3n 



escaped the numerous dangers of the pilgrim- 

 age. 



Lily Lake is a shallow, rounded 

 that reposes in a glacier meadow at an altitude 

 of nine thousand feet ; its golden pond-lilies often 

 dance among reflected snowy peaks, while over 

 it the granite crags of Lily Mountain rise several 

 hundred feet. A few low, sedgy, grassy acres 

 border half the shore, while along the remainder 

 are crags, aspen groves, willow-clumps, and scat- 

 tered pines. Its waters come from springs in its 

 western margin and overflow across a low grassy 

 bar on its curving eastern shore. 



It was autumn when these beaver pioneers 

 came to Lily Lake's primitive and poetic border. 

 The large green leaves of the pond-lily rested 

 upon the water, while from the long green stems 

 had fallen the sculptured petals of gold ; the wil- 

 lows were wearing leaves of brown and bronze, 

 and the yellow tremulous robes of the aspens 

 glowed in the golden sunlight. 



These fur-clad pioneers made a dugout a hole 

 in the bank and busily gathered winter food 

 until stopped by frost and snow ; then, almost 



178 



