34 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



Trout, as we found it, is hard, juicy, and delicious. How 

 could it be otherwise? It is a pity, however, that this 

 fish is so easily taken, for gullibility in game always 

 spells early disappearance. It would be better all around 

 if the fish were more shy and persistent, for few men have 

 the iron resolution to halt at the fifteenth or twentieth 

 fish, and take the long trail back. 



In returning, there was no such thing as riding our 

 horses up the terrific hill which led to the plateau. We 

 scrambled up on foot, rest by rest, and were fairly glad 

 to reach the top. Only an iron horse could carry a man 

 or woman up that slope. 



As we rode home, the view over the valley of the Elk, 

 and into the lofty mountains beyond, was fairly entranc- 

 ing. The level valley, — it seemed level, from that lofty 

 height, — was laid out in patterns of dense green timber, 

 gray dead timber, and yellow-green meadow, with a sil- 

 ver serpent of river winding gracefully to and fro. Be- 

 yond all this a great bank of mountains loomed darkly 

 into the evening sky. A smoky haze, which softened the 

 outlines of both valley and mountain, was pierced at one 

 point by a column of smoke from burning timber. Even 

 while we looked with great enjoyment upon this fasci- 

 nating and restful picture, we saw under the smoke the 

 bright gleam of fire; and a moment later, a one-hundred- 

 foot spruce-tree suddenly became enveloped in flames. 

 The blaze quickly climbed to the top of the leafy spire, 

 burned brightly for a minute, — a veritable pillar of fire, 

 — then died down and glowed dully against the dark 

 shadows that lay beyond. 



