A WIND-STORM IN THE FORESTS 253 



covered with snow, while the black shadows be 

 neath the trees greatly enhanced the effect of the 

 silvery splendor. 



Excepting only the shadows there was nothing 

 somber in all this wild sea of pines. On the con 

 trary, notwithstanding this was the winter season, 

 the colors were remarkably beautiful. The shafts 

 of the pine and libocedrus were brown and purple, 

 and most of the foliage was well tinged with yel 

 low; the laurel groves, with the pale undersides 

 of their leaves turned upward, made masses of 

 gray ; and then there was many a dash of chocolate 

 color from clumps of manzanita, and jet of vivid 

 crimson from the bark of the madronos, while the 

 ground on the hillsides, appearing here and there 

 through openings between the groves, displayed 

 masses of pale purple and brown. 



The sounds of the storm corresponded gloriously 

 with this wild exuberance of light and motion. 

 The profound bass of the naked branches and 

 boles booming like waterfalls ; the quick, tense 

 vibrations of the pine-needles, now rising to a 

 shrill, whistling hiss, now falling to a silky mur 

 mur ; the rustling of laurel groves in the dells, and 

 the keen metallic click of leaf on leaf all this was 

 heard in easy analysis when the attention was 

 calmly bent. 



The varied gestures of the multitude were seen 

 to fine advantage, so that one could recognize the 

 different species at a distance of several miles by 

 this means alone, as well as by their forms and 

 colors, and the way they reflected the light. All 

 seemed strong and comfortable, as if really enjoy- 



