3n t^t D)mkt ^no^s 



then follows an unbroken period of extreme 

 cold; the Ice King is again enthroned ; the snow 

 fiendishly refuses to melt, and lies for weeks; 

 the endurance of most wild folk becomes ex- 

 hausted, and birds, herds, and wolves perish. 

 Similar calamities used occasionally to afflict 

 our primitive ancestors. 



Over the vast Northwest a feature of the cli- 

 mate is the winter-annihilating Chinook wind. 

 This occasionally saves the people of the wilds 

 when other relief is impossible. The snowy earth 

 is quickly transformed by this warm, dry wind. 

 In a few hours conditions become summer-like. 

 Fortunately, the Chinook often follows a bliz- 

 zard. Many a time at the eleventh hour it has 

 dramatically saved the waiting, suffering birds 

 and rescued the snow-buried and starving folk 

 of the wilds. 



The beaver and the bear are often benefited 

 by the deep snows which afflict their wild neigh- 

 bors. During the prolonged hibernating sleep, 

 the bear does not eat, but he commonly needs 

 a thick snowy blanket to keep him comfortable. 

 The beaver has his winter stores on the bottom 



269 



