unresisted down the slopes, to form a black, 

 destructive flood in the home-dotted valley 

 below." 



The summit of the forested slope was com- 

 paratively smooth where I gained it, and con- 

 tained a few small, ragged-edged, grassy spaces 

 among its spruces and firs. The wind was blow- 

 ing and the low clouds pressed, hurried along 

 the ground, whirled through the grassy places, 

 and were driven and dragged swiftly among the 

 trees. I was in the lower margin of cloud, and it 

 was like a wet, gray night. Nothing could be 

 seen clearly, even at a few feet, and every 

 breath I took was like swallowing a saturated 

 sponge. 



These conditions did not last long, for a wind- 

 surge completely rent the clouds and gave me a 

 glimpse of the blue, sun-filled sky. I hurried 

 along the ascending trend of the ridge, hoping 

 to get above the clouds, but they kept rising, 

 and after I had traveled half a mile or more I 

 gave it up. Presently I was impressed with the 

 height of an exceptionally tall spruce that stood 

 in the centre of a group of its companions. At 



275 



