254 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFOKNIA 



ing the storm, while responding to its most en 

 thusiastic greetings. We hear much nowadays 

 concerning the universal struggle for existence, 

 but no struggle in the common meaning of the 

 word was manifest here ; no recognition of danger 

 by any tree ; no deprecation ; but rather an invin 

 cible gladness as remote from exultation as from 

 fear. 



I kept my lofty perch for hours, frequently clos 

 ing my eyes to enjoy the music by itself, or to 

 feast quietly on the delicious fragrance that was 

 streaming past. The fragrance of the woods was 

 less marked than that produced during warm rain, 

 when so many balsamic buds and leaves are 

 steeped like tea; but, from the chafing of resiny 

 branches against each other, and the incessant 

 attrition of myriads of needles, the gale was spiced 

 to a very tonic degree. And besides the fragrance 

 from these local sources there were traces of scents 

 brought from afar. For this wind came first from 

 the sea, rubbing against its fresh, briny waves, 

 then distilled through the redwoods, threading rich 

 ferny gulches, and spreading itself in broad undu 

 lating currents over many a flower-enameled ridge 

 of the coast mountains, then across the golden 

 plains, up the purple foot-hills, and into these piny 

 woods with the varied incense gathered by the way. 



Winds are advertisements of all they touch, 

 however much or little we may be able to read 

 them ; telling their wanderings even by their scents 

 alone. Mariners detect the flowery perfume of 

 land-winds far at sea, and sea-winds carry the fra 

 grance of dulse and tangle far inland, where it is 



