MOUNT RAINIER 



are riven and broken down, they still demand our 

 sympathy for giant power, if only partially victor. 

 Each form the dome, the cone, and the pyramid 

 has its type among the great snow peaks of the Cas- 

 cades. 



[Chapter VII, beginning at page 123 of the original 

 publication, is entitled "Tacoma."] 



Up and down go the fortunes of men, now benig- 

 nant, now malignant. Ante meridiem of our lives, 

 we are rising characters. Our full noon comes, and 

 we are borne with plaudits on the shoulders of a grate- 

 ful populace. Post meridiem, we are ostracized, if 

 not more rudely mobbed. At twilight, we are perhaps 

 recalled, and set on the throne of Nestor. 



Such slow changes in esteem are for men of some 

 import and of settled character. Loolowcan suffered 

 under a more rapidly fluctuating public opinion. At 

 the camp of the road-makers, he had passed through 

 a period of neglect, almost of ignominy. My hosts 

 had prejudices against redskins ; they treated the son 

 of Owhhigh with no consideration ; and he became 

 depressed and slinking in manner under the influence 

 of their ostracism. No sooner had we disappeared 

 from the range of Boston eyes than Loolowcan resumed 

 his leadership and his control. I was very secondary 

 now, and followed him humbly enough up the heights 

 we had reached. Here were all the old difficulties 

 increased, because they were no longer met on a level. 

 We were to climb the main ridge, the mountain of 

 La Tete, abandoning the valley, assaulting the 

 summits. And here, as Owhhigh had prophesied in 

 his harangue at Nisqually, the horse's mane must be 

 firmly grasped by the climber. Poor, panting, weary 

 nags ! may it be true, the promise of Loolowcan, that 

 not far away is abundant fodder ! But where can 

 aught, save firs with ostrich digestion, grow on these 

 rough, forest-clad shoulders ? 



36 



