STEEP TRAILS 



of the warm zone below, mingled with others 

 near and far. Then the bitter wind and the 

 drift would break the blissful vision and dreary 

 pains cover us like clouds. "Are you suffering 

 much?" Jerome would inquire with pitiful 

 faintness. "Yes," I would say, striving to 

 keep my voice brave, "frozen and burned; but 

 never mind, Jerome, the night will wear away 

 at last, and to-morrow we go a-Maying, and 

 what campfires we will make, and what sun- 

 baths we will take!" 



The frost grew more and more intense, and 

 we became icy and covered over with a crust 

 of frozen snow, as if we had lain cast away in 

 the drift all winter. In about thirteen hours 

 every hour like a year day began to dawn, 

 but it was long ere the summit 's rocks were 

 touched by the sun. No clouds were visible 

 from where we lay, yet the morning was dull 

 and blue, and bitterly frosty; and hour after 

 hour passed by while we eagerly watched the 

 pale light stealing down the ridge to the hollow 

 where we lay. But there was not a trace of 

 that warm, flushing sunrise splendor we so long 

 had hoped for. 



As the time drew near to make an effort to 



reach camp, we became concerned to know 



what strength was left us, and whether or no 



we could walk; for we had lain flat all this time 



78 



