NURSLINGS OF THE SKY 



a storm they are blown out in wreaths and 

 banners from the high ridges sifting into 

 the canons. 



Once in a year or so we have a " big 

 snow." The cloud tents are widened out 

 to shut in the valley and an outlying range 

 or two and are drawn tight against the sun. 

 Such a storm begins warm, with a dry white 

 mist that fills and fills between the ridges, 

 and the air is thick with formless groaning. 

 Now for days you get no hint of the neigh- 

 boring ranges until the snows begin to 

 lighten and some shouldering peak lifts 

 through a rent. Mornings after the heavy 

 snows are steely blue, two-edged with cold, 

 divinely fresh and still, and these are times 

 to go up to the pine borders. There you 

 may find floundering in the unstable drifts 

 " tainted wethers " of the wild sheep, faint 

 from age and hunger ; easy prey. Even the 

 256 



