavy smoke。
In the notch between the two huge mountains blazed a star；accurately
in the notch； like the front sight of a rifle sighted into the marvelous depths
of space。 Then the moon rose。
First we knew of it when it touched the crest of our two mountains。
The night has strange effects on the hills。 A moment before they had
menaced black and sullen against the sky； but at the touch of the moon
their very substance seemed to dissolve； leaving in the upper atmosphere
the airiest； most nebulous； fragile； ghostly simulacrums of themselves you
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could imagine in the realms of fairy…land。 They seemed actually to float；
to poise like cloud…shapes about to dissol