72 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



followed by rain, hail, thawing and freezing, etc. 

 Small rills were gliding and swirling over the melt 

 ing surface with a smooth, oily appearance, in chan 

 nels of pure ice their quick, compliant movements 

 contrasting most impressively with the rigid, invi 

 sible flow of the glacier itself, on whose back they 

 all were riding. 



Night drew near before I reached the eastern 

 base of the mountain, and my camp lay many a 

 rugged mile to the north ; but ultimate success was 

 assured. It was now only a matter of endurance 

 and ordinary mountain-craft. The sunset was, if 

 possible, yet more beautiful than that of the day 

 before. The Mono landscape seemed to be fairly 

 saturated with warm, purple light. The peaks 

 marshaled along the summit were in shadow, but 

 through every notch and pass streamed vivid sun- 

 fire, soothing and irradiating their rough, black an 

 gles, while companies of small, luminous clouds 

 hovered above them like very angels of light. 



Darkness came on, but I found my way by the 

 trends of the canons and the peaks projected 

 against the sky. All excitement died with the 

 light, and then I was weary. But the joyful sound 

 of the waterfall across the lake was heard at last, 

 and soon the stars were seen reflected in the lake 

 itself. Taking my bearings from these, I dis 

 covered the little pine thicket in which my nest 

 was, and then I had a rest such as only a tired 

 mountaineer may enjoy. After lying loose and 

 lost for awhile, I made a sunrise fire, went down 

 to the lake, dashed water on my head, and dipped 

 a cupful for tea. The revival brought about by 

 bread and tea was as complete as the exhaustion 



