of $e 



The nearest neighbor was four miles down- 

 stream, and no one lived farther up the moun- 

 tain. The nearest railroad station was seventy 

 rough mountain-road miles away. It appeared 

 best to hasten to Denver, but two days in a 

 jarring wagon to reach the railroad seemed more 

 than I could endure. I had not planned even to 

 try for the top of Colorado's highest peak in 

 midwinter, but the way across Sierra Blanca 

 was shorter and probably much easier than the 

 way around. Across the range, directly over 

 the shoulder of Sierra Blanca, lay historic Fort 

 Garland. It was only thirty miles away, and I 

 determined to cross the range and reach it in 

 time for the midnight train. On hearing this 

 resolution the old people were at first astonished, 

 but after a moment they felt that they at last 

 knew who I was. 



"You must be the Snow Man! Surely no one 

 but he would try to do this in winter." 



They, with scores of other upland-dwellers, 

 had heard numerous and wild accounts of my 

 lone, unarmed camping-trips and winter adven- 

 tures in the mountain snows. 



112 



