Qt Qlloun^ain (pong 



thus set her free. In the sunny, dry air I quickly 

 fell asleep. An hour later, a snorting explosion 

 on the top of my head awakened me. Though I 

 was somewhat startled, the situation was any- 

 thing but alarming. Cricket was lying beside 

 me. Apparently, while dozing, she had dropped 

 her head against mine, and had snorted while 

 her nostrils were against my ear. 



We wandered far from the trail, and, after 

 a few perfect days in the mountain heights, big 

 clouds came in and snow fell thickly all night 

 long. By morning it was nearly two feet deep, 

 and before noon several snow-slides were heard. 

 Being a good rustler, Cricket had all the morn- 

 ing been pawing into the snow, where she ob- 

 tained a few mouthfuls of snowy grass. But 

 she must be taken where she could get enough 

 to eat. 



After thirty-six hours of storm we started 

 down a canon out of the snowy wilderness under 

 a blue sky. No air stirred. The bright sun cast 

 purple shadows of the pines and spruces upon 

 the clean white snow. After a few hours we 

 came to a blockade. The canon was filled with 



177 



