camp on the lee side of a rock cliff 

 which was honeycombed with caves. A 

 blazing camp fire was built at the mouth 

 of one of these and we lounged on the 

 rock ledges inside, thoroughly protected 

 from the wind and cold. A storm was 

 brewing. We could hear the pine trees 

 whistle and shriek as they were lashed 

 about in the forest across the brook. 

 The lurid light of the fire showed us 

 ourselves in distorted shadows. The 

 whole place seemed wild and wicked, 

 like a robber camp, and under its spell 

 one thought things and felt things thaf 

 would have been impossible in the sun 

 shine, where everything is revealed. It 

 began to snow, but we laughed at that. 

 What did it matter in the shelter of the 

 cave ? For the first time in days I was 

 thoroughly toasted on all sides at once. 

 We had changed abruptly from the 



