MOUNT RAINIER 



"Terrible are storms in the mountains ; but in this 

 looming mass was a terror more dread than any hurri- 

 cane of ruin ever bore within its wild vortexes, Ta- 

 manoiis was in that black cylinder, and as it strode 

 forward, chasing in the very path of the miser, he 

 shuddered, for his wealth and his life were in danger. 



"However, it might be but a common storm. Sun- 

 light was bright as ever overhead in heaven, and all 

 the lovely world below lay dreamily fair, in that after- 

 noon of summer, at the feet of the rich man, who now 

 was hastening to be its king. He stepped from the 

 crater edge and began his descent. 



" Instantly the storm overtook him. He was thrown 

 down by its first assault, flung over a rough bank of 

 iciness, and lay at the foot torn and bleeding, but 

 clinging still to his precious burden. Each hand 

 still held its five strings of hiaqua. In each hand he 

 bore a nation's ransom. He staggered to his feet 

 against the blast. Utter night was around him, 

 night as if daylight had forever perished, had never 

 come into being from chaos. The roaring of the storm 

 had also deafened and bewildered him with its wild 

 uproar. 



"Present in every crash and thunder of the gale 

 was a growing undertone, which the miser well knew 

 to be the voice of Tamanoiis. A deadly shuddering 

 shook him. Heretofore that potent Unseen had been 

 his friend and guide ; there had been awe, but no terror, 

 in his words. Now the voice of Tamanoiis was inarti- 

 culate, but the miser could divine in that sound an 

 unspeakable threat of wrath and vengeance. Floating 

 upon this undertone were sharper tamanoiis voices, 

 snouting and screaming always sneeringly, 'Ha, ha, 

 hiaqua ! ha, ha, ha !' 



"Whenever the miser essayed to move and continue 

 his descent, a whirlwind caught him, and with much 

 ado tossed him hither and thither, leaving him at 

 last flung and imprisoned in a pinching crevice, or 



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