on 0* 



foolhardy one even on a clear, calm day, but I was 

 fated to receive the fury of a snowstorm while 

 on the most broken portion of the trail. 



The tempest came on with deadly cold and 

 almost blinding violence. The wind came with 

 awful surges, and roared and boomed among 

 the crags. The clouds dashed and seethed along 

 the surface, shutting out all landmarks. I was 

 every moment in fear of slipping or being blown 

 over a precipice, but there was no shelter ; I was 

 on the roof of the continent, twelve thousand five 

 hundred feet above sea-level, and to stop in the 

 bitter cold meant death. 



It was still three miles to timber on the west 

 slope, and I found it impossible to keep the trail. 

 Fearing to perish if I tried to follow even the gen- 

 eral course of the trail, I abandoned it altogether, 

 and started for the head of a gorge, down which 

 I thought it would be possible to climb to the 

 nearest timber. Nothing definite could be seen. 

 The clouds on the snowy surface and the light 

 electrified air gave the eye only optical illusions. 

 The outline of every object was topsy-turvy and 

 dim. The large stones that I thought to step 



16 



