space. The mystical, alluring quality slowly dies, 

 and it is once more the matter-of-fa6l light of day. 

 With the appearance of the sun these subtle im- 

 pressions vanish, like a dream vague and unreal. 

 Nature reasserts herself in the robust sense of 

 existence; now the smell of frying bacon, the 

 comforting efFed: of the morning coffee in a tin 

 cup, are the real and important things. Physical 

 life is enough in itself — so concentrated, vigorous, 

 aggressive it is. The mere breathing, seeing, 

 tasting are more in themselves than is possible 

 under other conditions. How good the resiny 

 odor of the forest! How exhilarating the scene 

 in its pure savagery ! How stimulating the morn- 

 ing air! How the stream lures as I get down the 

 trout-rod, and climbing out on a sugar-pine log 

 cast a brown hackle on the swirling glassy flood! 



195 



