Round about Bisbee. 157 



rock-masses, gray-green, brittle ferns, and one 

 bright, ruddy flower, akin in appearance to our 

 brilliant " painted cup" of the Jersey hills. How 

 they could withstand the fury of the storms that 

 rage thereabout, let some philosopher explain. 

 Insignificant as was the vegetation here, it was 

 equal to the task of holding desolation at bay, 

 and no gloomy thoughts arose as we stood over- 

 looking miles and miles of country. We were 

 perched well aloft, surely, but as a mere speck 

 overhead still floated the eagle that we had seen 

 early in the day. It was a thrilling fancy that the 

 eagle above us might be looking over the Pacific, 

 and, with scarcely an effort, might turn eastward 

 and be over our New Jersey home before we 

 could reach the village at our feet. It was a 

 merit of this day that rapid transit was the rule in 

 all things, and we were never shocked by sudden 

 transition from fancy to fact. From the soaring 

 eagle to the broad-tailed humming-bird was a not 

 unpleasant change, as I had never before seen a 

 living species of this family except the familiar 

 ruby-throat. It came and went, as such birds 

 always do, without our knowledge of the direction 

 14 



