280 Flora of the Olympics. [ ZOE 
that view. To the south and east, and apparently right at my feet 
was the narrow, blue ribbon of Hood’s Canal, and at the heel of 
this watery boot stood out likea large flake of snow in the distance, 
the village of Union City. Then came a narrow neck of land, and 
then succeeded one another like fingers to a gigantic hand North 
Bay, Eld Inlet, Totten Inlet and Budd’s Inlet. The hand became an 
arm and lost itself in the hazy distance towards Tacoma. Mt. Rai- 
nier was visible from top to bottom, and never before was I so struck 
with its magnificence as when looking upon it from this height and 
being able to compare it with every intervening object. But it was 
the opposite view which captivated me most. Cafion mingled with 
cafion, peak rose above peak, ridge succeeded ridge, until they cul- 
minated in old Olympus far to the northwest; snow, west, north and 
south; the fast descending sun bringing out the gorgeous colorings 
of pale-blue, lavender, purple, ash, pink and gold. Add to this the 
delightful warmth of a summer sun in these altitudes—the awful 
stillness broken every now and then by the no less awful thunder 
of some distant avalanche—a fearful precipice just before us down 
which a single step in advance would hurl us hundreds of feet—and 
one can form some slight idea of the reasons that compelled us to 
' gaze and be silent. 
But it was now after four o'clock, and a long, steep journey lay 
between us and camp. Regretfully we turned our eyes away from 
this scene and swiftly passing back to the east slope of the moun- 
tain, we were surprised to find that evening had already set in there. 
Slipping, sliding, running, jumping where the trail was easier— 
crawling backwards and holding tightly by every bush or bunch of 
grass, where the way was dangerous, we finally reached the timber 
line. Then running, jumping, slipping again, the miles flew swiftly 
behind us until at half-past nine, and afteral several shots had been 
given by our friends in camp who were uneasy at our prolonged 
stay, and answered by us—dripping with perspiration and trembling 
like aspens, our legs almost giving way under us at every step 
owing to the fearful strain upon muscles unaccustomed to such a» 
descent—foot-sore and happy with the success of the trip, we en- 
tered camp and there detailed the circumstances of the day to a 
group of listeners, while beside the blazing camp-fire we refreshed 
ourselves with a good supper and pints of hot coffee. net 
The next day, owing to the mass of material I had collected the 
