Expedition to Oregon Desert 145 



away in the depth of the forest, or the plash of run- 

 ning water falling in cascades over the shelving 

 rocks and dashing against the boulders. 



Higher and higher we climbed, through primeval 

 forests of spruce and fir, whose branches clove the 

 sky a hundred feet above our heads. The rarefied 

 air filled our lungs with its life-giving tonic, ex- 

 hilarating us like wine. We knew that far above us 

 rose Mount Shasta, the giant of the range, but for a 

 time the heavy timber shut out the view, and we 

 could see only the road ahead, winding up and up 

 through the forests. Then suddenly, without warn- 

 ing, we moved above the timber-line, and Mount 

 Shasta stood revealed in all its beauty, a perfect 

 cone, towering four thousand feet into the air, its 

 robes of everlasting snow glistening in the moon- 

 light. Above, in the clear blue of the sky, the stars 

 sparkled like jewels in an immortal canopy. 



It was the first time that any of us had looked 

 upon that majestic scene, and whatever may have 

 been the differences of temperament among us, we 

 were one in the feeling of awe which the glorious 

 picture inspired. It laid a spell upon us; we were 

 dumb before the invisible presence of the Power that 

 had reared this stupendous pinnacle, and involun- 

 tarily our thoughts turned to that " city that hath 

 foundations, whose builder and maker is God/' 



Then to break the awful silence, and give some 



