78 THE UPPER YUKON 



we went the grander the storm appeared. To 

 me it was a gala day of furious wind and 

 snow, for being on the sheltered side of the 

 mountain we were safe from the worst out- 

 burst of its wrath. The valley which we had 

 left below now seemed to vibrate with weird 

 musical sounds as the wind played on the gi- 

 gantic rocks and whistled through the narrow 

 gap in which the stream was rushing like a 

 torrent. Up and up we went; fortunately the 

 days were long, and the mantle of night was 

 not due until ten of the clock. When near the 

 top, one of the frequent lulls in the storm 

 came, and "casting caution to the winds" we 

 climbed to the very peak, for, "as we often see, 

 against some storm a silence in the heavens," 

 the temptation to be at the top was too great 

 to withstand. 



A few minutes only were granted to us for 

 observation, as w^e plainly saw the elements 

 gathering for another attack and we hastily 

 descended far enough to reach the shelter of a 

 large boulder that had a natural cavity in its 

 face, and into this blessed haven of safety we 

 squeezed ourselves. 



Now we were safe, well sheltered, and just 

 high enough to see the snow tearing by us, 

 whistling, screaming, and at times roaring, as 



