MOUNT RAINIER 



fled down the mountain, glad to escape with his life. 

 Where he failed, no other Indian ever dared make the 

 attempt. 



At first the way is easy, the task seems light. The 

 broad snowfields, over which I have often hunted the 

 mountain goat, offer an inviting path. But above 

 them you will have to climb over steep rocks over- 

 hanging deep gorges where a misstep would hurl you 

 far down down to certain death. You must creep 

 over steep snow banks and cross deep crevasses where 

 a mountain goat could hardly keep his footing. You 

 must climb along steep cliffs where rocks are contin- 

 ually falling to crush you, or knock you off into the 

 bottomless depths. 



And if you should escape these perils and reach 

 the great snowy dome, then a bitterly cold and furious 

 tempest will sweep you off into space like a withered 

 leaf. But if by some miracle you should survive all 

 these perils the mighty demon of Takhoma will surely 

 kill you and throw you into the fiery lake. 



Don't you go ! 



You make my heart sick when you talk of climbing 

 Takhoma. You will perish if you try to climb Ta- 

 khoma. You will perish and your people will blame 

 me. 



Don't go ! 



Don't go ! 



If you will go, I will wait here two days, and then 

 go to Olympia and tell your people that you perished 

 on Takhoma. Give me a paper to them to let them 

 know that I am not to blame for your death. 



My talk is ended. 



134 



