THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AT HOME 51 



long, even stretch of house-roof mountain-slope on the 

 farther side of Goat Creek was a revelation. In the full 

 sunlight of a clear day, its tints were nothing to com- 

 mand particular attention. Strong light seemed to take 

 the colors out of everything. But a cloudy day, with a 

 little rain on the face of nature, was like new varnish 

 on an old oil-painting. 



During the forenoon, fleecy white clouds chased each 

 other over the pass and through our camp, and for much 

 of the time the Goat Creek gorge was cloud-filled. At 

 last, however, about noon, they rose and drifted away, 

 and then the mountain opposite revealed a color pattern 

 that was exquisitely beautiful. 



For a distance of a thousand yards the ridge-side 

 stretched away down the valley, straight and even; and 

 in that distance it was furrowed from top to bottom by 

 ten or twelve gullies, and ribbed by an equal number of 

 ridges. At the bottom of the gorge was a dense green 

 fringe of tall, obelisk spruces, very much alive. In many 

 places, ghostly processions of dead spruces, limbless and 

 gray, forlornly climbed the ridges, until half-way up the 

 highest stragglers stopped. Intermixed with these tall 

 poles were patches of trailing juniper of a dark olive- 

 green color, growing tightly to the steep slope. 



The apex of each timbered ridge was covered with a 

 solid mass of great willow-herb or " fireweed " (Cha- 

 maenerion angusttfolium) , then in its brightest autumn 

 tints of purple and red. The brilliant patches of color 

 which they painted on the mountain-side would have 

 rejoiced the heart of an artist. This glorious plant 



