A REMINISCENCE OF THE ROCKIES 



The camp being pitched in a well timbered 

 and picturesque spot, we spent the rest of the 

 afternoon in arranging everything and laying 

 our plans for the next day. The waning sun- 

 light found us spread comfortably around a 

 big camp-fire, which sent its genial glow far 

 into the dark recesses of the gloomy forest. 

 When a great heap of burning faggots had 

 sunk into a bed of smouldering ashes and the 

 rising wind murmuring through the pines 

 gave warning of an approaching storm, I 

 concluded to crawl under the bedding and 

 sleep. The hard, frozen ground is not as 

 comfortable as a spring mattress, but I had 

 to get used to it, and was sleeping soundly, 

 when I was awakened in the morning by the 

 cheerful voice of the guide, who called out, 

 "Breakfast!" as if he were summoning all the 

 guests of a boarding house to a feast. When 

 I crawled out of my sleeping bag into the 

 chilly atmosphere, I found the guide doing 

 the chores in his stocking feet. A few dashes 



7 



