228 CHARM OF MOUNTAIN AIR. 



high green mountain fells ; and how agreeable, 

 and as I feel exhilarating, but why, I hardly 

 know ; whether it be the effect of our breathing 

 a purer air, or a lighter one, or a cooler one ; 

 for I cannot but believe that the air is con- 

 cerned in the sensation. 



PISCATOR. Probably so, and probably owing 

 to diminished pressure ; for chemical research 

 hitherto has not detected any material dif- 

 ference in the composition of the mountain 

 air and the air of the valleys. It is a de- 

 lightful sensation, and nowhere have I ex- 

 perienced it in a higher degree than in 

 mountain regions within the tropics; there, 

 even by the mere sensation, I always knew 

 when I had attained a certain height above the 

 level of the sea. Coolness of atmosphere might 

 have been there concerned more than here 

 in the pleasant feeling, passing, for instance, 

 from a temperature of 80, or higher, to one 

 of 60, or even lower. Now, we will dismount ; 

 our servant, after giving our horses a feed of 

 oatmeal and water will take them back. We 

 shall be able, I do not doubt, to get some one 

 here to carry our old-fashioned saddle-bags, 

 containing a change, to Seathwaite, where we 



