NATURE GUIDING AT HOME 237 



where was useful in guiding. I had climbed 

 Long's Peak more than forty times before I 

 guided any one up. But I did not know too 

 much about the peak; in fact, I learned some- 

 thing new each time I went to the top as a guide, 

 notwithstanding that before guiding I had 

 climbed it in rain, wind, summer, winter, day- 

 time and at night. 



Many people thought that high altitude was 

 harmful and were ever expecting something 

 unpleasant to happen to them. If I hurried 

 them during the climb, or if they had banqueted 

 the night before, something like seasickness did 

 happen. But in due time I learned that altitude 

 generally was helpful and not harmful. 



Most people whom I guided thought that the 

 wilderness was full of dangerous animals: that 

 bears, lions, and wolves were waiting for a 

 chance to kill and eat them. All wild animals 

 in America flee at the approach of man. He 

 has been too dangerous an animal himself for the 

 wild animals to allow close approach, or for 

 them to take any chances on coming close to 

 him. Fear of man has developed wildness in 

 most animals and caused them the world round 

 to find safety first in wild retreat on his approach. 

 Exceptions are rare, and there are more men 

 likely to kill a man than there are wild animals 

 likely to do so. 



