JOHN C. FREMONT. 159 



distinctly. Fremont stood on a point which towered 

 three thousand five hundred feet above all the sur- 

 rounding* objects. The rocky apex of the mountain 

 he found to be composed of gneiss. On that sum- 

 mit he made various scientific observations, and at 

 length descended from his perilous position without 

 accident. His only companion during this aeriel 

 excursion was a summer bee, the welcome pioneer 

 of civilization, which, as the bold explorer was 

 gazing from the summit upon the distant and diver- 

 sified realms beneath him, came within his friendly 

 grasp, borne along upon the highest breezes of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



This memorable ascent and its accompanying 

 incidents deserve to be narrated in the vivid lan- 

 guage of the explorer himself : 



"When we had secured strength for the day 

 (August 15) by a hearty breakfast, we covered what 

 remained, which was enough for one meal, with 

 rocks, in order that it might be safe from any ma- 

 rauding bird, and, saddling our mules, turned our 

 faces once more toward the peaks. This time we 

 determined to proceed quietly and cautiously, deli- 

 berately resolved to accomplish our object if it were 

 within the compass of human means. We were of 

 opinion that a long defile which lay to the left of 

 yesterday's route would lead us to the foot of the 



