A NIGHT ON SHASTA'S SUMMIT 



blown away. The precious bread-sack was 

 placed safely as a pillow, and when at length 

 the first flakes fell I was exultingly ready to 

 welcome them. Most of my firewood was more 

 than half rosin and would blaze in the face of 

 the fiercest drifting; the winds could not de- 

 molish my bed, and my bread could be made 

 to last indefinitely; while in case of need I had 

 the means of making snowshoes and could 

 retreat or hold my ground as I pleased. 



Presently the storm broke forth into full 

 snowy bloom, and the thronging crystals dark- 

 ened the air. The wind swept past in hissing 

 floods, grinding the snow into meal and sweep- 

 ing down into the hollows in enormous drifts 

 all the heavier particles, while the finer dust 

 was sifted through the sky, increasing the icy 

 gloom. But my fire glowed bravely as if in glad 

 defiance of the drift to quench it, and, notwith- 

 standing but httle trace of my nest could be 

 seen after the snow had leveled and buried it, 

 I was snug and warm, and the passionate up- 

 roar produced a glad excitement. 



Day after day the storm continued, piling 

 snow on snow in weariless abundance. There 

 were short periods of quiet, when the sun would 

 seem to look eagerly down through rents in the 

 clouds, as if to know how the work was ad- 

 vancing. During these calm intervals I re- 

 65 



