178 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



I left the ranch just before grey dawn to take a 

 solitary stroll round the margin of St. Mary's Lake, 

 and on the slopes and spurs of sheep mountain, and 

 to enjoy that most glorious spectacle, a sunrise 

 among the mountains. I had also some hopes of 

 picking up a sheep or deer. It is hard to imagine 

 anything more beautiful than a summer sunrise in 

 those regions. There is a curious effect in nature 

 just before the break of day that is impossible to 

 describe, but that I think all who have passed many 

 nights under the stars will recognise. There comes 

 a sort of strange uneasy feeling through the atmos- 

 phere, a faint tremor as of cold air moves over the 

 earth, as if Nature shivered in her sleep, grew 

 restless, and half awoke. 



That sensation will be the first token of a great 

 change at hand. Then the morning star shines out 

 bright and strong, and the other constellations 

 begin to fade. The highest peaks seem to approach 

 one quickly, commence to look nearer, to stand out 

 clearer and whiter than before. A faint, a very 

 faint, light steals over them, a radiance deepening 

 quickly into the beautiful colour of a fresh rose, 

 deepening still, flushing, glowing, and spreading 

 downwards, colouring the snow a most delicate 

 pink, gilding with bright gold the yellow grass, 



