44 THE LOG OF A TIMBER CRUISER 



es-t, miles from camp, out of sight and out of hear- 

 ing of any human being, that was disgracefully like 

 fear. The situation called forth qualities which a 

 gregarious existence had well-nigh atrophied. 



But Time, the master magician, calmed weakened 

 nerves and developed latent forces till new habits 

 were formed to fit the new circumstances. I felt, 

 day by day, that I was gaining in self-dependence 

 and poise. It was not necessary, after a while, to 

 lean on the personality of another, to find content- 

 ment only in the physical presence of one's fellows. 



Nay, more! Before the season ended, I found 

 myself relying upon this daily spiritual bath of si- 

 lence. A strange serenity grew within me a quiet 

 fostered by the constant close contact with nature. 

 The eternal peace of the dim-aisled forest, wistful 

 and brooding, lay like a chrism upon the soul. On 

 some lonely peak, dominating a world outspread 

 below, the spirit leapt forth and spread silver wings 

 to meet the glory of those majestic mountain soli- 

 tudes. 



Despite the fact that use bred in us a disregard 

 of the danger element in this individual cruising, a 

 considerable hazard remained. A loosened rock or 

 slippery tree trunk, an unseen crevice or crumbling 

 ledge any one of a hundred mischances could 

 easily cause an accident that might result seriously 

 indeed before one could be found and cared for. An 

 instance of just this sort of thing occurred before 

 we had been out a week, and, though soon forgotten, 



