In the Sierra 



tion. They had sad stories to tell of losses 

 from the Yosemite bears, and were so dis- 

 couraged they seemed on the point of leav- 

 ing the mountains ; for the bears came every 

 night and helped themselves to one or sev- 

 eral of the flock in spite of all their efforts 

 to keep them off. 



I spent the afternoon in a grand ramble 

 along the Yosemite walls. From the highest 

 of the rocks called the Three Brothers, I en- 

 joyed a magnificent view comprehending all 

 the upper half of the floor of the valley and 

 nearly all the rocks of the walls on both 

 sides and at the head, with snowy peaks in 

 the background. Saw also the Vernal and 

 Nevada Falls, a truly glorious picture, 

 rocky strength and permanence combined 

 with beauty of plants frail and fine and 

 evanescent; water descending in thunder, 

 and the same water gliding through mead- 

 ows and groves in gentlest beauty. This 

 standpoint is about eight thousand feet above 

 the sea, or four thousand feet above the floor 



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