The Black Swans 



I drove fish by the school into Clif- 

 ford's basket. He couldn't cast fast 

 enough to accommodate the game I 

 threshed his way. After landing a 

 few by main strength and awkward- 

 ness as against mere skill, I suc- 

 cumbed to the heat and mosquitoes 

 and went ashore, for was Smoke not 

 there and Ed, good guide, unequaled 

 cook and general manager? And up 

 above did not the snow-filled gulches 

 beckon? I had often seen the white- 

 topped peaks, and had half believed 

 it possible that it was really snow 

 they carried in spite of the torrid mid- 

 day temperature at lower levels, but 

 I now made up my mind to find out 

 for certain on my own account, and 

 soon we were on our way. Yes, it 

 was snow all right, for we scrambled 

 over it, and up above alongside the 

 giant boulders of the peak the blue 

 forget-me-nots were blooming in what 

 seemed up there to be an April sun and 

 atmosphere. 



[90] 



