254 CKUISINGS IN THE CASCADES 



in front, which was reflected against the rock wall 

 behind them, and by occasionally replenishing it 

 during the night, they slept comfortably, though 

 the temperature ran several degrees below zero. 



Early the next morning both men started out in 

 search of a female goat to complete their under- 

 taking. Nearly two hours had been spent in hunt- 

 ing, when the Indian found a fresh track in the 

 snow some distance above their temporary camp. 

 He followed it until it led in among a forest of rent 

 and jagged cliffs of granite, and Westlake, who 

 was some distance away, seeing by the Indian's 

 motions that he was on a trail, started toward him. 

 When within a few feet of where he had last seen 

 the Indian he heard the report of his rifle, and a 

 shout announced that his shot had been successful. 

 Mr. Westlake followed on into the chasm from 

 whence the report came and saw the Indian attempt- 

 ing to scale the side of a nearly perpendicular wall 

 of rock, stepping cautiously from niche to niche 

 and shelf to shslf; holding on with his hands to 

 every projecting point that afforded him any assist- 

 ance. He finally reached the top of the ledge, and 

 reaching over caught hold of the now lifeless body of 

 the goat that he had killed, and drew it toward him. 

 But when it swung off from the top of the ledge its 

 weight and the consequent strain on his muscular 

 power was greater than the Indian had anticipated, 

 and before he had time to let go of the carcass and 

 save himself his slight hold on the rock was torn 

 loose, and uttering a wild shriek he fell a distance of 

 nearly sixty feet, striking on a heap of broken 

 rocks ! He was instantly killed. 



